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ir COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 15.04.1998 
COM(1998) 229 final 
97/0132 (COD) 
AMENDED PROPOSAL 
for a European Parliament and Council Decision 
adopting a programme of Community action from 1999 to 2003 
on injury prevention in 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 : 
In its communication1 on the framework for Community action in the field of public 
health, the Commission described the principles and strategy to be pursued in 
undertaking Community activities with a view to achieving the health protection 
objectives set out in Articles 3(o) and 129 of the Treaty establishing the European 
Community. The Community's role is defined therein as underpinning the efforts of the 
Member States in the public health field, assisting in the formulation and 
implementation of objectives and strategies, and contributing to the provision of a high 
level of health protection across the Community, setting as a target the best results 
already obtained in a given area anywhere in the Community. 
In accordance with Article 129, the Commission is putting forward proposals for 
adoption by the European Parliament and the Council for supporting action contributing 
to the provision of a high level of health protection. The above-mentioned Commission 
communication sets out criteria with a view to determining- the priority fields for 
Community action programmes. By reference to these criteria, injury prevention has 
been pinpointed as one of the priority fields. The present Commission proposal is based 
on Article 129; advance notice of it was given in the Commission's annual programme 
of work. It accords with the principle of shared responsibility between the Community 
and the Member States, and seeks to promote public health by contributing to measures 
seeking to reduce the scale of the injury problem. 
The Commission adopted its decision and forwarded the proposal for a decision to the 
European Parliament and the Council on 14 May 19972. 
- The Economic and Social Committee adopted its opinion on 30 October 19973, 
welcoming the action programme and the approach proposed by the Commission in 
its communication and its proposal for a decision. The Committee recommended that 
sufficient financial resources be allocated up to 2003, having regard to the 
programme's excellent value for money. It called for the various socio-economic 
partners and interest groups to be involved in the implementation of the programme, 
and underlined the need for consistency and complementarity with other Community 
programmes and action, more especially: 
- extension and improvement of the old "Ehlass"' system; 
- the need for linkage between the programme and Directive 92/5 9/EC on general 
product safety; 
- the question of home accidents, this being one of the fields within which health 
indicators are to be established pursuant to European Parliament and Council 
Decision 1400/97/EC adopting a Community action programme on health 
monitoring within the framework for action in the field of public health. 
1 COM(93) 559, 24.11.1993 
-> OJC 202, 2.7.1997 
OJC 19,21.1.1998 
2-3 
The Committee of the Regions adopted its opinion on 18 September 19974, endorsing the 
Commission's proposal and stressing the importance of involving the inter-sectoral group 
of experts and of cooperating with local and regional authorities. It recommended a 
number of measures concerning the maximum level of alcohol in the blood, designer drugs 
and road accidents in association with drug-taking. In its reply to the Committee's 
opinion, the Commission pointed out that all these recommendations were already 
covered by ongoing measures. The Committee also stressed the need for an independent 
secretariat ("health observatory"). The Commission will not be following up this 
recommendation because of the danger of duplication of effort with work in progress at 
the WHO, the OECD and within the Commission itself under the Community action 
programme on health monitoring. 
The European Parliament adopted its opinion at first reading on 11 March 1998, setting 
out 28 amendments to the Commission's proposal. These amendments seek to add further 
detail to, and extend the scope of, the proposal for a decision, with special reference to: 
- self-inflicted injuries other than attempted suicides; 
- intentional injuries resulting from violence to children and women and in sporting 
contexts (e.g. hooliganism) and their impact on public health; 
- development of two Community systems for collecting information on injuries within a 
broader definition of what is meant by an injury. Work undertaken under the old Ehlass 
system will have to be incorporated into the Commission proposal and improved, 
making use of modern information technologies. 
The Commission has accepted 23 of the amendments, either in whole (12) or in part (11). 
Because of this acceptance, it is necessary to submit an amended proposal, with the 
necessary changes being made to the Commission's proposal in terms of the recitals, the 
articles and the annex. The recent report on the operation of, and data collected by, the 
old Ehlass system over the period 1986-97," as presented to the "consumer" Council on 3 
November 1997, showed how useful the system was and highlighted the scale of the 
problem of unintentional injuries and their socio-economic impact. The Member States 
took a positive view of the old system and wanted to see it continued and, if possible, 
improved. The merits of the Commission's amended proposal lie in the fact that: 
- it brings in, through this programme, all the tools and measures needed to strengthen, 
extend to a broader concept of injury (i.e. intentional and unintentional injury, suicide 
and self-inflicted injury), use and exploit data from the previous system, more 
especially by using the existing data processing architecture of the EUPHIN network 
(European Union Public Health Information Network) developed as part of common-
interest projects under the computerised interchange of data between administrations 
(IDA)5 
4 OJC 379, 15.12.1997 
5 OJC 54, 21.2.1998, p. 3 
4: 
- it provides input for health indicators in fields relating to home and leisure accidents, 
mental health and product safety, as provided for in the Community action programme 
on health monitoring6; 
- it presents, having regard to the scale of the problem of intentional and unintentional 
injuries and their socio-economic impact in the European Union7, an exceptionally 
favourable cost-benefit ratio thanks to the collection and rapid exploitation of 
information on injuries, selection of the best ways of preventing such injuries at 
Community level, and epidemiological follow-up to such injuries. 
The Commission's opinion on each of the amendments adopted by the European 
Parliament is set out in the Annex. 
6 OJL 193, 22.7.1997; Decision No 1400/97/EC, 30.6.1997 
7 83 000 deaths a year due to home and leisure accidents: 43 000 deaths per year by suicide. 700 000 
attempted suicides: ECU 7.7 billion per year in terms of hospital expenditure and ECU 23 billion 
relating to the overall cost of unintentional injuries alone. 
ANNEX 
Amendment No 1 Commission opinion: accepted in part 
Experience acquired under the old EHLASS system will be taken into account and used to 
strengthen the Community added value of the Commission's proposal. 
Amendment.No 2 Commission opinion: accepted 
The report on the old EHLASSf system provided an estimated overall cost figure for home 
and leisure accidents which confirms this socio-economic impact. 
Amendment No 3 Commission opinion: accepted 
Bearing in mind the estimated total cost of home and leisure accidents set out in the 
above-mentioned report, even a minimal reduction in accidents will have a favourable 
cost-benefit impact. 
Amendment No 4 Commission opinion: accepted 
This amendment defines the new concept of injury and the target group (with the inclusion 
of "women"). 
o 
Amendment No 5 Commission opinion: accepted in part 
The collection and rapid exploitation of data will greatly enhance the programme's 
Community added value. The amended proposal will propose a different form of words to 
the old EHLASS system. 
Amendment No 6 Commission opinion: accepted 
This amendment adds a reference to collection systems and data protection. 
Amendment No 7 Commission opinion: accepted 
This amendment highlights the consistency and complementarity of Community action. 
Amendment No 8 Commission opinion: accepted 
The Commission can accept the idea of the definition of injury in its proposal being 
extended to intentional injury, and specifying particular target groups. The amendment is 
in line with WHO resolutions. 
Amendment No 9 Commission opinion: accepted 
Sporting activity forms part of the concept of unintentional injury as mentioned in the 
Commission's original proposal. The Commission can go along with the idea of the 
definition being extended to unintentional injury. 
Amendment No 10 Commission opinion: refused 
The Commission cannot accept this recital as it explains the reasons for each Community 
measure, and is too general. 
Amendment No 11 Commission opinion: accepted 
This amendment highlights the consistency and complementarity of Community action. 
Amendment No 12 Commission opinion: accepted in part 
This amendment highlights the consistency and complementarity of Community action, 
but needs to be reworded. 
Amendment No 13 Commission opinion: accepted in part .»# 
This amendment highlights the consistency and complementarity of Community action, 
but needs to be reworded and contain a reference to "common-interest projects" under the 
EDA programme 
Amendment No 14 Commission opinion: refused 
The Commission cannot enter into any such commitment, as this has to be left to the 
Commission's discretion during the life of the programme. 
Amendment No 15: Commission opinion: accepted in part 
This amendment needs rewording. 
Amendment No 16 Commission opinion: accepted 
This amendment redefines and clarifies the new concept of injuries and related action and 
systems, and makes clear reference to the epidemiological monitoring of injuries, as 
mentioned in the explanatory memorandum accompanying the Commission's original 
proposal. 
Amendment No 17 Commission opinion: accepted in part 
The Commission has to reword this amendment, which would include accidents arising 
from natural disasters. These are clearly excluded from the Commission's original 
proposal (footnote 45) and are covered by Community action in the field of civil 
protection. 
Amendment No 18 Commission opinion: accepted in part 
The Commission has to reword the text in terms of point (b) "information on injuries 
resulting from suicide and on self-inflicted injury" and with regard to the old EHLASS 
system. 
