* it 
+ * + COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 30.05.1995 
COM(95)209 final 
95/0222 (COD) 
Amended proposal for a 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 
adopting a programme of Community action on the 
prevention of AIDS and certain other communicable diseases 
within the framework for action in the field of public health 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2) 
of the EC-Treaty) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
The initial proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision adopting a 
programme of Community action on the prevention of AIDS and certain other 
communicable diseases, presented by the Commission, was adopted by the 
Commission on 9 November 1994. 
The Economic and Social Committee1 and the Committee of the Regions2 
delivered favourable opinions concerning the Commission's initial proposal. 
Following the opinion delivered by the European Parliament at the first reading 
on 27 April 1995, the Commission now presents, pursuant to Article 189a of the 
Treaty, an amended proposal for a decision. The text basically contains two types 
of amendments: 
some which usefully clarify or add further detail to the initial proposal; 
others which reinforce the proposal, in the sense of providing for more 
marked Community action in certain areas of prevention identified as 
priority areas by the European Parliament. 
The European Parliament adopted 61 amendments at its vote on 27 April 1995, 
J3 of which are totally or partially acceptable to the Commission (2, 64, 4, 6, 7, 
8, 9, 10, 1 1, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 28, 31, 32, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 65, 
42, 50, 56, 58, 60, 61). 
Plenary session of 29 and 30 March 1995 
Plenary session of 20 and 21 April 1995 
A. 
However, three categories of amendments are not acceptable to the Commission: 
a) amendments raising problems which should be dealt with either 
"horizontally" in all the programmes proposed or implemented by the 
Commission, or "vertically" in other health-related programmes (1, 17,*21, 
29, 30, 52, 55, 63); 
b) amendments whose content lies outside the legislative framework or 
outside the scope of the programme for the prevention of AIDS and 
certain other communicable diseases, which are inconsistent with the 
content of the Commission communication accompanying the programme, 
or which introduce elements which may make the programme more 
difficult to implement (22, 34, 36, 49, 51, 62, 66); 
c) amendments proposing a form of words which is less flexible and more 
narrow than that proposed by the Commission, or introducing elements 
which already feature in the proposed decision either implicitly or at a 
more appropriate point (5, 12, 20, 26, 33, 43, 46, 47, 48, 53, 54, 57, 59). 
L 
Amended proposal for a 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 
adopting a programme of Community action on the 
prevention of AIDS and certain other communicable diseases 
within the framework for action in the field of public health 
* 
COM (94i 413 final 
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing 
the European Community, and in 
particular Article 129 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the 
Commission0*, , Amended proposal 
Having regard to the opinion of the 
Economic and Social Committee(2), 
Having regard to the opinion of the 
Committee of the Regions(3), 
1. Whereas the prevention of diseases, 
in particular the major health scourges, 
including drug dependence, is a priority 
for Community action, requiring a global 
and coordinated approach between 
Member States; 1. Whereas the prevention of diseases, 
in particular the major health scourges, 
including drug dependence, is a priority 
for Community action, requiring an 
integrated and coordinated approach 
between Member States; 
2. Whereas AIDS is at present an 
incurable disease which, given its modes 
of transmission, can only be effectively 
combated by preventive measures; 2. Whereas AIDS is at present an 
incurable disease regarded a;> a major 
scourge, to combat which coordinated 
action is required in the areas both of 
therapeutical research and prevention ; 
2b (new) 
Whereas AIDS is a phenomenon that 
poses a dilemma not only for those parts 
of human relationships of most intimate 
concern to individuals, but also for modes 
of collective behaviour; whereas its 
implications extend to the law and the 
economy, to politics, public health, 
education and culture, as well as to 
medicine, sociology and research; 
OJ ii* .. 
OJ n* .. 
OJ n* .. 
