Amended proposal for a EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION adopting a programme of Community action on the prevention of AIDS and certain other communicable diseases within the framework for action in the field of public health
Date: 1995-05-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: AIDS, action programme, disease prevention, dissemination of information, health policy, public health

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

* 

it 
+ * + 

Brussels,  30.05.1995 
COM(95)209  final 

95/0222 (COD) 

Amended proposal  for a 

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT  AND COUNCIL DECISION 

adopting a programme of Community  action  on  the 

prevention  of AIDS and certain  other communicable  diseases 
within  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 

The  initial  proposal  for  a  European  Parliament  and  Council  decision  adopting  a 
programme  of  Community  action  on  the  prevention  of  AIDS  and  certain  other 
communicable  diseases,  presented  by  the  Commission,  was  adopted  by 
the 
Commission  on  9  November  1994. 

The  Economic  and  Social  Committee1  and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions2 
delivered  favourable  opinions  concerning  the  Commission's  initial  proposal. 

Following  the  opinion  delivered  by  the  European  Parliament  at  the  first  reading 
on  27  April  1995,  the  Commission  now  presents,  pursuant  to  Article  189a  of  the 
Treaty,  an  amended  proposal  for  a decision.  The  text  basically  contains  two  types 
of  amendments: 

some  which  usefully  clarify  or  add  further  detail  to  the  initial  proposal; 

others  which  reinforce  the  proposal,  in  the  sense  of  providing  for  more 
marked  Community  action  in  certain  areas  of  prevention  identified  as 
priority  areas  by  the  European  Parliament. 

The  European  Parliament  adopted  61  amendments  at  its  vote  on  27  April  1995, 
J3  of  which  are  totally  or  partially  acceptable  to  the  Commission  (2,  64,  4,  6,  7, 
8,  9,  10,  1  1,  13,  14,  15,  16,  18,  19, 23,  24,  25,  28,  31,  32,  35,  37,  38,  39,  40,  65, 
42,  50,  56,  58,  60,  61). 

Plenary  session  of  29  and  30  March  1995 
Plenary  session  of  20  and  21  April  1995 

A. 

However,  three  categories  of amendments  are not  acceptable to the  Commission: 

a) 

b) 

c) 

amendments  raising  problems  which  should  be  dealt  with  either 
"horizontally"  in  all  the  programmes  proposed  or  implemented  by  the 
Commission, or "vertically" in other health-related  programmes  (1,  17,*21, 
29,  30,  52,  55, 63); 

amendments  whose  content  lies  outside  the  legislative  framework  or 
outside  the  scope  of  the  programme  for  the  prevention  of  AIDS  and 
certain  other  communicable  diseases,  which  are  inconsistent  with  the 
content of the Commission  communication  accompanying the programme, 
or  which  introduce  elements  which  may  make  the  programme  more 
difficult  to  implement  (22,  34,  36,  49,  51, 62, 66); 

amendments  proposing  a  form  of  words  which  is  less  flexible  and  more 
narrow  than  that  proposed  by  the  Commission,  or  introducing  elements 
which  already  feature  in  the  proposed  decision  either  implicitly  or  at  a 
more  appropriate  point  (5,  12, 20,  26, 33, 43, 46, 47, 48,  53, 54,  57, 59). 

L 

Amended proposal  for a 

EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT  AND  COUNCIL DECISION 

adopting  a programme  of Community  action  on the 

prevention  of AIDS and certain  other communicable  diseases 
within  the framework  for action  in the field  of public  health 

* 

COM  (94i  413 final 

Amended  proposal 

THE  EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT  AND 
THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN 
UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing 
the  European  Community, 
in 
particular  Article  129 thereof, 

and 

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  from  the 
Commission0*, 

, 

Having  regard 
Economic  and  Social  Committee(2), 

to  the  opinion  of  the 

Having  regard 
Committee  of  the  Regions(3), 

to  the  opinion  of  the 

Whereas the prevention  of diseases, 
1. 
in  particular  the  major  health  scourges, 
including  drug  dependence,  is  a  priority 
for  Community  action,  requiring  a  global 
and 
between 
Member  States; 

coordinated 

approach 

Whereas the prevention of diseases, 
1. 
in  particular  the  major  health  scourges, 
including  drug  dependence,  is  a  priority 
requiring  an 
for  Community  action, 
integrated 
approach 
between  Member  States; 

coordinated 

and 

Whereas  AIDS  is  at  present  an 
2. 
incurable  disease  which,  given  its  modes 
of  transmission,  can  only  be  effectively 
combated  by  preventive  measures; 

