A4-0226/95

Decision on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and Council Decision adopting an action plan to combat cancer within the framework for action in the field of public health (1996-2000) (C4-0274/95 - 94/0105(COD))

(Codecision procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0274/95 - 94/0105(COD),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 68, 20.3.1995, p. 17.)) on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council COM(94)0083 ((OJ C 139, 21.5.1994, p. 12.)),

- having regard to amended Commission proposal COM(95)0131 ((OJ C 143, 9.6.1995 p. 16.)),

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

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

- having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0226/95),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

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

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

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

(Amendment 1)

Recital 10

>Original text>

(10) Whereas, by ensuring wider dissemination of knowledge of the causes of cancer and of its prevention, by ensuring improved comparability and dissemination of information on these subjects, and by developing complementary actions especially in health education, this plan will contribute to the achievement of the Community objectives set out in Article 129 of the Treaty;

>Text following EP vote>

(10) Whereas, by ensuring wider dissemination of knowledge of the causes of cancer and of its prevention, by ensuring improved comparability and dissemination of information on these subjects, and by developing complementary actions in health education, especially those aimed at specific groups, particularly children, this plan will contribute to the achievement of the Community objectives set out in Article 129 of the Treaty;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 10a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(10a) Whereas measures must be adopted to combat the promotion, in the media, of habits which may lead to cancer, such as poor dietary habits and smoking;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 11

>Original text>

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

>Text following EP vote>

(11) Whereas it is important that the Commission ensure implementation of this plan in close cooperation with the Member States;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 16

>Original text>

(16) Whereas a Community contribution to combating cancer includes all aspects of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, including those helping to alleviate the effect of the disease, to improve its curability and the quality of life of sufferers;

>Text following EP vote>

(16) Whereas a systematic policy for combating cancer includes all aspects of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, including exchange of experience on quality control of diagnosis and treatment, and taking into account psycho-social aspects, with particular emphasis on quality of life;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 18

>Original text>

(18) Whereas the objectives of this plan and the actions implementing it form part of the requirements concerning health protection referred to in the third subparagraph of Article 129(1) of the Treaty and by virtue thereof form part of the Community's other policies;

>Text following EP vote>

(18) Whereas the objectives of this plan and the actions implementing it form part of the requirements concerning health protection referred to in the third subparagraph of Article 129(1) of the Treaty and by virtue thereof form part of the Community's other policies, such as those on the environment, the protection of workers, consumer protection, nutrition, agriculture and the internal market;

(Amendment 6)

Article 1(4)

>Original text>

4. The actions to be undertaken shall include in particular:

- the establishment of common objectives;

- the standardization and collection of comparable and compatible data on health;

- programmes for exchange of experience and of health professionals and for the dissemination of the most effective practices;

- the creation of information networks;

- European-scale studies and dissemination of the results;

- implementation of pilot programmes and pilot projects;

- compilation of reports, especially to monitor the measures taken.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 7)

Article 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 1a

The essential objective is to establish a cooperation network linking the Commission and the national committees so as to ensure that Community action serves as a catalyst for the action of the Member States in combating cancer.

(Amendment 8)

Article 2(1)

>Original text>

1. The Commission shall ensure the implementation, in close cooperation with the Member States, of the actions set out in the Annex in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 5.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The Commission, in close cooperation with the Member States, the national coordination committees and with institutions and organizations active in the prevention of cancer, shall ensure implementation of the action plan in the following fields:

>Text following EP vote>

I. Development and strengthening of a European network of cancer registers and support for epidemiological studies focused on prevention.

>Text following EP vote>

II. Public information and health education.

>Text following EP vote>

III. Training of health workers in cancer prevention.

>Text following EP vote>

IV. Early detection and systematic screening.

>Text following EP vote>

V. Exchanges of experience on quality control of diagnosis and treatment, including palliative care and contributions for selecting priorities in cancer research and transfer of results of basic research into clinical trials.