H 
3. Whereas the plan of action adopted 
by Decision 91/317/EEC of the Council 
and the Ministers for health of the 
Member States, meeting within the 
Council(4), in the framework of the 
"Europe against AIDS" programme 
expired at the end of 1993; 
4. Whereas, in their conclusions of 
27 May 1993(5), the Council and the 
Ministers for Health, meeting within the 
Council, emphasised the need to continue 
the activities of the "Europe against AIDS" 
programme; 4. Whereas the "Europe against 
AIDS" programme has been prolonged up 
to 1995 bv decision of the European 
Parliament and the Council of 22.12.1994; 
5. Whereas, in consequence, the 
Commission submitted to the Council on 
29 September 1993 a Proposal for a 
Decision concerning the extension to the 
end of 1994 of the 1991-1993 plan of 
action adopted in the framework of the 
"Europe against AIDS" programme^, to 
ensure continuation of the Community 
actions to combat AIDS pending the 
adoption of a multiannual action 
programme; whereas the Council adopted 
on 2 June 1994 a common position 
concerning that proposal(7), with a view to 
extending the "Europe against AIDS" 
programme to the period 1994-1995; Delete 
("OJ WL175, 4.07.1991, p. 26 
'" Doc. 6946/93 SAN 36 
!n' COM(93) 453 final of 2909.1993 
!7' OJ N' C213, 3.08.1994, p. 220 
r 
6. Whereas, in its conclusions of 
13 December 1993(8), the Council agreed 
that it was necessary for the Community 
as a whole to acquire a better knowledge 
of diseases on the basis of their causes and 
their epidemiological context; 
7. Whereas, in the same conclusions, 
the Council emphasized that the smooth 
running of a network for gathering 
epidemiological data requires that 
theoretical training in epidemiology and 
practical preparation in epidemiology in 
the field be developed for the teams 
participating in the network; 6. Whereas the Council, in its 
conclusions of 13 December 1993(9) and 
Parliament, in its resolutions of 26 May 
1989(10). 15 Mav 1991(11)and 19 November 
1993(12) took the view that it was essential 
to acquire a better knowledge of diseases 
on the basis of their causes and their 
epidemiological context; and whereas, 
accordingly, the two institutions have 
called on the Commission to submit 
proposals for the setting up of an 
epidemiological network in the European 
Community: 
7. Whereas the Council and 
Parliament emphasized that the smooth 
running of a network for gathering 
epidemiological data requires that the 
comparability and compatibility of data be 
ensured and that theoretical training in 
epidemiology and practical preparation in 
epidemiology in the field be developed for 
the teams participating in the network; 
7b (new) 
Whereas the European Community can 
make a major contribution towards the 
organization of exchanges of experience 
and the dissemination of information with 
regard to the specific training of health 
professionals and the information of all the 
social players involved, such as teachers, 
families, authorities and heads of 
undertakings; 
OJ N° CI5. 18.01.1994. p. 6 "'OJ N* CI5, 18.01.1994, p. 6 
,10'OJ NT CI58. 26.06.1989, p. 477 
""OJN* CI58. 17.06.1991. p. 45 
121 OJ N° C329. 6.12.1993. p. 375 
8. Whereas in their resolution of 
13 November 1992(13), the Council and the 
Ministers for Health meeting within the 
Council invited the Commission to 
consider the existing arrangements which 
provide for cooperation between member 
States in the field of monitoring and 
control of communicable diseases; 
9. Whereas the actions undertaken at 
Community level in the field of AIDS 
need to be continued and extended to 
cover certain other communicable diseases, 
and also to be consolidated within the 
framework of the action in the field of 
public health set out by the 
Commission(14); 9. Whereas the actions undertaken at 
Community level in the field of AIDS 
need to be continued and extended to 
cover certain other communicable diseases, 
in particular sexually transmissible 
diseases fSTDs\ and also to be 
consolidated within the framework of the 
action in the field of public health set out 
by the Commission(,7) and in Chapter VII 
of the White Paper on social policy(18); 
10. Whereas the actions must take into 
account, as the Council requested in its 
Resolution of 27 May 1993(15), other 
actions undertaken by the Community in 
the field of public health or having an 
impact on public health; 
11. Wrhereas in its Resolution of 2 June 
1994 concerning the framework for 
Community action in the field of public 
health(16), the Council agreed that priority 
should be given at present to AIDS and 
other communicable diseases; 
lM' OJ N* C 326, 11.12.1992, p. 1 
l! n COM(93) 559 final of 24.11.1993 
• "' OJ N* C 174, 25.06.1993. p. 1 
(!,,) OJ N* C 165. 17.06.1994, p. 1 lp) COM(93) 559 final of 24.11.1993 
"*' COM(94) 333 final of 27.07.1994 
? 