Amendment No 19 Commission opinion: accepted 
The ECU 14 million are the sum of the ECU 6.5 million proposed by the European 
Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee and the ECU 7.5 million from the transfer of 
the old EHLASS system from consumer policy to the programme. The total amount 
accords with the financial perspectives. 
Amendment No 20 Commission opinion: refused 
The Commission cannot accept this amendment because of the need for consistency with 
other Parliament and Council decisions on public health action programmes. 
Amendment No 21 Commission opinion: refused. 
The Commission's original proposal is in line with the decision on committee procedures. 
Amendment No 22 Commission opinion: accepted 
The rewording of the annex is in line with the amendments accepted by the Commission. 
Amendment No 23 Commission opinion: accepted in part 
The Commission has to reword the title of the chapter to read "suicide or self-inflicted 
injury". 
Amendment No 24 Commission opinion: accepted 
Amendment No 25 Commission opinion: accepted in part 
This amendment underlines what action has to be taken in the wake of the amendments 
proposed by Parliament and accepted by the Commission; nonetheless, the wording 
concerning EHLASS needs to be changed. 
Amendment No 26 Commission opinion: accepted in part 
The phrase "in conjunction with EHLASS" does not need to be mentioned as EHLASS is, 
as a system, an integral part of the programme. 
The idea of "notification to enforcement authorities" is covered by the rapid alert system 
for products under Directive 92/59/EC concerning general product safety. 
Amendment No 27 Commission opinion: refused 
The substance of this amendment is outside the scope of Article 129. 
Amendment No 28 Commission opinion: accepted in part 
The great majority of this amendment can be accepted; only the part "for example.... older 
people" is outside the scope of the measure. 
% 
AMENDED PROPOSAL 
for a European Parliament and Council Decision 
adopting a programme of Community action from 1999 to 2003 
on injury prevention in the framework for action 
in the field of public health 
in accordance with Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty 
[ ORIGINAL PROPOSAL I AMENDED ==== I 
OJ No C 202 of 02.07.1997 PROPOSAL 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social 
Social Committee, Committee2, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the 
Regions, Regions3, 
Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in 
Article 189b of the Treaty, Artide 18% of ^ TreQty 4 
1. Whereas injuries should be considered as one 
of the major health scourges referred to in Article 129 
throughout the European Community and a cause of 
substantial public concern; 
2. Whereas, in accordance with Article 3(o) of 
the Treaty, Community action shall include a 
contribution to the attainment of a high level of health 
protection; 
3. Whereas Article 129 expressly provides for 
Community competence in this field, by encouraging 
cooperation between the Member States and, if 
necessary, lending support to their action by 
promoting coordination of their policies and 
programmes, and by fostering cooperation with third 
countries and international organisations competent in 
the field of public health; whereas Community action 
should be directed towards the prevention of diseases, 
and the promotion of health education and 
information; 
I ; : 
1 COM(97) 178 final OJ No C 202 of 
02.07.1997 
I OJ No C 19 of 21.01.1998 
3-QJNoC379 of 15.12.1997 
i Opinion of the European Parliament of 11 
March 1998 
OJNoC 
4. Whereas the Resolution of the Council and the 
Ministers of Health meeting within the Council on 27 
May 1993 on future action in the field of public 
health1 affirmed the need for Community action 
aiming at adding life to years and years to life and 
selection of areas for such action with regard to their 
amenability to preventive action; 4. Whereas the Resolution of the Council and the 
Ministers of Health meeting within the Council on 27 
May 1993 on future action in the field of public health^. 
affirmed the need for Community action aiming at adding 
life to years and years to life and selection of areas for 
such action with regard to their amenability to preventive 
action; 
5. Whereas the European Parliament, in its Resolution 
on public health policy after Maastricht of 19 
November 19932 called on the Commission to develop 
and implement activities in the field of accident 
prevention; 5. Whereas the European Parliament, in its Resolution on 
public health policy after Maastricht of 19 November 
1993^ called on the Commission to develop and 
implement activities in the field of accident prevention; 
6. Whereas the Commission, in its Communication of 
24 November 1993 on the Framework for Action in 
the Field of Public Health3, identified intentional and 
unintentional injuries and accidents as a priority area 
for action in the public health field; 6. Whereas the Commission, in its Communication of 24 
November 1993 on the Framework for Action in the Field 
of Public Health!, identified intentional and unintentional 
injuries and accidents as a priority area for action in the 
public health field; whereas the Commission in its 
Communication7 of 28 January 1998 establislung a general 
framework tor Community activities in favour of consumers 
identified home and leisure accidents as a priority area for 
action; 
^JNoC 174 of 25.06.1993, p. 1 
2 OJ No C 329 of 06.12.1993. p.375 
3 COM(93)559 final of 24.11.1993 t OJNoC 174 of 25.6.1993 
$ OJ No C 329 of 6.12.1993 
7COM(93)559 final of 24.11.1993 and 
COM(97)684 final of 28.01.1998 
10 
7. Whereas the European Parliament and the Council, 
in their Decision No 3092/94/EC4, introduced a 
Community system of information on home and 
leisure accidents with which this Decision should be 
closely coordinated; 7. Whereas the European Parliament and the Council, in 
their Decision No 3092/94/EC|1 introduced a Community 
system of information on home and leisure accidents 
which was discontinued at the end of 1997; whereas the 
Council of 3 November 1997 gave a favourable 
assessment of the svstem and wished it to be continued. 
with improvements, where necessary; whereas this 
Decision must accordingly strengthen, improve and 
extend the old svstem: whereas the objective of the 
collection of data and the methodology used for the new 
svstem must be to produce Community statistics. 
7a. (new). Whereas the large number of injuries caused 
each year in Europe represents a major loss of human 
potential with huge economic and social repercussions 
both at national and Community level; 
7b. (new). Whereas prevention and the consequent 
reduction of injuries should be a priority in the context of 
Community action in the field of public health, 
particularly in view of the great economic and social 
benefit to be derived from this programme, the cost-
benefit ratio of which is also exceptionally favourable: 
8. Whereas, in accordance with the principle of 
subsidiarity and the principle of proportionality 
established in Article 3b of the Treaty, action must be 
undertaken by the Community only if and in so far as, 
by reason of its scale or effects, it may be better 
achieved at Community level; whereas the present 
programme will yield a Community-added value by 
bringing together activities already undertaken in 
relative isolation at national level and by 
complementing one another with significant results 
for the Community as a whole, by contributing to the 
strengthening of solidarity and cohesion in the 
Community and by leading, where the need is 
recognised, to the establishment of best practice norms 
and standards. 
OJNoL331 of 21.12.1994. p.l 
8. OJ No L33 lof 21.12.1994. p.l 
11 
8a (new). Whereas measures to reduce injury should 
include measures to prevent and reduce injuries 
particularly to children, voung adults, women and older 
people, whether caused intentionally or unintentionally, or 
through suicide or self-infliction; 
8b (new). Whereas it is essential for the implementation 
of the programme that there is a Community information 
collection svstem based, both for intentional and 
unintentional injuries, on strengthening, improving and 
extending the old Community system of information on 
home and leisure accidents (EHLASS) and, for suicides 
and/or self-inflicted injuries, on the setting up and 
development of an information collection svstem founded 
on the experience gained from the operation of 
Community networks; 
8c. (new). Whereas the operation and development of 
information collection systems and networks for injury 
prevention does not affect compliance with data protection 
legislation, including mechanisms to ensure 
confidentiality and security in accordance with the 
Directive^ adopted on 24 October 1995 bv the European 
Parliament and the Council on the protection of 
individuals with regard to the processing of personal data 
and on the free movement of such data; 
8d. (new). Whereas it is of paramount importance for the 
study of injuries and for determining Community health 
indicators relating to domestic activities, recreation and 
mental health, as referred to in European Parliament and 
Council Decision 1400/97/EClO of 30 June 1997 adopting 
a programme of Community action on health monitoring 
within the framework for action in the field of public 
health (1997-2001). that information is collected and 
exchanged on the basis of comparable and consistent data 
on intentional and unintentional injuries, suicides or self-
inflicted injury; 
2 Directive 95/46/EC of 24.10.1995, OJ No 
L 281 of 23.11.1995. p.31 
12 OJ No L 193 of 22.07.1997, p. 1 
12 
8e. (new). Whereas the groups most susceptible to injury 
resulting from violence are children and women; 
8f. (new). Whereas violence in sporting contexts causes a 
great many injuries: 
9. Whereas cooperation with the international 
organisations competent in the field of public health 
and with third countries should be fostered; 
10. Whereas, by providing support for acquiring better 
knowledge and understanding of, and wider 
dissemination of information about, injury prevention, 
ensuring improved comparability of information in 
this field and by developing actions complementary to 
existing Community programmes and actions, while 
avoiding unnecessary duplication, the programme will 
contribute to the achievement of the Community 
objectives set out in Article 129; 
10a. (new). Whereas implementation of Community-
measures to prevent and reduce injuries should take 
account of related research carried out under the 
Community research and technological development 
framework programme and, in particular, the information 
technology programme in the field of public health 
concerning the dissemination of information and methods 
of training; 
10b. (new). Whereas Community action on injury 
prevention should take into account in general the 
applications of telematics in the health sector: 
10c. (new). Whereas implementation of measures to 
prevent injuries should be closely coordinated with 
measures under the Community framework programme 
on statistical!! information and projects of common 
interest under the programme for the computerised 
interchange of data between administrations (IDA): 
H OJ No C54/3 of 21.02.1998 
13 
lOd. (new). Whereas Council Regulation No 322/97 
which establishes the framework for the production of 
Community statistics and the responsibility of national 
and Community authorities for the production of 
Community statistics, describes methods for the collection 
and production of Community statistics; whereas statistics 
on the causes of death, including home and leisure 
accidents, suicides and statistics on industrial accidents 
and road accidents are included in the framework 
programme from 1998 to 2002 concerning Community 
statistics: 
10e. (new). Whereas the collection of information and the 
implementation of measures to prevent intentional injuries 
should be closely coordinated with measures taken under 
the DAPHNEll initiative to combat violence against 
children, voung people and women; 
11. Whereas, in order to increase the value and impact of 
the programme, a continuous assessment of the actions 
undertaken should be carried out with particular regard 
to their effectiveness and the achievement of the 
objectives set, with a view, where appropriate, to making 
the necessary adjustments; 
11a. (new). Whereas agreement on a modus Vivendi 
between the European Parliament, the Council and the 
Commission concerning the implementing measures for 
acts adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down 
in Article 189b of the Treaty was reached on 20 December 
1994; 
12. Whereas this Decision lays down a financial 
framework constituting the principal point of 
reference, within the meaning of point 1 of the 
Declaration of the European Parliament, the Council 
and Commission of 6 March 19955, for the budgetary 
authority during the annual budgetary procedure; 12. Whereas this Decision lays down a financial 
framework constituting the principal point of reference. 
