A4-0229/95

Decision on the common position established by the Council with a view to the adoption of a European Parliament and Council Decision adopting a programme of Community action on health promotion, information, education and training within the framework for action in the field of public health (1996-2000) (C4-0275/95 - 94/0130(COD))

(Codecision procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0275/95 - 94/0130(COD),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 89, 10.4.1995, p. 72.)) on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council, COM(94)0202 ((OJ C 252, 9.9.1994, p. 3.)),

- having regard to Article 189b(2) of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to Rule 72 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0229/95),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

2. Calls on the Commission to support Parliament's amendments in the opinion it is required to deliver pursuant to Article 189b(2)(d) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to approve all Parliament's amendments, amend its common position accordingly and definitively adopt the act;

4. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission.

(Amendment 1)

Recital 16a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(16a) Whereas the programme must take account of past and current measures implemented in the Member States either by the competent authorities or by other parties involved in health policy;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 19

>Original text>

(19) Whereas it is important that the Commission ensure that this programme is implemented in close cooperation with the Member States; whereas, to that end, provision must be made for a procedure to ensure that Member States are fully involved in implementing the plan;

>Text following EP vote>

(19) Whereas it is important that the Commission ensure that this programme is implemented in close cooperation with the Member States;

(Amendment 3)

Article 2(3)

>Original text>

3. The Member States are called upon to take the necessary measures to coordinate and organize the implementation of the programme at national level.

>Text following EP vote>

3. The Member States are called upon to take the necessary measures to implement the programme.

(Amendment 4)

Article 3(1)

>Original text>

1. The total appropriation for implementation of the programme for the period referred to in Article 1 shall be ECU 30 million.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The total appropriation for implementation of the programme for the period referred to in Article 1 shall be ECU 35 million.

(Amendment 5)

Article 4

>Original text>

The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that there is consistency and complementarity between the Community actions to be implemented under the programme and other relevant Community programmes and initiatives, within the framework of public health action and particularly in the fields of education and vocational training (SOCRATES and LEONARDO programmes), research (BIOMED II) and health and safety at work.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall ensure that there is consistency and complementarity between the Community actions to be implemented under the programme and other relevant Community programmes and initiatives, within the framework of public health action and particularly in the fields of education and vocational training (SOCRATES and LEONARDO programmes), research (BIOMED II) and health and safety at work.

(Amendment 6)

Article 5(2)(c)

>Original text>

(c) the arrangements, criteria and procedures for selecting and financing projects under the programme, including those involving cooperation with international organizations competent in the field of public health and participation of the countries mentioned in Article 6(2);

>Text following EP vote>

(c) the arrangements, criteria and procedures for selecting projects under the programme, including those involving cooperation with international organizations competent in the field of public health and participation of the countries mentioned in Article 6(2);

(Amendment 7)

Article 5(4), introductory paragraph

>Original text>

The representative of the Commission shall keep the Committee regularly informed of:

>Text following EP vote>

The representative of the Commission shall keep the Committee and the appropriate European Parliament committee regularly informed of:

(Amendment 8)

Article 6(1)

>Original text>

1. In the course of implementing the programme, cooperation with non-member countries and with international organizations competent in the field of public health, in particular the World Health Organization and the Council of Europe, shall be encouraged and implemented in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 5.

>Text following EP vote>

1. In the course of implementing the programme, cooperation with non-member countries and with international governmental or non-governmental organizations competent in the field of public health or actively concerned with social integration, including the World Health Organization and the Council of Europe, shall be reinforced and implemented in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 5.

(Amendment 9)

ANNEX (A)(2a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

2a. Establishing a European study programme designed to harmonize Members States' definitions and scientific data in the health field, in conjunction with the other specific programmes, particularly the 'health indicators' programme.

(Amendment 10)

ANNEX (A)(2b) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

2b. Promotion of and support for research programmes in epidemiology, in conjunction with the other specific programmes, particularly the BIOMED programme. Promotion of a 'social' epidemiology of health.

