WRITTEN QUESTION E-0705/98 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) and Salvatore Tatarella (NI) to the Commission (18 March 1998)

Subject: Injury prevention

This question concerns the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision adopting a programme of Community action from 1999 to 2003 on injury prevention in the context of the framework for action in the field of public health (COM(97) 178 final - 97/0132 COD ((OJ C 202, 2.7.1997, p. 20. ))).

With regard to 'consistency and complementarity', it is vital ensure consistency and complementarity with other Community measures and programmes relating to the same subject, in particular as regards the EHLASS system, which may expire at the end of 1997. Without the aid of the EHLASS system the programme of action on injury prevention may not be able to function and could the Commission therefore extend its use? It is also essential that the Commission should publish guidelines concerning the methods to be used for the collection of data so as to ensure that the information from the various Member States is comparable.

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0704/98, E-0705/98, E-0706/98 and E-0707/98 given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (16 April 1998)

The proposed programme on injury prevention aims at the systematic collection of progressively improved information on injuries and their prevention, the sharing of expertise in the selection and adaptation of the best prevention interventions and improvements in the epidemiology of injury. As such, it does not duplicate the health monitoring programme, which seeks to establish health indicators in certain areas as a tool for the overall definition and evaluation of national and Community health policy, but will complement the latter by providing the background material on which appropriate selection of indicators can be made. Moreover, the programme on injury prevention will support the evaluation and dissemination of best practice as regards protective measures, and will promote the drawing up of effective policies. As regards the future development of health policy, present activities judged to merit priority status will feature prominently in future proposals of the Commission.

On 3 November 1997 the Council confirmed its support for the continuation and improvement of the Europe home and leisure accident surveillance system (Ehlass). On 11 March 1998, the Commission accepted, to a large measure, the amendments of the Parliament in first reading related to the integration, development and extension of the former Ehlass system in the proposal for a programme on injury prevention. The proposal of the Commission on this programme is being modified accordingly.

The proposed decision provides that the Commission shall ensure consistency and complementarity between actions to be undertaken under the proposed programme and those implemented under other relevant Community programmes and actions. As such, an appropriate cross link with Directive 92/59/EEC on general product safety ((OJ L 228, 11.8.1992. )) is already provided. Furthermore, as regards the injury prevention capacity, activities will be supported to increase the use which public health bodies can make of other Community policies for injury prevention.

An amount of 14 MECU for 5 years will be proposed for the actions under the programme between 1999 and 2003.