within the meaning of point 1 of the Declaration of the 
European Parliament, the Council and Commission of 6 
March 199513-, for the budgetary authority during the 
annual budgetary procedure; 
13. Whereas the Community's financial perspective is 
valid up until 1999 and will have to be revised for the 
period beyond that date; 
5OJNoC 102 of 4.4.1996, p. 4 llQJNoC 136 of 01.05.1997 
iiQJNoC 102 of 4.4 1996. p. 4 
14 
14. Whereas this programme should be of five-year 
duration in order to allow sufficient time for actions to 
be implemented to achieve the objectives set; 
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL 
OJ No C 202 of 02.07.1997 AMENDED 
PROPOSAL 
Article 1 
Establishment of the programme 
1. A programme of Community action on injury 
prevention, hereinafter referred to as "this 
programme", is hereby adopted for the period 1 
January 1999 to 31 December 2003 in the context of 
the framework for action in the field of public health. Article 1 
2. The aim of this programme is to contribute to 
public health activities which seek to reduce the 
incidence of injury, by promoting the more effective 
dissemination and application of prevention 
techniques whose worth is widely accepted by experts, 
and by helping to strengthen public health bodies' 
general capacity to mount effective injury prevention 
activities. 2. The aim of the programme is to contribute to public 
health activities which seek to reduce the incidence of 
injury, particularly to children, voung adults, women and 
older people, caused intentionally or unintentionally, or 
through suicide or self-infliction, bv promoting: 
a) the epidemiological monitoring of injuries; 
b) the development, strengthening, improvement 
and extension of systems and networks for collecting and 
exchanging information on injury prevention; 
ç) the more effective dissemination and application 
of prevention techniques whose worth is widely accepted 
by experts; 
d) the strengthening of the public health bodies 
responsible for mounting effective injury prevention 
activities. 
15 
3. The actions to be implemented under this 
programme and their specific objectives are set out in 
the Annex. 3. For the purposes of this Decision: 
"injury" means intentional or unintentional injury, suicide 
and/or self-inflicted injury, excluding injury resulting 
from industrial and road accidents and injury resulting 
from natural disasters falling within the scope of civil 
protection: 
"epidemiological monitoring": means the continuous and 
systematic collection, analysis, interpretation and 
dissemination of medical data, including epidemiological 
studies concerning the categories of injury and, in 
particular, their incidence and geographical distribution 
and the analysis of the risk factors with a view to taking 
appropriate measures to prevent and reduce them. 
4. The actions to be implemented under this programme 
and their specific objectives are set out in Annexes I and 
II. 
Article 2 
Implementation 
1. The Commission shall ensure implementation, in close 
cooperation with the Member States, of the actions set out 
in the Annex. Article 2 
Implementation 
1. The Commission shall ensure implementation, in close 
cooperation with the Member States, of the actions set out in 
Annex I. 
2. In particular, the Commission, in close cooperation 
with the Member States, shall be responsible for: 
a) the development and operation of a Community 
information system on intentional and unintentional 
injuries based on the strengthening, improvement and 
extension of the old Community information system on 
home and leisure accidents, for which Member States will 
collect and transmit information and will be responsible 
for the reliability of such information; 
b) the development and operation of a Community 
information collection svstem on suicides and injuries 
resulting from self-inflicted injury; 
c) the cohesion and administration of the two above-
mentioned systems of information as defined in Annex II. 
16 
2. The Commission shall cooperate with institutions 
and organisations active in the field of injury 
prevention. 3. The Commission shall cooperate with institutions and 
organisations active in the field of injury prevention. 
Article 3 
Budget 
1. The financial framework for the implementation of 
the programme for the year 1999 shall be ECU 1.3 
million, in keeping with current financial 
perspectives. The financial framework for the final 
four years of the programme (2000-2003) shall be 
determined in detail after the establishment of the 
future financial perspectives. 
2 The annual appropriations shall be established by 
the Budgetary Authority in accordance with the 
current financial perspectives. Article 3 
Budget 
1. The total appropriation for the implementation of the 
Programme for the period 1999-2003 is estimated at ECU 
14 million. This total breaks down into appropriations to 
be authorised in adopting the budget for 1999 and those to 
be covered bv the future financial perspectives-
Article 4 
Consistency and complementarity 
The Commission shall ensure that there is consistency 
and complementarity between the Community actions to 
be implemented under this programme and those 
implemented under other relevant Community 
programmes and actions. 
Article 5 
Committee 
1. The Commission shall be assisted by an 
advisory committee, hereinafter referred to as "the 
Committee'', consisting of representatives of the Member 
States and chaired by the 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 chairperson 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 lias been 
taken into account. 
17 
2. The Committee shall be consulted in particular on: 
a) the criteria and procedures for selecting and financing 
projects under this programme; 
b) the evaluation procedure. 
3. The Commission's representative shall keep the 
Committee regularly informed about: Commission 
proposals or Community initiatives and the 
implementation of programmes in other policy areas 
which are relevant to the achievement of the objectives of 
this programme. 
_^___^_______^_^__^_^__________^___^^___ ' 
Article 6 
International cooperation 
1. In the course of implementing this 
programme, cooperation with third countries and with 
international organisations competent in the field of 
public health shall be fostered. 
2. This programme shall be open to 
participation by the associated countries of Central 
and Eastern Europe, in accordance with the conditions 
laid down in the Association Agreements or 
Additional Protocols related thereto concerning 
participation in Community programmes. This 
programme shall be open to participation by Cyprus 
and Malta on the basis of additional appropriations in 
accordance with the same rules as those applied to the 
countries belonging to the European Free Trade 
Association (EFTA), in accordance with procedures to 
be agreed with those countries. 
18 
Article 7 Article 7 
Monitoring and evaluation Monitoring and evaluation 
1. In the implementation of this Decision, the 1. In the implementation of this Decision, the 
Commission shall take the necessary measures to Commission shall take the necessary measures to ensure 
ensure the monitoring and continuous evaluation of the monitoring and continuous evaluation of the 
the programme, taking account of the general and programme, taking account of the general and specific 
specific objectives referred to in Article 1 and in the objectives referred to in Article 1 and annexes I and II. 
Annex. 
2. During the third year of this programme, the 
Commission shall present an evaluation report to the 
European Parliament and to the Council. 
3. The Commission shall submit to the 
European Parliament and the Council a final report on 
completion of this programme. 
4. The Commission shall incorporate into these 
two reports information on Community financing in 
the various fields of action and on complementarity 
with the other actions referred to in Article 4, as well 
as the results of the evaluations. It shall also send 
them to the Economic and Social Committee and the 
Committee of the Regions. 
