No C 50/56 Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 2. 87 
Proposal for a Council Decision adopting an action plan, 1987 to 1989, on informing the general 
public and training of the health professions in the context of the programme 'Europe against 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social 
Committee, 
Whereas, pursuant to Article 2 of the Treaty, it is the 
Community's task to promote throughout the Community a 
harmonious development of economic activities, a 
continuous and balanced expansion, an increase in stability, 
and an accelerated raising of the standard of living; 
Whereas the European Councils held in June 1985 in Milan 
and in December 1985 in Luxembourg underlined the 
advantages of launching a European programme against 
cancer; 
Whereas the European Council in December 1986 in London 
decided that 1989 should be the European information on 
cancer year; 
Whereas the Council has adopted several Decisions 
concerning research in medicine and health ('), and a 
proposed Regulation in the same field for the period 1987 to 
1989 has already been submitted to Council; 
Whereas the Council and the representatives of the 
Governments of the Member States, meeting within the 
Council, have adopted a resolution on a programme of 
action of the European Communities against cancer (2), 
which is concerned principally with cancer prevention; 
Whereas the proposed texts or those already adopted are an 
important part of the programme commonly called 'Europe 
against cancer', which is a follow-up to the abovementioned 
conclusions of the European Council; 
Whereas, within the context of the said programme, the 
proposed texts or those already adopted should be completed 
by a number of actions in the field of information for the 
general public and training of members of the health 
professions; 
(2) Decision 78/167/EEC, OJ No L 52, 23. 2. 1978, p. 20, 
Decision 78/1687EEC, OJ No L 52, 23. 2. 1978, p. 24, 
Decision 78/169/EEC, OJ No L 52, 23. 2. 1978, p. 28, 
Decision 81/21/EEC, OJ No L 43, 13. 2. 1981, p. 12, 
Decision 82/616/EEC, OJ No L 248, 24. 8. 1982, p. 12. 
OJ No C 184, 23. 7. 1986, p. 19. Whereas the actions which have already been proposed or 
established will only have their full value when they are 
accompanied by actions covering all members of the 
population; 
Whereas it would be advisable to reduce the production and 
consumption of tobacco in the European Community, and at 
the same time to organize Community campaigns to increase 
public awareness of the campaign against smoking; 
Whereas it would be advisable to encourage the consumption 
of agricultural products with recognized beneficial effects on 
health and the prevention of cancer, such as fresh fruits and 
vegetables or cereals with a high fibre content; 
Whereas is would be advisable to make the public aware of 
the campaign against carcinogenic agents; 
Whereas it would be advisable, during the European 
information on cancer year, to organize and promote a 
programme of events and activities, especially designed to 
increase the awareness of the public, teachers and members 
of the health professions regarding the campaign against 
cancer; 
Whereas pooling efforts, resources and experience is the best 
way to ensure success in the campaign against cancer; 
Whereas duplications of effort should be avoided by the 
development of common basic information modules for the 
public, and for the training of members of the health 
professions, as well as the promotion of exchanges of 
experience; 
Whereas the Commission has drawn up a general action plan 
in the field of information for the general public and training 
of members of the health professions, the details of which are 
set out in the Annex; 
Whereas the Treaty does not provide specific powers to these 
ends, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
In the context of the action plan set out in the Annex in the 
field of information for the general public concerning cancer, 
and the training of members of the health professions, the 
actions described in Part A of the Annex are hereby adopted 
for a period of two years from January 1988, as a 
complement to the 'prevention' and 'research' Chapters of the 
programme 'Europe against cancer'. 
26. 2. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 50/57 
necessary for the action described in Part A of the Annex in 
1988 and in 1989 is 22 million ECU. 
Article 4 
The Commission will inform the Council of the state of 
progress of this work, and will submit to it, as well as to the 
European Parliament, a report on the accomplishment of the 
action plan 1987 to 1989, accompanied by appropriate 
proposals for the period beginning in 1990. 
ANNEX 
A. ACTIONS ADOPTED UNDER THE PRESENT DECISION 
I. INFORMING THE PUBLIC 
From 1988 
A 1: Organization in 1988 of a European week against cancer to be used as a test campaign for the '1989 — 
European information on cancer year' 
A 2: Intensification in 1988 of the campaign carried out in 1987 to inform the public and increase public 
awareness of the campaign against cancer 
A 3: Provision of teaching material relating to health education from 1988 
A 4: Contribution to the financing of television health education broadcasts on the prevention and treatment of 
cancer from 1988 
A 5: Interesting teachers and the health professions in 1988 in dissemination of the European cancer prevention 
commandments in 1989, European information on cancer year 
In 1989 
A 6: Organization in 1989 of a media campaign aimed at the general public: '12 nations, 12 days of action against 
cancer' 
A 7: Intensification in 1989 of the campaigns carried out in 1987 and 1988 to inform the public and increase 
public awareness of the fight against cancer 
II. TRAINING OF THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS 
A 8: Joint preparation and exchange of teaching materials, from 1987, and testing of this in 1989 during the 
European information on cancer year 
B. ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION IN THE EXERCISE OF ITS POWERS OF 
MANAGEMENT OR INITIATIVE 
I. INFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC 
B 1: Establishment in 1987 of a directory of the private organizations against cancer in Europe 
B 2: Comparative survey in 1987 of private and public cancer prevention information campaigns Article 2 
The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation 
of the action described in the Annex. 
Article 3 
The estimated amount of the Community contribution 
No C 50/58 Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 2. 87 
B 3: Establishment from 1987 of a comparative survey of health education programmes in European 
schools 
B 4: Bringing cancer prevention and the 'Europe against cancer' programme to the attention of the media from 
1987 
B 5: Eurobarometer survey in April 1987 of Europeans' attitudes to cancer and its prevention 
B 6: Financial contribution to television cancer prevention broadcasts for the general public from 1987 
B 7: Dissemination from 1987 of the European code against cancer at sports and cultural events sponsored by 
the European Community 
B 8: Public meeting at the end of 1987 to mark the end of the first year of the 'Europe against cancer' 
programme 
B 9: Preparation from 1987 of the actions to be carried out in 1989, 'European cancer prevention year' 
B 10: Drawing-up of a European resolution on health education in schools from 1988 
II. TRAINING OF THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS 
B 11: Comparative study, from 1987, of the systems of university training for health care 
B 12: Exchange of experience on continuous training from 1987 
B 13: Stimulation of the mobility of medical and nursing students from 1987 
B 14: Formulation of proposals for improving the organization of studies in the cancer field from 1988