(Amendment 11)

ANNEX (B)(3)

>Original text>

3. Support for integrated health promotion measures and projects relating to disadvantaged or vulnerable groups and particular areas, and incorporating the intersectoral dimension of health promotion.

>Text following EP vote>

3. Support for integrated health promotion measures and projects relating in particular to groups which are disadvantaged as a result of their vulnerability or social exclusion, such as the elderly, of social and cultural differences (immigrants) or of living in unfavourable areas or environments, by including health promotion in programmes to combat social exclusion and situations of vulnerability.

(Amendment 12)

ANNEX (B)(4)

>Original text>

4. Examination, in conjunction with the studies being carried out as part of the fight against cancer, of the role of balanced nutrition as a preventive measure and of nutrition in the etiology of diseases.

Support for information to the public to improve its awareness of basic nutritional principles.

(Text as agreed with the lawyer-linguists of the Council)

>Text following EP vote>

4. Examination of the role of nutrition and other lifestyle factors in the etiology of diseases and dissemination of information to the public to promote greater understanding of basic nutritional principles and new techniques and methods of presenting and preparing foodstuffs.

(Amendment 20)

ANNEX (B)(4a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

4a. Promotion, in consultation with the Member States, of greater integration of health education, including sex education, in school curricula and development of exchanges of experience, teaching materials, and training staff inter alia by means of pilot projects, in order to promote healthy lifestyles and behaviour.

Support for the European Network of Health Promoting Schools in cooperation with WHO and the Council of Europe.

(Amendment 21)

ANNEX (B)(5a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

5a. Support for and coordination and assessment of projects relating to health education, including sex education, aimed at young persons and adolescents who have left the school system, devised and implemented either by official bodies or by private associations and non-governmental organizations, in settings such as sport and leisure activities and socio-cultural activity centres, including innovative means of providing continuing structured health education.

(Amendment 13)

ANNEX (B)(6a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

6a. Promotion of exchanges of experience and information and support for a campaign concerning sex education and contraception.

(Amendment 14)

ANNEX (B)(6b) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

6b. Promotion of exchanges of experience and information and support for preventive measures in the field of allergies and the disorders caused by them.

(Amendment 15)

ANNEX (B)(6c) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

6c. Support for centres which collect and disseminate independent information about the rational use and effects of medicines.

(Amendment 16)

ANNEX (B)(7a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

7a. Support for measures to promote regular physical activity and to teach sound physical and mental hygiene practices.

(Amendment 17)

ANNEX (B)(7b) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

7b. Support for studies on ageing populations in the European Union, promotion of exchanges of experience and information on the prevention of age-related illnesses in conjunction with the other specific programmes.

(Amendment 18)

ANNEX (C)(8)

>Original text>

8. Efforts to improve knowledge of the psychological, sociological and cultural mechanisms and the economic factors involved and of information methods to encourage the adoption of healthy lifestyles; support for the assessment of results and for dissemination of the best practices.

>Text following EP vote>

8. Support for and coordination of work carried out in the Member States to improve knowledge of the psychological, sociological and cultural mechanisms and the economic factors involved and of information methods to encourage the adoption of healthy lifestyles; support for the assessment of results and for dissemination of the best practices.

(Amendment 22)

ANNEX (D)(11a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

11a. Promotion of exchanges of experience and information and support for a campaign concerning sex education and contraception.

(Amendment 19)

ANNEX (D)(12)

>Original text>

12. Support for health education projects aimed at young persons and adolescents who have left the school system, in settings such as sport and leisure activities and socio-cultural activity centres, and support for their evaluation.

>Text following EP vote>

12. Support for and coordination and evaluation of health education projects aimed at young persons and adolescents who have left the school system, devised and implemented either by official organizations or by private associations and non-governmental organizations, in settings such as sport and leisure activities and socio-cultural activity centres.