19 
ANNEX 
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND 
ACTIONS 
I. ACCIDENTS TO CHILDREN, 
YOUNG ADULTS AND ELDERLY 
PEOPLE1 
Objective: to contribute to public 
health activities which aim at reducing the 
incidence of injury from home, leisure and 
school accidents, by promoting the more 
effective dissemination and application of 
prevention techniques whose worth is 
widely accepted by experts ANNEXl 
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS 
L INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL 
INJURIES, PARTICULARLY TO CHILDREN, 
YOUNG ADULTS, WOMEN AND ELDERLY 
PEOPLE1 
Objective: to contribute to public health activities 
which aim at reducing the incidence of intentional or 
unintentional injuries, particularly to children, voung 
adults, women and elderly people, by promoting the more 
effective dissemination and application of prevention 
techniques whose worth is widely accepted by experts 
Actions to be undertaken in support of Objective I 
(Projects may relate to more than one action: for example 
a project on safety in sport might affect children, young 
adults and older people.) 
1. Networks: 
- encouraging, strengthening and assisting the creation of 
networks for the prevention of injuries under Objective I. 
dedicated in particular to: 
- the collection, processing and dissemination of 
information: 
- the provision and transmission of comparable and 
consistent data to the Community information system 
which shall be based on extending and improving 
EHLASS; 
- the development of new approaches or innovative 
methods of tackling common problems: 
- exchanges of materials, guidelines and handbooks: 
- the organization of training activities 
1 The Community action in the field of civil protection is excluded from this programme (cf. in 
particular the proposal for a Council Decision establishing a Community action programme in the 
field of civil protection COM(95) 155 final) 
20 
2. Campaigns: supporting the dissemination of 
information about campaigns, including the development 
of a data bank on the campaigns that have been carried 
out, with, if possible assessments of their value, effects 
and transferability, and organisation of competitions to 
identify the best injury prevention campaigns; promoting 
where appropriate the organisation of parallel campaigns 
in a number of Member States; assisting the development 
of basic materials and publicity 
3. Data about injuries: 
collection of data and information on injuries 
caused bv badlv designed products and data and 
information to improve passive prevention and safety bv 
improving the design of products responsible for injuries: 
promoting agreed approaches to coding, data 
definitions, better recording of place of occurrence, as 
well as of behavioural aspects and chain of events, more 
precision in cause of death certification, the grading of the 
severity of the injury and the establishment of a minimum 
set of data: 
the use of relevant results of the International 
Collaborative Effort on Injury Statistics; 
examination of the coverage of existing data 
collection systems and where necessary development of 
measures to improve such coverage; 
inclusion of additional questions or modules in 
existing Community-wide surveys; 
assistance in identifying the need for surveys: 
promoting the creation of a database of known 
surveys; 
facilitating the identification of hazardous 
products 
4. Technical investigations of injury risk factors: 
promoting collaboration between institutions with 
specialized knowledge and facilities able to undertake 
such activities: supporting the development of an 
inventor) of institutions and their projects, and 
evaluations of prevention projects and campaigns. 
5. Consultation and cooperation: support for formal 
and informal meetings at different levels of government, 
for conferences and seminars, and for working groups and 
advisory groups. 
21 
II. SUICIDE 
Objective: to contribute to public 
health activities which aim at reducing the 
incidence of injury- from deliberate self-harm, 
by promoting the more effective 
dissemination and application of prevention 
techniques whose worth is widely accepted by 
experts IL SUICIDES AND SELF-INFLICTED INJURIES 
Objective: to contribute to public health activities 
which aim at reducing the incidence of injury- from 
deliberate self-harm and of suicides, by promoting the 
more effective dissemination and application of 
prevention techniques whose worth is widely accepted by 
experts 
(new) 
Actions to be undertaken in support of Objective II 
(Projects mav relate to more than one action) 
6. Support, encouragement and provision of assistance 
to set up networks for the prevention of injuries under 
Objective II. dedicated in particular to: 
: the collection, processing and dissemination of 
information and experience, prevention measures, use of 
assessment methods and determination of the 
effectiveness of preventive measures and information 
activities; 
- the provision and transmission of comparable 
and consistent data to the Community information 
system, and research into means of improving the quality. 
compatibility and availability of data; 
- the exchange of information concerning the 
effectiveness of messages and campaigns aimed at the 
public at large and at target groups; 
- training, through the exchange of information 
and expert reports, of health sector personnel and all those 
whose work brings them into constant contact with 
individuals and groups of people who have attempted to 
commit suicide; 
7. Exchange of experience, information, appraisal of 
access to information services concerning the problems 
and situations of people, particularly voung people, 
exhibiting suicidal behaviour, and studies of methods for 
supporting voung people who have attempted to commit 
suicide. 
8. Development and exchange of experience to 
identify individuals who arc under mental stress (pain, 
depression, anxiety), including the use of psychological 
help networks. 
9. Exchange of materials and educational methods 
through support for pilot schemes, principally for groups 
of voung people with special needs. 
22 
I IH. INJURY PREVENTION CAPACITY I ITL INJURY PREVENTION CAPACITY 
Objective: to contribute to the Objective: to contribute to the strengthening of 
strengthening of public health bodies' public health bodies' capacity to mount effective injury 
capacity to mount effective injury prevention prevention activities 
activities 
The following action will support objective III: 
10. Activities to increase the use which public health 
bodies can make of other Community policies for injury 
prevention: raising awareness of Community programmes 
and the conditions for participation in them, helping to set 
up consortia across national boundaries and helping 
groups with a particular interest to discover the most 
useful interlocutors in Community institutions 
Actions to be undertaken in support of Amended and moved to point I 
these Objectives 
(Actions may relate to more than one 
Objective: for example a project on safety in 
sport might affect children, young adults and 
older people.) 
1. Networks: encouraging and assisting Amended and moved to point I 
the creation of networks, dedicated in 
particular to: development of new approaches 
or innovative methods of tackling common 
problems, exchanges of materials, guidelines 
and handbooks, organisation of training 
activities. 
23 
2. Campaigns: supporting the dissemination of Moved to point I 
information about campaigns, including the 
development of a data bank on the campaigns that 
have been carried out, with, if possible assessments 
of their value, effects and transferability, and 
organisation of competitions to identify the best 
injury prevention campaigns; promoting where 
appropriate the organisation of parallel campaigns in 
a number of Member States; assisting the 
development of basic materials and publicity. 
3. Data about injuries: in conjunction with Amended and moved to point I 
EHLASS promoting agreed approaches to coding, 
data definitions, better recording of place of 
occurrence, as well as of behavioural aspects and 
chain of events, more precision in cause of death 
certification, the use of relevant severity scales and 
minimum data sets; supporting the application of 
relevant results of the International Collaborative 
Effort on Injury Statistics; examination of the 
coverage of existing data collection system and 
where necessary development of measures to 
improve such coverage inclusion of additional 
questions or modules in existing Community-wide 
surveys; assistance in identifying the need for 
surveys; promoting the creation of a database of 
known surveys. 
4. Technical investigations of injury risk Moved to point I 
factors: promoting collaboration between institutions 
with specialized knowledge and facilities able to 
undertake such activities; supporting the 
development of an inventory of institutions and their 
projects, and evaluations of prevention projects and 
campaigns.. 
5. Consultation and cooperation: support for Moved to point I 
formal and informal meetings at different levels of 
government, for conferences and seminars, and for 
working groups and advisory groups. 
in addition, the following actions will support Amended and moved to point III 
objective III: 
6. Activities to increase the use which public 
health bodies can make of other Community policies 
for injury prevention: raising awareness of 
Community programmes and the conditions for 
participation in them, helping to set up consortia 
across national boundaries and helping groups with a 
particular interest to discover the most useful 
interlocutors in Community institutions. 
24 
ANNEX II 
(New) 
A- CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION 
SYSTEMS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 2(2) OF THE 
DECISION 
1. INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL 
INJURIES 
1-1 The objective of the Community information 
system on intentional and unintentional injuries, 
hereinafter referred to as "the system", shall be to collect 
information on unintentional injuries, particularly those 
resulting from home and leisure accidents, and intentional 
injuries, with a view to: 
- promoting the prevention of such injuries. 
- promoting improvements in the safety of consumer 
products and informing and educating consumers so as to 
ensure safer use of products, both at national and 
Community level. 
- helping to establish health indicators, as mentioned in 
the programme of Community action on health 
monitoring within the framework for action in the field of 
public health. 
promoting exchanges of experience and expertise on 
intentional injuries resulting from violence to children. 
adolescents and women. 
1-2 The system shall not apply to industrial accidents 
and occupational diseases, nor to road, rail, sea or air 
traffic accidents, nor to injuries resulting from natural 
disasters covered bv activities in the field of civil 
protection. 
25 
1-3 The telematic network EUPHIN (European 
Union Public Health Information Network), developed 
under the projects of common interest within the 
programme for the interchange of data between 
administrations (IDA) will provide the technological 
support for the system. 
1-4 The data shall be collected in particular from 
hospitals. 
1-5 Particular attention will be paid to the following 
criteria: representativeness of hospitals, anv surveys that 
mav have been carried out, and size of samples. 