12. Whereas, in accordance with the 
principle of subsidiarity, actions on matters 
not within the exclusive competence of the 
Community, such as action on HIV/AIDS 
and communicable diseases, should be 
undertaken by the Community only when, 
by reason of its scale or effects, its 
objectives can be better achieved at 
Community level; 
13. Whereas cooperation with the 
competent international organisations and 
with non-member countries should be 
strengthened; 
14. Whereas a multiannual programme 
is required, defining the objectives of 
Community action, the priority actions for 
the prevention of AIDS and other 
communicable diseases, and the 
appropriate evaluation mechanisms; 12b (new) 
Whereas it is necessary to promote studies 
in the Member States to identify the most 
effective methods of prevention and to 
publish the most significant results of this 
work; 
13. Whereas cooperation with non-
member countries is essential for 
combating these scourges and 
consequently cooperation with the 
competent international organisations 
should be strengthened; 
14. Whereas a multiannual programme 
is required, defining the objectives of 
Community action and the priority actions 
for the prevention of AIDS and other 
communicable diseases, in particular 
STDs. ensuring the coherence and 
continuity of the actions already 
undertaken, and receiving appropriate 
funding and benefiting from transparent 
evaluation mechanisms; 
15. Whereas the objectives of this 
programme must be to contribute towards 
improving knowledge concerning the 
prevalence and patterns of HIV/AIDS and 
other communicable diseases, improving 
recognition of risk situations and 
improving early detection and social and 
medical support, with a view to preventing 
the transmission of communicable diseases 
and thus reducing the associated mortality 
and morbidity; 15. Whereas the objectives of this 
programme must be to contribute towards 
stemming the spread of AIDS and other 
communicable diseases in the Community 
by improving knowledge concerning their 
prevalence and patterns, improving 
recognition of risk situations and practices 
and improving early detection and social, 
health and medical support, with a view to 
preventing the transmission of AIDS and 
other communicable diseases and thus 
reducing the associated mortality and 
morbidity as well as combating all forms 
of discrimination against people suffering 
from AIDS or infected with the HIV virus; 
16. Whereas, from an operational point 
of view, past actions to establish European 
networks of non-governmental 
organisations and to mobilize resources 
should be maintained and developed; 
16b (new) 
Whereas it is essential to support actions 
aimed at combating all forms of 
discrimination affecting people living with 
HIV and AIDS, as well as initiatives 
aimed at improving their living conditions; 
5 
17. Whereas possible duplication of 
effort should be avoided by the promotion 
of exchanges of experience and by the 
development of information material for 
the public, health educators and those who 
train the health professions; 17. Whereas possible duplication of 
effort should be avoided by the promotion 
of exchanges of experience and by the 
development of information material for 
the public, health educators and those who 
train the health professions, and for non­
governmental organizations other than 
patients' associations; 
18. Whereas this programme should be 
of five-year duration in order to allow 
sufficient time for the various actions to be 
implemented and to achieve the objectives 
set; 
18b (new) 
Whereas access to this programme should 
be facilitated, with especial stress on 
reaching organizations which lack means 
of easy access to information on 
Community programmes; 
18c (new) 
Whereas the procedures for granting 
financial aid should be simple and 
accessible, and there should be guarantees 
of the total transparency of these 
procedures and the relevant controls; 
18d (new) 
Whereas this decision establishes, for the 
total duration of the programme, a total 
appropriation which constitutes the key 
reference, within the meaning of point 1 of 
the statement of the European Parliament, 
the Council and the Commission of 
6 March 1995. for the budgetary authority 
within the framework of the annual budget 
procedure; 
M 
HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
Article 1: A Community action 
programme on AIDS and certain other 
communicable diseases is adopted for a 
five-year period. 
Article 2: The Commission shall 
ensure implementation of the actions set 
out in the Annex in accordance with 
Article 5 and in close cooperation and 
partnership with the Member States. The 
institutions and organizations active in the 
field of the prevention of AIDS and other 
communicable diseases shall take part in 
them as well. 
