A4-0230/95

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 the prevention of AIDS and certain other communicable diseases within the framework for action in the field of public health (1996- 2000) (C4-0276/95 - 94/0222(COD))

(Codecision procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0276/95 - 94/0222(COD),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 126, 22.5.1995, p. 60.)) on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council, COM(94)0413 ((OJ C 333, 29.11.1994, p. 34.)),

- 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 (A4-0230/95),

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 14)

Recital 2

>Original text>

(2) Whereas AIDS is at present an incurable disease regarded as a major scourge, to combat which coordinated action is required in the areas both of research and of prevention;

>Text following EP vote>

(2) Whereas AIDS is at present an incurable disease and major scourge, to combat which action is required at both Community and world level, in the areas of therapeutic research and prevention; whereas the only medicine available merely slows down the disease in infected persons; whereas, to date, the condom is the only preventive measure able to counteract the sexual transmission of the HIV virus, given its modes of transmission;

(Amendment 15)

Recital 2a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(2a) Whereas, to date, there is neither a cure for nor a vaccine to treat AIDS; whereas a change must be brought about in attitudes concerning infected persons;

(Amendment 1)

Recital 8

>Original text>

(8) Whereas the European Community can make a 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;

>Text following EP vote>

(8) Whereas the European Community is in a position to 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;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 10

>Original text>

(10) Whereas the actions undertaken at Community level in the field of AIDS need to be continued, extended to cover certain other communicable diseases, in particular sexually transmissible diseases (STDs), and consolidated within the framework of the action in the field of public health set out by the Commission1;

>Text following EP vote>

(10) Whereas the actions undertaken at Community level in the field of AIDS need to be continued, extended to cover certain other communicable diseases, in particular sexually transmissible diseases (STDs), and consolidated within the framework of the action in the field of public health set out by the Commission1 and in the framework of Chapter VII of the White Paper on social policy2;

>Original text>

1 COM(93)0559, 24.11.1993.

>Text following EP vote>

1 COM(93)0559, 24.11.1993.

2 COM(94)0333, 27.7.1994.

(Amendment 3)

Recital 17

>Original text>

(17) Whereas it is important that the Commission ensure implementation of the programme 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 programme;

>Text following EP vote>

(17) Whereas it is important that the Commission ensure implementation of the programme in close cooperation with the Member States;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 19a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(19a) Whereas this programme should take account of previous or current initiatives implemented in the Member States either by the appropriate authorities or by others involved in health policy;

(Amendment 16)

Recital 20a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(20a) Whereas the provision of information to children and young people must begin at a very early age in the general context of information on hygiene and sexuality and health education;

(Amendment 5)

Article 1(2)

>Original text>

2. The aim of this programme is to help in reducing mortality and morbidity due to communicable diseases and reducing the risk of infection by the AIDS virus or other infectious agents, by encouraging cooperation between Member States, supporting their operations and promoting coordination between their prevention policies and programmes.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The aim of this programme is to help contain the spread of AIDS and reduce mortality and morbidity due to communicable diseases by encouraging cooperation between Member States, promoting coordination between prevention policies and programmes and supporting the activities of non-governmental organizations, including sufferers' associations.

(Amendment 6)

Article 2(3)

>Original text>

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

>Text following EP vote>

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

(Amendment 7)

Article 4

>Original text>

The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that there is consistency and complementarity between actions to be implemented under this programme and the other relevant Community programmes and initiatives, including the biomedical and health research programme under the Community's framework programme for research and Community action in developing countries.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall ensure that there is consistency and complementarity between actions to be implemented under this programme and the other relevant Community programmes and initiatives, including the biomedical and health research programme under the Community's framework programme for research and Community action in developing countries.

(Amendment 8)

Article 5(2)(c)

>Original text>

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

>Text following EP vote>

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

(Amendment 9)

Article 5(4), introductory sentence

>Original text>

4. The representative of the Commission shall keep the Committee regularly informed about:

>Text following EP vote>

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

(Amendment 10)

Article 6(1)

>Original text>

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

>Text following EP vote>

1. In the course of implementing this programme, cooperation with non-member countries and with international organizations in particular the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the Council of Europe, and non-governmental organizations competent in the field of public health or particularly involved in the fight against AIDS and the prevention thereof, will be encouraged and implemented in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 5.

(Amendment 11)

ANNEX(A)(6a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

6a. Taking the necessary action at Community level to ensure maximum safety of blood products: establishment of donor selection rules and procedures (in particular to ensure anonymity and the donation of blood free of charge), harmonization of the number and nature of the screening tests carried out on donor samples, establishment of a network enabling each sample to be monitored and establishment of a code of good blood transfusion practice.

(Amendment 12)

ANNEX (B)(7)

>Original text>

7. Examination of and exchanges of information on the problems and situations of persons whose behaviour places them at risk (parenteral drug use, prostitution and at-risk sexual relations, etc), or placed in particular situations (travel, penal institutions, etc) and modes of transmission; exchange of experience on preventive action and risk-reduction measures; promotion of appropriate preventive measures and of pilot projects.

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

>Text following EP vote>

7. Coordination of studies and information on the problems and situations of persons whose behaviour places them at risk (parenteral drug use, prostitution and at-risk sexual relations, etc), or placed in particular situations (travel, penal institutions, etc) and modes of transmission; exchange of experience on preventive action and risk-reduction measures; promotion of appropriate preventive measures and of pilot projects, in particular:

- unrestricted sale of good-quality condoms, with instructions for use;

- distribution of single-use sterile syringes, with provisions to collect them after use and arrange for their safe disposal,

- development of substitution treatment programmes,

- campaign emphasizing the need to avoid sexual practices which are unsafe or do not avail of the protection offered by condoms.

(Amendment 17)

ANNEX (C)(13), third paragraph (new)

>Text following EP vote>

The promotion of information campaigns on the utilization and the proper use of condoms as the only means of combating transmission of the HIV virus.

(Amendment 13)

ANNEX (D)(20)

>Original text>

20. Examination of actual or potential discriminatory situations in the Member States. Exchange of information on measures taken in the Member States to avoid or combat discrimination, particularly as regards employment, insurance, credit, housing, education and healthcare. Exchange of information and experience on HIV-testing policies and practices.

>Text following EP vote>

20. Examination of actual or potential discriminatory situations in the Member States. Exchange of information on measures taken in the Member States to avoid or combat discrimination, particularly as regards employment, insurance, credit, housing, education and healthcare. Exchange of information and experience on HIV-testing policies and adoption of a code of good practice.

(Amendment 18)

ANNEX (D)(20a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

20a. Aid for measures designed to achieve the integration of HIV-positive children, especially at school, so as to guarantee them a normal life which, nevertheless, allows them to be monitored and protected.