The data must contain at least the following information: 
- the place where the injury occurred. 
- the date of the injury. 
- the place of treatment. 
- the activity of the victim at the time of the injury. 
- the type of injury. 
- the type of product involved in the accident, 
- the age of the victim. 
- the sex of the victim. 
- the type of lesion. 
- the parts of the bodv injured. 
- the duration and type of treatment. 
- a brief description of the occurrence of the injury and its 
causes. 
In addition, the other variables recorded during special 
examinations in relation to unintentional and intentional 
injuries will be examined. 
The information must be codified, using an approach 
based on the common criteria of the coding manual of the 
earlier Community system of information on home and 
leisure accidents (EHLASS); 
26 
1-6 The distribution of hospitals among the Member 
States shall be as follows 
Member States 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Greece 
France 
Ireland 
Italy 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Portugal 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 
Germany 
Spain 
Luxembourg 
TOTAL Numb er of hospitals 
4 
5 
4 
8 
2 
7 
7 
4 
6 
3 
4 
11 
12 
7 
2 
86 
As far as possible, the hospitals selected must be 
representative in terms of geograph 
distribution and of urban and rural 
1-7 A survev shall be carried lical and demographic 
areas. 
out in the third year of 
the programme to make the data more representative in 
the Member States. 
1-8 In the course of collecting and forwarding 
information, all details which would enable the identity of 
the victim to be deduced must be removed so that the 
identity of the victim remains confidential. This does not 
preclude the existence of means for identifying certain 
types of injuries in order to seek additional information 
from the victims, on condition that thev have voluntarily 
given their agreement through their hospital or doctor. 
1-9 The arrangements for access to the system bv the 
/arious European organisations and associations shall be 
examined. 
27 
2- SELF-INFLICTED INJURIES AND 
SUICIDES 
2-1 The objective of the Community svstem for the 
collection of information on self-inflicted injuries and 
suicides, hereinafter referred to as "the system", shall be 
to collect information on such injuries, with a view to: 
- promoting their prevention. 
- helping to establish health indicators relating to mental 
health, as mentioned in the programme of Community 
action on health monitoring within the framework for 
action in the field of public health. 
- promoting exchanges of experience and expertise on 
suicides, suicidal behaviour and self-inflicted injuries, 
particularly among young persons and the elderly. 
2-2 The system's technology shall be based on the 
telematic architecture of the telematic network EUPHIN 
developed under the projects of common interest within 
the programme for the interchange of data between 
administrations (IDA). 
2-3 The collection and forwarding of information 
and the arrangements for access to the svstem will be 
examined taking into account the results of activities 
carried out in this field in other national and Community 
programmes and actions. 
2-4 In the course of collecting and forwarding 
information, all details which would enable the identity of 
the victim to be deduced must be removed so that the 
identity of the victim remains confidential. This does not 
preclude the existence of means for identifying injuries in 
order to seek additional information from the victims, on 
condition that thev have voluntarily given their agreement 
through their hospital or doctor. 
28 
2-5 The arrangements for access to the svstem bv the 
various European organisations and associations shall be 
examined. 
B - FINANCIAL SUPPORT 
I - UNINTENTIONAL AND INTENTIONAL 
INJURIES 
II Community financial support for the hospitals 
participating in the collection of data will be allocated at a 
standard rate representing 50% of the actual costs, up to a 
ceiling of ECU 14 000 per hospital. 
2 - SELF-INFLICTED INJURIES AND SUICIDES 
2-1 Community financial support shall be fixed at a 
maximum amount of ECU 500 000 per year. 
29 
FINANCIAL STA TEMENT FINANCIAL ST A TEMENT 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 
1 TITLE OF OPERATION 
Proposal for a European Parliament and 
Council Decision adopting a programme of 
Community action on injury prevention in 
the context of the framework for action in the 
field of public health 
2 BUDGET HEADING INVOLVED 
B3- B3-4304 
3 LEGAL BASIS 
Article 3(o) and Article 129 of the Treaty 
establishing the European Community. 
1 DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION 
4.1 General objective 
To contribute to achieving the objectives 
laid down by the Treaty: 
under Article 3 (0), the Community is 
required to make a contribution to the attainment of 
a high level of health protection: 
Article 129 requires the Community to 
contribute towards ensuring a high-level of human 
health protection, in particular by encouraging 
cooperation between the Member States, and if 
necessary lending support to their action, promoting 
coordination of their policies and programmes, and 
fostering cooperation with third countries and the 
competent international organisations in the sphere 
of public health. Community action is directed 
towards the prevention of diseases, in particular 
major health scourges, by promoting research into 
their causes and their transmission, as well as health 
information and education. 
30 
The general objective of the action programme is to 
contribute to public health activities which aim at 
reducing the incidence of injury from home, leisure 
and school accidents and from deliberate self-harm, 
by promoting the more effective dissemination and 
application of prevention techniques whose worth is 
widely accepted by experts, and by contributing to 
the strengthening of public health bodies' general 
capacity to mount effective injury prevention 
activities. The general objective of the action programme is 
- to ensure the collection of data on 
occurrences of intentional and unintentional injuries. 
suicides and self-inflicted injuries using two 
established Community networks for the collection of 
information on. firstly, the acquis communautaire 
under the previous Community svstem for monitoring 
injuries from home and leisure accidents and, 
secondly, on the use of information-highway 
technology 
- to contribute to public health activities which aim 
to reduce the incidence of intentional and 
unintentional injuries, self-inflicted injuries and 
suicides bv promoting 
a) the development, consolidation, improvement 
and extension of networks and systems for the 
collection and exchange of information on injury-
prevention 
b) more effective dissemination and application of 
prevention techniques whose worth is widely accepted 
bv experts 
c) bv contributing to the strengthening of public 
health bodies' general capacity to mount effective 
injury prevention activities 
The method for achieving this objective consists of 
undertaking actions which: The method for achieving this objective consists of 
undertaking actions which: 
strengthen and develop two Community systems 
for the collection of information on intentional and 
unintentional injuries, suicides and self-inflicted 
injuries using modem information technology; 
- encourage and assist the creation of networks of 
those active in injury- prevention: 
- disseminate information about injury prevention 
campaigns; 
- improve the available data about accidents by 
means of surveys and otherwise; 
- promote better technical investigations of injury 
risk factors through greater collaboration between 
expert centres; 
- foster consultation and cooperation where 
appropriate between Member States, and - encourage and assist the creation of networks of 
those active in injury- prevention; 
- disseminate information about injury- prevention 
campaigns; 
- improve the available data about accidents by means 
of surveys and otherwise: 
- promote better technical investigations of injury- risk 
factors through greater collaboration between expert 
centres: 
- foster consultation and cooperation where 
appropriate between Member States, and 
31 
- help public health bodies to make better use of 
other Community policies to assist with injury 
prevention. - help public health bodies to make better use of other 
Community policies to assist with injury prevention. 
4.2 Period covered and 
renewal or extension arrangements for 
5 years: 01.01.1999 to 31.12.2003 
Report on implementation to be transmitted to 
the Council and European Parliament during 
the third year of the programme 
Report to the Council and European 
Parliament after completion of the programme 
together with the results of evaluations. 
5 CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE 
OR REVENUE 
Non-compulsory expenditure 
Differentiated appropriations 
OF EXPENDITURE 6 TYPE 
REVENUE OR 
Subsidy for joint financing with other sources 
in the public and/or private sector (not 
exceeding a certain percentage of the total 
cost of the proposed projects). 
The level of funding granted depends on the 
scope of the measure to be financed and on 
the extent to which the action programme is 
reflected in the various activities planned. 
Such funding will not exceed 70% of the total 
budget earmarked for the proposed projects 
except in the case of networks and work 
ordered and of direct use to the Commission, 
where the subsidy mav amount to 100%. 
32 
7 FINANCIAL IMPACT 
7.1 Method of calculating the total cost of 
operation (definition of unit costs) 
The method of calculation is the result of 
experience acquired in previous activities related to 
public health activities. This encompasses the 
various types of Community action listed in Table 4 
of Commission Communication (93) 559 final of 
24 November 1994, and represents 10 years of 
know-how in financing cooperative efforts with the 
Member States and NGO's of collection, analysis 
and dissemination of information, setting up of 
networks, survey of the quality of campaigns such as 
European weeks, establishment of mechanisms and 
procedures of consultation and cooperation for 
setting common objectives and for policy 
coordination and for the formulation and 
development of strategies at the Community level. 