Article 3: The budgetary authority 
shall determine the appropriations 
available for each financial year. Article 3 
1. The total appropriation for the 
implementation of this programme for the 
period referred to in Article 1 shall be 
MECU 49.6; 
Article 4: The Commission shall 
ensure that there is a consistency and 
complementarity between the Community 
actions to be implemented under this 
programme and those implemented under 
other relevant Community programmes 
and initiatives. 2. The annual appropriations shall be 
authorized by the budgetary authority 
within the limit of the financial 
perspective; 
Article 4 
The Commission shall ensure that there is 
consistency and complementarity between 
the actions to be implemented under this 
programme and those implemented under 
other relevant Community programmes 
and initiatives, including the programme of 
research in the field of biomedicine and 
health under the Community's framework 
research programme, and Community 
action in developing countries; 
41 
Article 5 
For the implementation of the programme 
the Commission shall be assisted by an 
Advisory Committee, hereinafter referred 
to as "the Committee", comprising two 
representatives from each Member State 
and chaired by a Commission 
representative. 
The representative of the Commission 
shall submit to the Committee a draft of 
the measures to be taken. The Committee 
shall deliver its opinion on the draft, 
within a time limit which the chairman 
may lay down according to the urgency of 
the matter, if necessary by taking a vote. 
The opinion shall be recorded in the 
minutes; in addition, each member State 
shall have the right to ask to have its 
position recorded in the minutes. 
The Commission shall take the utmost 
account of the opinion delivered by the 
Committee. It shall inform the Committee 
on the manner in which its opinion has 
been taken into account. 
Article 6 
1. The Community will encourage Article 6 
cooperation with third countries and with 
international public health organizations, in 
particular the World Health Organizations. 
2. The EFT A countries, in the 
framework of the EEA Agreement, and the 
countries from Central and Eastern Europe 
with whom the Community has concluded 
association agreements, may be associated 
with the activities described in the Annex, 
according to the provisions of those 
agreements. 2. This plan shall be open to 
participation by the associated countries of 
Central and Eastern Europe in accordance 
with the conditions laid down in the 
additional protocols to the association 
agreements to be concluded with these 
countries relating to participation in 
Community programmes. The plan shall 
also be open to participation by Cyprus 
and Malta on the basis of additional 
appropriations under the same rules as 
those applied to the EFT A countries, in 
accordance with the procedures to be 
agreed with these countries; 
Article 7 
1. The Commission will regularly 
publish information on the actions 
undertaken and opportunities for 
Community support in the various fields of 
action. 
2. The Commission will submit to the 
European Parliament, the Council, the 
Economic and Social Committee, and the 
Committee of the Regions a mid-term 
report on the actions undertaken, as well 
as an overall report at the end of the 
programme. Article 7 
1. The Commission will regularly 
publish a report on the progress of the 
programme and on the Community 
funding in the various fields of action. The 
report will be communicated to the 
European Parliament, the Council, the 
Economic and Social Committee and the 
Committee of the Regions; 
3 
Annex 
Community action programme 
concerning the prevention of AIDS and 
other communicable diseases 
I. Actions on HIV/AIDS and 
sexually transmitted diseases 
A. Data collection 
1. Exploration with Member States of 
ways to increase and improve AIDS and 
HIV data at the Community level, and 
provide support to strengthen the work of 
the national epidemiological surveillance 
systems and the European Centre for the 
Epidemiological Monitoring of AIDS. 1. Exploration with Member States of 
ways to increase the quantity and improve 
the quality, comparability and availability 
of data, and to provide support to 
strengthen the national surveillance 
systems and the European Centre for the 
Epidemiological Monitoring of AIDS, with 
regard to infection by HIV and connected 
diseases; 
1 a (new) 
Contribution towards improving the quality 
and coordination of national 
epidemiological monitoring systems, and 
participation in the development of 
surveillance networks, on the basis of 
jointly-defined methodologies and 
conditions for data transmission, prior 
consultation and coordination of replies; 
'* 
lb (new) 
Setting up of a Community network of 
public health epidemiologists for the 
purpose of defining common surveillance 
methods and tools and enhancing the 
ability to respond in a coordinated wav to 
the development of communicable 
diseases, especially in the case of epidemic 
outbreaks; 
2. Gathering, analysis and 
dissemination of information concerning 
preventive measures and the knowledge, 
attitudes and behaviour of the general 
public and target groups; promotion of the 
development and use of measures for 
assessing effectiveness and new surveys 
where existing information is inadequate, 
including Eurobarometer surveys. 2. Promotion of initiatives to verify 
and disseminate existing information on 