>Text following EP vote>

Specific actions in these fields are set out in the Annex.

(Amendment 9)

Article 2(1a)(new)

>Text following EP vote>

1a. The Commission shall cooperate with a high-level committee of experts made up of persons eminent in the field and designated by the Member States. It shall advise the Commission on the scientific, technical and psycho-social aspects of prevention, of monitoring the disease and the palliative care.

(Amendment 10)

Article 2(3)

>Original text>

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

>Text following EP vote>

3. Member States are called upon to take measures for the implementation of this plan at national level.

(Amendment 11)

Article 3(1)

>Original text>

1. The budget for implementing this plan for the period referred to in Article 1 is set at ECU 59 million.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The budget for implementing this plan for the period referred to in Article 1 is set at ECU 64 million.

(Amendment 12)

Article 4

>Original text>

The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that there is consistency and complementarity between actions to be implemented under this plan and other relevant Community programmes and initiatives, including the biomedical and health research programme under the Community's framework programme for research, and the programmes introducing an integrated information network (information technology in areas of general interest).

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

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall ensure that there is consistency and complementarity between actions to be implemented under this plan and other relevant Community programmes and initiatives, including the biomedical and health research programme under the Community's framework programme for research, and the programmes introducing an integrated information network (information technology in areas of general interest).

(Amendment 13)

Article 5(2)(ba)(new)

>Text following EP vote>

(ba) the simplification and improvement of the programme's basic administrative procedures, which shall be duly published;

(Amendment 14)

Article 5(2)(c)

>Original text>

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

>Text following EP vote>

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

(Amendment 15)

Article 5(4), introductory words

>Original text>

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

>Text following EP vote>

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

(Amendment 16)

Article 5a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 5a

The Commission shall encourage real cooperation between multinational working parties in a spirit of competition and partnership. Once a specific project has been approved, other working parties shall have the opportunity of joining the project.

(Amendment 17)

Annex (B)(8a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

8a. Mounting a pilot scheme in the mass media involving 'European leaders against passive smoking', in which political leaders, leaders of social groups, scientists and artists will undertake not to smoke in public.

(Amendment 18)

Annex (B)(9)

>Original text>

9. Selection and dissemination of the best methods of reducing tobacco consumption in the Member States and evaluation of their impact as part of pilot measures to implement these methods in liaison with healthcare workers. Continuing classification of dangerous substances and preparations with the aim of improving packaging and labelling.

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

>Text following EP vote>

9. Selection at European level and dissemination of the best methods of overcoming addiction to smoking in the Member States and evaluation of their impact as part of pilot measures to implement these methods in liaison with healthcare workers. Continuing classification of dangerous substances and preparations with the aim of improving packaging and labelling.

(Amendment 19)

Annex (B)(10)

>Original text>

10. Contributing to the formulation and implementation of integrated health education programmes in different contexts, with cancer prevention given a particularly important role. Definition and implementation of supplementary cancer prevention projects for specific groups in different contexts.

>Text following EP vote>

10. Contributing to the formulation and implementation of integrated health education programmes in different life contexts, with cancer prevention given a particularly important role. Definition and implementation of supplementary cancer prevention projects for specific groups (town planners, environmental specialists, architects, radiologists) in different contexts.

>Original text>

Evaluation of health education initiatives targeted at young people, with priority being given to making individuals more aware of their responsibility for their own health, to discouraging smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, to promoting a healthy diet, especially the consumption of fruit and vegetables, to appropriate media campaigns promoting a healthy diet and to making people aware of the risks associated with excessive exposure of the skin to ultraviolet radiation.

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

>Text following EP vote>

Evaluation in the context of pilot Community networks of health education initiatives giving priority to making individuals more aware of their responsibility for their own health, to discouraging smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, to promoting a healthy diet, especially an increased consumption of fruit and vegetables, and to appropriate media campaigns on healthy diets and the risks associated with excessive exposure of the skin to ultraviolet radiation, targeted at young people.