The specific cost estimates are based on the 
assumption that half of the activities to be 
undertaken under this programme will require 100 
percent funding while the other half will require 50 
percent funding and that the activities to be 
undertaken will involve most or all of the Member 
States. An amount of ECU 1.3 million is deemed 
necessary for the implementation of these activities 
for the year 1999. The new budget framework for 
the final four years will be established in the year 
2000 taking into account the future Community's 
financial perspectives. The annual allocations will 
be decided in accordance with the normal budgetary 
procedures. 7 FINANCIAL IMPACT 
7.1 Method of calculating the total cost of 
operation (definition of unit costs) 
The method of calculation is the result of 
experience acquired in previous activities related to 
public health activities. This encompasses the various 
types of Community action listed in Table 4 of 
Commission Communication (93) 559 final of 
24 November 1994, and represents 10 years of know-
how in financing cooperative efforts with the Member 
States and NGO's of collection, analysis and 
dissemination of information, setting up of networks, 
survey of the quality of campaigns such as European 
weeks, establishment of mechanisms and procedures 
of consultation and cooperation for setting common 
objectives and for policy coordination and for the 
formulation and development of strategies at the 
Community level. The specific cost estimates are 
based on the assumption that half of the activities to be 
undertaken under this programme will require 100 
percent funding while the other half will require 50 
percent funding and that the activities to be 
undertaken will involve most or all of the Member 
States. An amount of ECU 14 million is deemed 
neccssan- for the implementation of these activities on 
the basis of five-vearlv funding of ECU 6.5 million for 
injury prevention and ECU 7.5 million for data 
collection. This latter amount comes from the transfer 
of funding allocated to the EHLASS within the 
general framework for Community activities in favour 
of consumers (COM(97) 684 final of 28.01.98). 
7.1.1 Reduction in accidents 
Networks 
In 1999 the running of three networks per year has 
been scheduled at an average cost of ECU 200 000 
per year. 
Dissemination of information 
Being a new action estimated cost has been 
calculated from the experience of other already 
existing programmes in public health (cancer. Aids 
and communicable diseases, drugs, health 
promotion) and its cost (ECU 100 000 per year). 7.1.1 Community data collection systems as 
referred to in Annex II 
• intentional and unintentional injuries 
- Funding allocated to Member States for the 
collection, processing and use of data, with a ceiling of 
ECU 14 000 per hospital. The cost is based on a 
uniform rate for the 86 hospitals accounting for 50% 
of actual costs. 
i.e. an estimated annual cost of ECU 1 200 000 
for the years n to n+4. 
: The survey of the representativeness of data 
provided for in the third year of the programme (year 
n+2) will require estimated total funding of not more 
than ECU 500 000 and will be the subject of a call for 
tenders. 
33 
• suicide and self-inflicted injuries 
z Being a new action, the annual cost of this 
Community data collection system has been estimated 
on the basis of experience gained in other Community 
programmes. Cost: ECU 500 000 per vear for the 
years n to n+4. 
7.1.2. Suicide 
Networks 
In 1999, the running of one network per 
year has been scheduled at an average cost of ECU 
200 000 per year. 
Dissemination of network 
Being a new action estimated cost has been 
calculated from the experience of other already-
existing programmes in public health (cancer. Aids 
and communicable diseases, drugs, health 
promotion) and its cost (100 000 per year). 
Improving data about suicide 
Being a new action, the estimated cost of 
ECU 200 000 has been calculated from the 
experiences of EUROSTAT and, the EHLASS 
svstem on home and leisure accidents. (new) 
7.1.2 Specific operations as referred to in Annex I 
Total cost for this Chapter 7.1.2: ECU 1 050 000 per 
year for the years n. n+1. n+3 and n+4. and ECU 
550 000 for the vear n+2. 
7.1.2.1 Intentional and unintentional injuries 
Total cost of ECU 600 000 per vear for the years n. 
n+1..n+3 and n+4. and ECU 300 000 for the vear n+2. 
a) Unintentional injuries: (networks, dissemination of 
information and data methodology): ECU 400 000 per 
vear for the vears n. n+1, n+3 and n+4 
Estimated cost based on experience of other 
programmes in the field of public health, and the 
experience of Eurostat. particularly as regards 
Community networks (ECU 80 000 to 200 000 per 
vear) and dissemination of information (ECU 40 000 
to 100 000 per vear) 
b) Intentional injuries (networks and dissemination 
of information): ECU 200 000 per vear for the vears n. 
n+1, n+3 and n+4 
34 
Being a new action, estimated cost has been calculated 
on the basis of that of unintentional injuries 
c) Community funding for the survey of 
representativeness of data for the year n+2 indicates 
that the sum allocated under point 7.1.2.1 for the vear 
n+2 will be ECU 300 000. to be shared out as actions 
develop. 
7.1.2.2. Suicide and self-inflicted injuries 
Maximum costs of ECU 450 000 per vear for the years 
n. n+1. n+3 et n+4 and ECU 250 000 for the vear n+2. 
a) (networks and dissemination of information): this 
estimated cost is based on experience gained from 
various public-health programmes, and on the number 
of Member States involved (ECU 80 to 200 000 per 
vear per network). 
b) Community funding for the survey of 
representativeness of data for the vear n+2 indicates 
that the sum allocated under point 7.1.2.2 for the vear 
n+2 will be ECU 250 000. to be shared out as actions 
develop. 
7.1.3. Prevention capacity 
Support to at least two country events per year at 
ECU 50 000 (with special relevance in 1999) when 
launching the programme. 7.1.2.3 Prevention capacity 
(ECU 50 000 per vear) funding for at least one 
national event per vear for the vears n to n+4 
35 
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL 
OJC 202 of 02.07.1997 
7.2 Itemised breakdown of cost (in ECU million) 
OBJECTIVE 
Contribute to reduc­
tion in accidents to 
children, young 
adults and elderly 
people 
Contribute to 
reduction in the 
incidence of suicide 
Contribute to 
strengthening injury 
prevention capacity ACTION AREA 
encouraging and assisting the creation of networks; 
disseminating information about campaigns; improving data 
about accidents; technical investigations of injury risk factors; 
consultation and cooperation; 
encouraging and assisting the creation of networks; 
disseminating information about campaigns; improving data 
about accidents; technical investigations of injury risk factors; 
consultation and cooperation; 
encouraging and assisting the creation of networks; 
disseminating information about campaigns; improving data 
about accidents; technical investigations of injury risk factors; 
consultation and cooperation; 
activities to increase the use which public health bodies make of 
other Community policies to assist with injury prevention 
Total YEAR 
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Total 
Indicative programming 
0.7 
0.4 
0.1 
0.1 
1.3 -
-
j)in -
-
pm -
-
pin -
-
pm 0.7 
0.4 
0.1 
0.1 
1.3 
36 
AMENDED PROPOSAL 
7.2 Itemised breakdown of cost (in ECU million) 
OBJECTIVE YEAR 
n 
1999 n+l 
2000 n+2 
2001 n+3 
2002 n+4 
2003 Total 
A) Annex 1 
Reducing the incidence of 
• intentional and unintentional injuries actions 1 to 5 
Reducing the incidence of 
• suicides and self-inflicted injuries actions 6 to 9 
strengthening injury prevention capacity action 10 
B) Annex 11 
• Community system for the collection of data on intentional 
and unintentional injuries 
• survey of representativeness of data 
• Community system for the collection of data on suicides and 
sjglf:inflicted injuries 
Total Indicative programming 
0.6 
0.45 
0.05 0.6 
0.45 
0.05 0.3 
0.25 
0.05 0.6 
0.45 
0.05 0.6 
0.45 
0.05 2.7 
2.05 
0.25 
1.2 
0.5 1.2 
0.5 1.2 
0.5 
0.,5 1.2 
0.5 1.2 
0.5 6.0 
0.5 
2.5 
2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 14 
37 
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL 
OJC 202 of 02.07.1997 
7.3 Indicative schedule of appropriations (in ECU million) 
Commitment appropriations 
Payment appropriations 
1999 
2000 
2001 
2002 
2003 
Subsequent years 
TOTAL 1999 
1.3 
-
0.78 
0.52 
-
-
-
-
1.3 2000 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
pin 2001 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
pm 2002 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
pin 2003 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
pm TOTAL 
1.3 
-
0.78 
0.52 
-
-
1.3 
38 
Commitment approporiations 
Payment appropriations 
1999 
2000 
2001 
2002 
2003 
Subsequent years 
TOTAL 1999 
2J3 
-
1.96 
0.,84 
; 
-
-
-
M 7.3 AMENDED PROPOSAL 
Indicative schedule of appropriations (in 
2000 
2.8-
z 
z 
1.96 
0.84-
z 
z 
z 
IA 2001 
2.8-
-
z 
z 
1.96-
0.84-
-
z 
2J ECU million) 
2002 
2.8-
z 
z 
z 
z 
1.6-
0.4-
z 
2M 2003 
2J 
-
-
z 
z 
-
1.96-
0.84-
M TOTAL 
li 
-
1.96 
M 
M 
2.8-
2.8-
0.84-
H 
39 
8 FRAUD PREVENTION MEASURES: 
RESULTS OF MEASURES TAKEN 
The grant application forms will require information 
on the identity and nature of potential beneficiaries so 
that their reliability can be assessed in advance. 