the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of 
the general public and of certain target 
groups with regard to HIV/AIDS and 
STDs. and on the preventive measures 
taken in the European Community; 
devising of new Eurobarometer surveys on 
changes in behaviour patterns in response 
to AIDS; 
2 a (new) 
Collection, analysis and promotion of the 
dissemination of information concerning 
preventive measures; promotion of the 
development and use of evaluation 
methods for determining the effectiveness 
of preventive measures and information 
campaigns aimed at the general public and 
target groups; 
\C~ 
B. Measures for children and young 
people 
3. Encouragement of initiatives to 
ascertain and disseminate information 
about children's and young people's 
knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in 
relation to HIV/AIDS and STDs, to 
examine current practice in providing them 
with information both within and outside 
formal settings such as schools and 
training institutions and to promote the 
exchange of educational and training 
material, and the setting up of pilot 
projects and networks. 3. Examination and 
present practices as evaluation of 
regards the 
dissemination of information within and 
outside official structures such as schools. 
sports clubs and training centres; 
promotion of exchanges of materials and 
of teaching and training methods, and 
support for pilot projects aimed in 
particular at groups of young people 
lacking a formal structure; to this end, 
development of exchanges of educational 
and training materials suited to every stage 
of the individual's development, and 
support for pilot projects aimed in 
particular at groups of young people 
lacking a formal educational structure 
C. Prevention of HIV and STD 
transmission 
4. Examination and exchanges of 
information on problems and situations 
related to groups at risk (drug users, sex 
workers, homosexuals and bisexuals), risk 
situations (mobile populations and border 
areas, penal institutions); and modes of 
transmission; exchange of experience on 
harm-reduction measures and preventive 
actions; and promotion of appropriate 
preventive measures and of pilot projects. 4. Examination and exchange of 
information concerning the problems and 
situations especially of persons at greatest 
risk of contamination (recipients of 
multiple blood transfusions! persons 
engaging in high-risk behaviour (injection 
of drugs, prostitution, unsafe sexual 
practices, etc.). or persons in particular 
circumstances (prisoners, the military, 
tourists, migrants and frontier dwellers, 
and concerning modes of transmission; 
exchange of experience on prevention 
campaigns and measures aimed at reducing 
risks; promotion of appropriate preventive 
measures and pilot projects; 
4 a (new) 
Exchanges of information concerning 
messages and the promotion of appropriate 
measures to disseminate effective 
messages aimed at the general public, 
notably through campaigns to inform, 
educate and raise the awareness of the 
general public on means of protecting 
themselves against the risk of transmission 
via sex, the problems which these means 
pose, and the use of such means; 
5. Promotion of information, advice 
and counselling to pregnant women who 
may be at risk of transmitting HIV to their 
babies; exchange of views and experience 
on screening pregnant women; and co­
ordination of research on minimizing 
mother-child transmission. 
T 
D. Social and psychological support 
and combating discrimination 
6. Exchanges of experience and 
information concerning models of 
assistance and support, including the 
particular difficulties facing families with 
infected members, and concerning policies 
and practices on screening and 
discriminatory situations, promotion of 
analyses and pilot projects on the psycho­
social aspects of the disease, and the 
setting up of networks of organizations 
providing information and assistance. 6. Exchanges of experience and 
information concerning models of 
assistance and support for those with HIV, 
those with AIDS and their families and 
friends. Promotion of studies, pilot projects 
and actions on the psvcho-social aspects of 
HIV/AIDS. Preparation and distribution of 
bulletins and directories containing up-to-
date information on the organizations 
providing information and assistance; 
encouragement of networks of associations 
dispensing information and psycho-social 
assistance. Analysis of existing or potential 
discriminatory situations. Establishment of 
a record of the measures taken by the 
Member States to combat all forms of 
discrimination, especially in housing, 
insurance, lending, housing, education and 
health care. Exchange of information and 
experience in this field, particularly as 
regards policy and practice concerning 
HIV tests; 
II. Specific Community measures 
for certain communicable 
diseases 
A. Actions related to vaccination 
7. Support for initiatives designed to 
produce information on levels of 
vaccination cover in the Community, 
especially among children, at-risk groups 
and persons living in certain risk 
situations, against communicable diseases 
preventable by vaccination; promotion of 
initiatives designed to improve the 
vaccination cover of the general public, 
and especially of at-risk groups and 
persons living in certain risk situations; 
encouragement of measures designed to 
match vaccination schedules to the 
epidemiological context. 
