WRITTEN QUESTION P-2305/02

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 July 2002)

Subject: Health promotion

How much money has been allocated to health promotion over each of the past ten years? How much money has been allocated to anti-tobacco or anti-smoking campaigns over each of the past ten years?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(20 September 2002)

The programme of Community action on health promotion, information, education and training within the framework for action in the field of public health (1996 to 2000) has a budget of EUR 35 million, plus EUR 7,27 million for its extension in 2001 and EUR 7,27 million for its extension in 2002. However, this programme does not include actions on smoking prevention or cessation, which are covered by the Action Plan to combat cancer within the framework for action in the field of public health (1996 to 2000)(1). Part B of this Action Plan covers initiatives on information and health education, of which information and education activities in the field of smoking prevention and cessation are an important component. The 10-year period referred to includes the 1996-2000 Action Plan, its extensions into 2001 and 2002(2), and the predecessor programme. During this period, out of total commitments of EUR 121,7 million, approximately EUR 32 million were spent on information and health education, i. a. for co-financing Europe-wide prevention campaigns, including smoking prevention, and for co-financing two trans-European smoking prevention and cessation networks (1996: EUR 2,7 million, 1997: EUR 2,5 million, 1998: EUR 2,6 million, 1999: EUR 3,5 million, 2000: EUR 3,6 million, 2001: EUR 3,8 million, 2002: EUR 3,7 million)(3). As of 2003, initiatives aimed at addressing lifestyle-related health determinants, including tobacco, will be carried out in the framework of the programme of Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008, EUR 312 million). This programme will replace the present series of eight public health programmes, including the health promotion and cancer programmes.

Another important source of funding in the tobacco control field is the Community Fund for tobacco research and information, which was established in 1992 through Council Regulation 2075/92 (amended by Council Regulation 1636/98). It is presently funded through a levy not exceeding 2 % (i.e. ± EUR 20 million annually) of the annual premium paid to Community tobacco growers (1 % until 1998). 50 % of the Fund's budget are earmarked for projects improving public awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco consumption in any form, in particular by means of information and education. Until now, more than EUR 25,5 million have been committed on multi-annual projects under the information/education part of the Fund. The major part of commitments in 2001 and 2002 was spent on a Europe-wide smoking prevention and cessation campaign aimed at young people, which will run until 2004 (more information at http://www.feel-free.info/index-ge.htm).

(1) Decision No 645/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 29 March 1996 adopting a programme of Community action on health promotion, information, education and training within the framework for action in the field of public health (1996-2000), OJ L 95, 16.4.1996.

(2) Decision No 521/2001/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2001 extending certain programmes of Community action in the field of public health adopted by Decisions No 645/96/EC, No 646/96/EC, No 647/96/EC, No 102/97/EC, No 1400/97/EC and No 1296/1999/EC and amending those Decisions, OJ L 79, 17.3.2001.

(3) more information on funded projects is available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph/programmes/cancer/projects.htm.