Fraud prevention measures (checks, intermediate 
reports, final report) are included in the agreements or 
contracts between the Commission and beneficiaries. 
The Commission will check reports and ensure that 
work has been properly carried out before 
intermediate and final payments are made. 
In addition, spot checks are carried out by the 
Commission to verify how funds have been used. 
Checks have already been carried out in other public 
health budget lines in relation to the financial years 
1991 to 1995 and have shown their effectiveness. 
9 ELEMENTS OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS 
ANALYSIS 
9.1 Specific and quantifiable objectives 
The general objective of the action programme is to 
contribute towards ensuring a high level of health 
protection against injury by promoting the more 
effective dissemination and application of prevention 
techniques whose worth is widely accepted by experts, 
and by helping to strengthen public health bodies' 
general capacity to mount effective injury7 prevention 
activities. 9.1 Specific and quantifiable objectives 
The general objective of the action programme is to: 
- collect information on the incidence and 
occurrence of intentional and unintentional 
injuries, suicides and self-inflicted injuries through 
two Community information collection systems 
based on (i) Communitv-level data collected under 
the old Community system of information on 
home and leisure accidents and (ii) use of 
information superhighway technologies; 
- contribute to public health activities aimed at 
reducing the frequency of intentional and 
unintentional injuries, self-inflicted injuries and 
suicides, bv promoting: 
a) the development, strengthening, improvement 
and extension of the networks and systems for 
collecting and exchanging information on injury 
prevention: 
b) more effective dissemination and application of 
prevention techniques whose worth is widely 
accepted bv experts. 
c) bv helping to strengthen public health bodies' 
general capacity to mount effective injury prevention 
activities. 
40 
The indicators showing whether or not targets are 
achieved in this field will include measures of the 
following kinds. These will be refined further in 
collaboration with the new programme on health 
monitoring, whose tasks include the development of 
indicators for Community public health policies. The 
method for achieving this objective consists of 
undertaking actions which: 
encourage and assist the creation of networks of 
those active in injury prevention; 
measure how active the networks are (membership, 
production of e.g. information bulletins, 
conferences, WWW discussion groups...); 
disseminate information about injury prevention 
campaigns (e.g. surveys of number and quality of 
publications assisted by the programme); 
improve the available data about accidents by means 
of surveys and otherwise (e.g. what new measures 
are brought into use and in what countries); 
promote better technical investigations of injury risk 
factors through greater collaboration between expert 
centres (number and quality of such reports assisted 
by the programme); 
foster consultation and cooperation where 
appropriate between Member States, (description of 
cases of such consultation etc.) and 
help public health bodies to make better use of other 
Community policies to assist with injury prevention 
(numbers and description). The indicators showing whether or not targets are 
achieved in this field will include measures of the 
following kinds. These will be refined further in 
collaboration with the new programme on health 
monitoring, whose tasks include the development of 
health indicators particularly for mental health, 
home accidents, leisure and product safety in order 
to evaluate national and Community policies. The 
Community system for collecting information 
including home and leisure accidents shall serve as a 
key indicator for consumer protection policy-
covering products and services. The method for 
achieving this objective consists of undertaking 
actions which: 
- encourage and assist the creation of networks of 
those active in injury prevention; 
- measure how active the networks are 
(membership, production of e.g. information 
bulletins, conferences, WWW discussion groups, 
etc.); 
- disseminate information about injury prevention 
campaigns (e.g. surveys of number and quality of 
publications assisted by the programme); 
- improve the available data about intentional and 
unintentional injuries, suicide and self-inflicted 
injuries, by means of surveys and otherwise (e.g. 
what new measures are brought into use and in 
what countries); 
- promote better technical investigations of injury 
risk factors through greater collaboration between 
expert centres (number and quality of such reports 
assisted by the programme); 
- foster consultation and cooperation where 
appropriate between Member States (description of 
cases of such consultation etc.) and 
- help public health bodies to make better use of 
other Community policies to assist with injury 
prevention (numbers and description). 
41 
Target Population 
1. Competent public authorities of the Member 
States, at national, regional and local level and 
competent international organisations in the 
spheres of public health and injury prevention; 
2. Health professionals, health epidemiological 
services, health and medical associations, 
specialists in the prevention of different kinds of 
injury, academic institutions etc.: 
3. NGO's and other bodies interested in health 
matters and injury prevention, and the public in 
general. 
9.2. Grounds for the operation 
In initiating action under Article 129, the Community 
has to address itself to preventing diseases and 
protecting health. The Commission's communication 
on the framework for action in the field of public 
health (COM(93) 559 final of 23.11.93) sets out 
criteria on which to determine priority areas for 
Community programmes. In accordance with these 
criteria, the 1993"framework" Communication 
evaluated the different options for addressing diseases, 
in particular major scourges and their underlying 
causes, by various types of community actions and 
retained on the basis of criteria listed in that 
communication, eight priority areas of which accident 
prevention was one. (new) 
The estimate of the socio-economic cost of home and 
leisure accidents in the evaluation report of the 
previous EHLASS system for '86-'97 shall serve as a 
reference in quantifying the impact of the 
Community action programme. 
Target Population 
1. Competent public authorities of the Member 
States, at national, regional and local level and 
competent international organisations in the 
spheres of public health, injury prevention and 
consumer policy. 
2. Health professionals, health epidemiological 
services, health and medical associations, 
specialists in the prevention of different kinds of 
injury, academic institutions, European 
associations for consumer protection, etc.; 
3. NGO's and other bodies interested in health 
matters and injury- prevention, and the public in 
general. 
9.2. Grounds for the operation 
In initiating action under Article 129, the 
Community has to address itself to preventing 
diseases and protecting health. The Commission's 
communication on the framework for action in the 
field of public health (COM(93) 559 final of 
24.11.93) sets out criteria on which to determine 
priority areas for Community programmes. In 
accordance with these criteria, the 1993"framework" 
Communication evaluated the different options for 
addressing diseases, in particular major scourges and 
their underlying causes, by various types of 
community actions and retained on the basis of 
criteria listed in that communication, eight priority 
areas of which injury prevention was one. 
42 
(new) 
In its Communication COM(97) 684 final of 28 January 
1998 establishing a general framework for 
Community activities in favour of consumers from 
1999 to 2003. the Commission identified in particular 
consumer safety and health as an area for undertaking 
Community actions aimed at achieving the objectives of 
Article 129a of the Treaty establishing the European 
Community. In this context measures in respect of 
consumer products entailing risks for consumers 
constitute a basic activity requiring prolongation of the 
"EHLASS" system in the coming years, taking into 
account the assessment of its operation. 
Decision No 3092/94/EC of the European Parliament 
and of the Council introduced the Community 
system of information on home and leisure accidents 
for '94-'97. The recent report evaluating the operation 
of and data collected bv the EHLASS system from 1986 
to 1997 presented to the "consumers" Council of 
3 November 1997 showed the system's usefulness but 
also its weak points. The Member States evaluated the 
system positively and wished to see it continued, with 
improvements where appropriate. The merit of the 
Commission's proposal is that bv means of this 
programme it merges all the tools and actions necessary 
for strengthening, extending, utilising and harnessing 
the data from the previous system, in particular bv using 
the telematic network technology provided for under die 
IDA programme, and that it also furnishes the elements 
necessary to establish health indicators for home 
accidents, leisure, mental health and product safety as 
provided for in Decision N° 1400/97 of the European 
Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997 
adopting a programme of Community action on 
health monitoring within the framework for action in 
the field of public health. 
43 
This proposal supports, brings together and 
complements the existing national measures, mainly bv 
ensuring that data will be collected in all Member 
States. The systems also involve coordination of 
activities and ensure that the results are in the same 
format so that one Member State's results can be used 
by other Community members and bv the Community 
itself. Collection of data, especiallv from the casualty 
departments of selected hospitals in Member States. 
should provide direct information on the main 
intentional and unintentional injuries, on the basis of the 
methods approved in Member States. What is more, 
such data will be collected on an on-going basis. 
It is crucial to have good knowledge of data on such 
injuries so as to formulate prevention actions and 
policies. In addition, the aim of this measure relating to 
the Community information collection system ties in 
with Directive 92/59/EEC on general product safety. 
for which such collection of data should provide 
valuable indicators on product safety problems. 
The present proposal targets a small number of key 
areas within this broad field, selected on the basis of 
ex ante evaluation that they are an important cause of 
avoidable injury and death, are not already addressed 
by action at Community level, present opportunities 
for cost-effective intervention, and would deliver 
Community added value by bringing together and 
complementing work done at national and sub-
national level. This would be substantially more 
effective than leaving such questions to inter­
governmental cooperation without a Community 
contribution: in this field the input envisaged for the 
Community and the Commission by Article 129 
provides a clear common framework of rules, avoiding 
open-ended and time-consuming negotiation, allowing 
more rapid progress on a firmer footing. 
