A4-0333/98

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 pollution-related diseases in the context of the framework for action in the field of public health (1999-2001) (C4-0340/98 - 97/0153(COD))(Codecision procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0340/98 - 97/0153(COD) ((OJ C 227, 20.7.1998, p. 10.)),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 104, 6.4.1998, p.133.)) on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council COM(97)0266 ((OJ C 214, 16.7.1997, p. 7.)),

- having regard to the amended Commission proposal COM(98)0231 ((OJ C 156, 21.5.1998, p.21.)),

- 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 (A4-0333/98),

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 the Commission.

(Amendment 1)

Recital 15

>Original text>

15. Whereas, in order to increase the value and impact of the programme, there should be monitoring and continuous evaluation of the actions undertaken with particular regard to their effectiveness and the achievement of the objectives set;

>Text following EP vote>

15.

Whereas, in order to increase the value and impact of the programme, there should be monitoring and continuous evaluation of the actions undertaken with particular regard to their effectiveness and the achievement of the objectives set with a view, where appropriate, to making the necessary adjustments;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 17

>Original text>

17. Whereas it is appropriate to provide for light comitology arrangements for this programme which are appropriate to its limited duration and developmental nature;

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 5)

Article 1(2)

>Original text>

2. The general objective of this programme is to help to develop policies and strategies, in the field of health and the environment, focusing on the prevention of pollution-related diseases, by:

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2. The aim of this programme is to contribute towards ensuring a high level of health protection against pollution-related diseases by improving knowledge and understanding about health risks associated with them and how to address them, by encouraging:

>Original text>

(a) improving information on pollution-related diseases; and

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(a) actions to improve information on pollution-related diseases;

>Original text>

(b) improving understanding about the perception, assessment and management of these diseases and the effectiveness of preventive actions.

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(b) risk perception and risk management with respect to pollution-related diseases;

(ba) actions to prevent pollution-related diseases and allergies.

(Amendment 6)

Article 3

>Original text>

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 actions, in particular the programme of Community action on health monitoring within the framework for action in the field of public health (1997 to 2001) adopted by Decision No 1400/97/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and actions in the environmental and research fields.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission

shall take the necessary measures to 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 actions, in particular the programme of Community action on health monitoring within the framework for action in the field of public health (1997 to 2001) adopted by Decision No 1400/97/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and actions in the environmental and research fields. It shall give notification of the measures no later than six months after the adoption of this Decision.

(Amendment 7)

Article 4(1)

>Original text>

1. The financial framework for the implementation of this programme for the period referred to in Article 1 is hereby set at ECU 3.9 million.

>Text following EP vote>

1.

The financial framework for the implementation of this programme for the period referred to in Article 1 is hereby set at ECU 7 million.

(Amendment 8)

Article 7(2)

>Original text>

2. In the third year of operation of this programme, the Commission shall submit an evaluation report to the European Parliament and to the Council. This report shall also be submitted to the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

>Text following EP vote>

2. At the end of this programme, the Commission shall submit a full evaluation report to the European Parliament and to the Council. This report shall also be submitted to the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

(Amendment 9)

Article 7(3a) (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

3a. On the basis of the report referred to in paragraph 2, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council proposals on specific measures to be taken to combat pollution-related diseases.

(Amendment 10)

ANNEX (I)(1)

>Original text>

1. Establishing priorities for the identification of those diseases in which specific pollutants are thought to play a role, inter alia by comparing the prevalence and/or incidence of such diseases with data on environmental factors in the different parts of the Community in order to establish any relationship between them.

>Text following EP vote>

1.

Establishing priorities for the identification of those diseases in which specific pollutants are thought to play a role, inter alia by comparing the prevalence and/or incidence of such diseases with data on environmental factors in the different parts of the Community in order to establish any relationship between them, and informing the public.

(Amendment 11)

ANNEX (I)(2a) (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

2a. Contributing to the realisation of Community-wide coordinated epidemiological studies designed to increase knowledge of the specific impact of certain pollutants.

(Amendment 12)

ANNEX (II), title

>Original text>

II. ACTIONS TO IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE PERCEPTION, ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THESE DISEASES AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PREVENTIVE ACTIONS

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II.

ACTIONS TO IMPROVE PERCEPTION, ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THESE DISEASES

(Amendment 13)

ANNEX (II) Objective

>Original text>

Objective: to increase the level of knowledge and understanding about the perception, assessment and management of pollution-related health risks and the effectiveness of preventive actions

>Text following EP vote>

Objective:

to improve the level of knowledge and understanding about pollution-related health risks and their perception, assessment and management

(Amendment 14)

ANNEX (II)(1a) (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

(1a) Supporting actions aimed at achieving better public understanding of risks, their assessment and management; promoting work on the public perception of pollution-related risks to health throughout the Community.

(Amendment 15)

ANNEX (II)(2)

>Original text>

2. Promoting actions and exchanges of information on the methods of increasing the level of knowledge of the general public and opinion-formers about pollution-related risks to health, their assessment and management; promoting work on the public perceptions of pollution-related risks to health throughout the Community and of the impact on pollution and health of the various policies.

>Text following EP vote>

2.

Promoting actions and exchanges of information on the methods of increasing the level of knowledge of the general public and opinion-formers about pollution-related risks to health, their assessment and management; promoting work on the public perceptions of pollution-related risks to health throughout the Community and of the impact on pollution and health of the various policies; promoting knowledge of behaviour patterns, ways of life and eating habits that could reduce the health risks caused by various types of pollution.

(Amendment 16)

ANNEX (IIa) (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

IIa. POLLUTION-RELATED DISEASES AND ALLERGIES

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Objective: to support activities aimed at preventing and reducing the numbers of these diseases.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

1. Contributing to the provision of information to the general public and to specific groups concerning these diseases and the agents that play a role in them; supporting the development of ways to reinforce and link information campaigns; contributing to the efforts of self-help or support groups active in the field of pollution-related diseases and allergies.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

2. Contributing to the comparison of various education and training initiatives used to combat these diseases, with a view to promoting best practice; reviewing the effectiveness of the preventive measures undertaken, including cost/benefit analyses.