B. Creation and development of 
networks 
1°. Surveillance 
8. Contribute to improving the quality 
of Member States' surveillance systems, 
taking into account the views of servers 
and users, and assist in the development of 
networks, based on agreed methodologies 
and conditions of transmission of 
information, prior consultation and 
coordination of responses. 
13 
9. Promote knowledge and exchanges 
of experience on the ways in which 
surveillance results of nosocomial 
infections are analysed, processed and 
used by the actors in the field, and 
encourage actions to increase awareness of 
the problems and inclusion of comparable 
and reliable data on nosocomial infections 
in routine surveys concerning hospital 
conditions, and support the creation of 
new surveillance networks for such 
infections. 
2°. Dissemination of epidemiological 
information 
10. Contribute, in particular by the 
provision of the logistical support 
necessary, to the production and 
dissemination of a regular information 
notice and of a European Community 
bulletin on communicable diseases 
surveillance, comprising both routine 
surveillance data and reports on specific 
investigations. 
C. Information, education and 
training 
1 1. Encouragement of exchanges 
between Member States on information 
campaigns at all levels, development of 
ways of linking and reinforcing 
campaigns, such as provision of specific 
materials; utilisation of telephone and 
other response mechanisms, and 
development and promotion of activities to 
complement national efforts, including the 
setting up of networks and the exchange of 
experience and expertise. 11- Evaluation of the impact of 
information campaigns on sexually 
transmissible diseases and their prevention, 
taking account of assessment findings; 
encouragement of exchanges between 
member States on information campaigns 
at all levels, development, of ways of 
linking and reinforcing campaigns in the 
Community, such as provision of specific 
materials; utilisation of telephone and 
other response mechanisms, and 
development and promotion of activities to 
complement national efforts, including the 
setting up or strengthening of networks 
and the exchange of experience and 
expertise. 
1© 
12. Examination of current training 
programmes for health and other 
professionals, and for those whose work 
brings them into contact with certain 
communicable diseases; identification of 
weaknesses and gaps, and devising and 
promotion of new further training 
opportunities and programmes. 12. Studies and exchanges of 
experience concerning the training given to 
health professionals and persons who, by 
virtue of their work, are in contact with 
certain communicable diseases or who can 
act to prevent such diseases, including 
persons employed to provide social and 
psychological counselling to HIV-positive 
persons and their families and friends with 
a view to identifying, the weaknesses and 
gaps and helping to develop and promote 
new further training programmes 
especially in the field of epidemiology; 
promotion of exchanges among the health 
professionals involved and of experiences 
in this area. 
13. Improvement of public health 
practices with regard to the routine 
surveillance of infectious diseases and 
epidemic outbreaks whenever and 
wherever these occur in the Community; 
development of a Community network of 
public health epidemiologists with a view 
to defining common methods and tools 
and enhancing the capacity for coordinated 
response. 
M 
D. Early detection and systematic 
screening D. Early detection and screening 
14. Promotion of investigations on the 
effectiveness and feasibility of screening 
for certain types of communicable diseases 
(tuberculosis, hepatitis, etc.). 
15. Support for the training of health 
personnel, in particular in the context of 
early detection and systematic screening of 
communicable diseases; cost-benefit 
analysis of screening for different types of 
communicable disease, in particular among 
pregnant women. 15. Support for the training of health 
personnel, in particular in the context of 
early detection and screening of 
communicable diseases; cost-benefit 
analysis of screening for different types of 
communicable disease, in particular among 
pregnant women. 
Hb 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(95) 209 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 05 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-234-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-89198-X 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg 
2.3