44 
The target areas selected are home and leisure 
accidents to children, young adults and elderly people, 
and accidents to children while at school, and also the 
topic of suicide and lesser forms of deliberate self-
harm (sometimes called parasiticide). This selection of 
fields has been amply justified by ex ante evaluation 
using the criteria just mentioned and tackles all the 
classes of injury which are the most substantial 
sources of death, disability and ill-health, apart from 
occupational injury and road traffic accidents, which 
are already addressed by other Community activities. The target areas selected are home and leisure 
accidents to children, young adults and elderly 
people, and accidents to children while at school, 
intentional injuries, suicide and self-inflicted 
injuries. This selection of fields has been amply 
justified by ex ante evaluation using the criteria just 
mentioned and tackles all the classes of injury which 
are the most substantial sources of death, disability 
and ill-health, apart from occupational injury and 
road traffic accidents, which are already addressed 
by other Community activities. 
As regards the intervention methods and the 
allocation of funds, the following will apply: 
- specific application of the principle of subsidiarity 
when identifying measures to be undertaken and 
co-financed; 
- identification and selection of projects for co-
financing in the fields of injury prevention; 
- the concept of added Community value, which will 
continue to be realised in particular through the 
coordination of national measures, the 
dissemination of information and experiences, the 
establishment of priorities, the development of 
networking as appropriate, selection of European 
projects and the motivation and mobilisation of all 
involved. As regards the intervention methods and the 
allocation of funds, the following will apply: 
- specific application of the principle of 
subsidiarity when identifying measures to be 
undertaken and co-financed; 
- identification and selection of projects for co-
financing in the fields of injury prevention; 
- the concept of added Community value which 
will be realised in particular through the 
collection of information on intentional and 
unintentional injuries, suicides and self-inflicted 
injuries bv means of two Community systems for 
collecting information using the information 
superhighway technology, the coordination of 
national measures, the dissemination of 
information and experiences, the establishment 
of priorities, the development of networking as 
appropriate, selection of European projects and 
the motivation and mobilisation of all involved.. 
45 
Two methods will be employed to implement the 
programme. One is to support projects carried out in 
Member States and at the Community level. The 
selection of priority projects is based largely on 
general and intermediate objectives, and 
implementation of the measures themselves depends 
on the quality and effectiveness of projects submitted 
to the competent department during the course of the 
year. The other is to undertake specific activities 
necessary to achieve the objectives of the programme, 
which will be fully financed by the programme.. Three methods will be employed to implement the 
programme. 
The first is to collect data in particular (i) from the 
casualty departments of selected hospitals in Member 
States, making sure that the hospitals are 
representative in terms of geographical distribution 
and taking account of urban and rural areas, and (ii) 
from a survey so as to fine-tune the representative 
nature of the data. The second is to support projects 
carried out in Member States and at the Community 
level. The selection of priority projects is based 
largely on general and intermediate objectives, and 
implementation of the measures themselves depends 
on the quality and effectiveness of projects submitted 
to the competent department during the course of the 
year. The third is to undertake specific activities 
necessary to achieve the objectives of the 
programme, which will be fully financed by the 
programme. 
The selection criteria for projects are as follows: 
- Compatibility with the objectives and conformity 
with at least one of the established objectives: 
- Examination of the "added Community value" of the 
projects (transnational participation, development of 
a model applicable in other Member States, 
information usable in other Member States, etc.); 
- Presumed effectiveness and value; 
- Clarity and justification of requirements; 
- Relevance of selected methodology; 
- Organizational competence and experience; 
- Suitability of budget for objectives; 
- Support for projects from national partners; 
- Objective assessment; 
- Opinion of the advisory committee involved. 
46 
The budget proposed of 1.3 mecu for the first year of 
this programme, matches that proposed at the same 
time for the programmes on rare diseases and on 
pollution-related diseases. This reflects the equal 
priority attached to each field in the Commission's 
1993 Communication, an evaluation which remains 
valid today. The amount proposed represents the bare 
minimum required to start the programme. The budget proposed of ECU 14 million for the five 
years corresponds to the absolute minimum required 
to run the Community information collection 
systems referred to in Annex II and the specific 
actions mentioned in Annex I. 
9.3 Monitoring and evaluation of the operation 
9.3.1 Monitoring of the operation 
Monitoring at the Community level is to be 
carried out by the Commission, which will submit a 
report half-way through the implementation of the 
programme, and a final report after its completion to 
the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic 
and Social Committee, and the Committee of the 
Regions, drawing from national reports as well as 
evaluations of the actions under the programme and of 
individuals projects. 
9.3.2 Evaluation 
Evaluation will be by means of: 
- An evaluation of the main measures and of 
subsidised projects involving, where necessary, the 
participation of independent experts; 
- An evaluation report during the third year; 
- An overall report on the quality and effectiveness 
of projects implemented under the action plan, to be 
submitted by the Commission to the other Community 
institutions after completion of the programme. 
Performance indicators selected for this evaluation: 
- Evaluation of projects by Commission officials 
and/or those cooperating with them 
47 
Analysis of intermediate reports on measures 
scheduled and financed, allowing a shifting of 
emphasis where possible; . 
Impact studies by external bodies; 
Relevance of the methodology used by 
organizers; 
Suitability of the budget for the objectives; 
Skills and experience of bodies: 
Dissemination of results. 
Evaluation procedures and intervals: 
Drawing up of intermediate and final reports on 
the various measures undertaken in the field; 
Development of a "standard" evaluation form 
for the measure, to be forwarded by the beneficiaries 
with their final reports, and checking of these 
documents by officials either at the Commission or in 
the field. 
10 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE 
(PART A OF THE BUDGET) 
Actual mobilisation of the necessary administrative 
resources will be conditioned by the Commission's 
annual decision on the allocation of resources, having 
regard in particular to additional staff and funds 
provided by the budgetary authority. 
48 
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL 
OJC202 of 02.07.1997 
10.1 Impact on the number of employees 
Types of employees 
Officials or 
temporary agents A 
B 
C 
Other resources 
Total Staff carrying out action 
Permanent employees 
1 
1 
1 
3 Temporary employees 
0 
0 
0 
0 Source of employee 
from within DG or service 
1 
1 
1 
3 Supplementary staff 
0 
0 
0 
0 Duration 
49 
Types of employees 
Officials or 
temporary agents A 
B 
C 
Other resources 
Total AMENDED PROPOSAL 
10.1 Impact on the number of employees 
Staff carrying out action 
Permanent employees 
2J> 
1 
4 Temporary employees 
0 
0 
0 
0 Source of employee 
from within DG or service 
1 
2 
1 
4 Supplementary staff 
0 
0 
0 
0 Duration 
50 
10.2 Financial impact of supplementary staff 
No supplementary staff are envisaged. 10.2 Financial impact of supplementary staff 
Calculation of costs for staff 
4 x ECU 108 000 = ECU 432 000 
Through using the existing resources earmarked for 
managing the action (calculation based on Titles Al, 
A2. A4. A5 and A7). 
I ORIGINAL PROPOSAL " ] 
, OJC202 of 02.07.1997 
10.3 Increase in other running costs arising from the action 
Budget line Amounts Method of calculation 
Meetings A2510 ECU 104 250 2 meetings of advisory- committee/year, 
1 representative per Member State = 
2 meetings/year x 15 reps, x ECU 695/rep. x 5 years = 
ECU 104 250 
51 
The resources necessary to cover the expenditure 
below for the 5-year period will be obtained by 
redeployment of existing financial resources and the 
use of supplementary resources will not be required. 
a) Personnel expenses (Title Al, A2 and A5) 
3 x 100 000 ecus x 5 years = 1 500 000 ecus 
b) Operational expenses 
Expenses for meetings (A-250) 
2 meetings/year x 15 experts x 825 ecus/expert x 
5 years = 123 750 ecus 
Expenses for travel (A-130) 
24 missions/year Brussels-Luxembourg x 
200 ecus/mission x 5 years = 24 000 ecus 
60 missions/year to Member States x 1 000 
ecus/mission x 5 years = 300 000 ecus 
c) Total: 1 947 750 ecus The resources necessary- to cover the expenditure below 
for the 5-year period will be obtained by redeployment 
of existing financial resources and the use of 
supplementary resources will not be required. 
A-7031 ECU 146 250 
Obligatory committee meetings 3 meetings x 15 
Member State representatives x ECU 650 x 5 years = 
ECU 146 250 
A-703Ô 
Expenses for meetings ECU 169 425 
3 meetings x 15 experts x ECU 753 x 5 vears 
A-701 
Expenses for travel ECU 436 000 
36 missions/vear Brussels-Luxembourg x 
ECU 200/mission x 5 vears = ECU 36.000 
80 missions/vear to Member States x 
ECU 1 000/mission x 5 years = ECU 400 000 
Total of item 10.3 = ECU 751.657. 
52 



ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(98) 229 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 05 15 16 01 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-243-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-33197-X 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg 
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