Whereas  AIDS  is  at  present  an 
2. 
incurable  disease  regarded  a;>  a  major 
scourge, 
to  combat  which  coordinated 
action  is  required  in  the  areas  both  of 
therapeutical  research  and  prevention ; 

2b  (new) 
that 
Whereas  AIDS  is  a  phenomenon 
poses  a  dilemma  not  only  for  those  parts 
of  human  relationships  of  most  intimate 
concern  to  individuals, but  also for  modes 
of  collective  behaviour;  whereas 
its 
implications  extend  to  the  law  and  the 
to  politics,  public  health, 
economy, 
to 
education  and  culture,  as  well  as 
medicine,  sociology  and  research; 

OJ  ii*  .. 
OJ  n*  .. 
OJ  n*  .. 

H 

the  Ministers 

3. 
Whereas the plan of action  adopted 
by  Decision  91/317/EEC  of  the  Council 
the 
for  health  of 
and 
the 
Member  States,  meeting  within 
Council(4), 
the 
framework  of 
the 
"Europe 
programme 
against  AIDS" 
expired  at the  end  of  1993; 

in 

the  Council  and 

Whereas,  in  their  conclusions  of 
4. 
27 May  1993(5), 
the 
Ministers  for  Health,  meeting  within  the 
Council,  emphasised  the  need  to  continue 
the activities of the "Europe against AIDS" 
programme; 

"Europe 

Whereas 

4. 
against 
the 
AIDS"  programme  has been  prolonged  up 
to  1995  bv  decision  of  the  European 
Parliament  and the Council  of 22.12.1994; 

Whereas, 

in  consequence, 

5. 
the 
Commission  submitted  to  the  Council  on 
29  September  1993  a  Proposal  for  a 
Decision  concerning  the  extension  to  the 
end  of  1994  of  the  1991-1993  plan  of 
action  adopted  in  the  framework  of  the 
"Europe  against  AIDS"  programme^,  to 
ensure  continuation  of  the  Community 
actions 
the 
action 
adoption 
programme;  whereas  the  Council  adopted 
on  2 June  1994  a  common  position 
concerning  that  proposal(7),  with  a view  to 
extending 
the  "Europe  against  AIDS" 
programme  to  the  period  1994-1995; 

to  combat  AIDS  pending 

a  multiannual 

of 

(" OJ  WL175,  4.07.1991, p. 26 
'"  Doc.  6946/93  SAN  36 
!n' COM(93)  453  final  of  2909.1993 
!7' OJ  N'  C213,  3.08.1994,  p. 220 

Delete 

r 

in 

Whereas, 

its  conclusions  of 
6. 
13 December  1993(8),  the  Council  agreed 
that  it  was  necessary  for  the  Community 
as  a  whole  to  acquire  a  better  knowledge 
of diseases on the basis of their causes and 
their  epidemiological  context; 

in 

Whereas 

the  Council, 

its 
6. 
conclusions  of  13 December  1993(9)  and 
Parliament,  in  its  resolutions  of  26 May 
1989(10). 15 Mav  1991(11)and  19 November 
1993(12) took the view that it was  essential 
to  acquire  a  better  knowledge  of  diseases 
on  the  basis  of  their  causes  and  their 
epidemiological  context;  and  whereas, 
institutions  have 
accordingly, 
two 
the  Commission 
called  on 
to  submit 
proposals 
the  setting  up  of  an 
for 
epidemiological  network  in  the  European 
Community: 

the 

Whereas,  in  the  same  conclusions, 
7. 
the  Council  emphasized  that  the  smooth 
for  gathering 
running  of  a  network 
epidemiological 
that 
requires 
data 
theoretical  training  in  epidemiology  and 
practical  preparation  in  epidemiology  in 
the  field  be  developed  for 
the  teams 
participating  in  the  network; 

Whereas 

the  Council 

and 
7. 
Parliament  emphasized  that  the  smooth 
for  gathering 
running  of  a  network 
epidemiological  data  requires 
the 
that 
comparability  and  compatibility  of data be 
ensured  and  that  theoretical  training  in 
epidemiology  and  practical  preparation  in 
epidemiology  in the field  be developed  for 
the  teams  participating  in  the  network; 

7b  (new) 
Whereas  the  European  Community  can 
make  a  major  contribution  towards  the 
organization  of  exchanges  of  experience 
and  the  dissemination  of  information  with 
regard  to  the  specific  training  of  health 
professionals  and the information  of all the 
social  players  involved,  such  as  teachers, 
of 
families, 
undertakings; 

authorities 

heads 

and 

OJ N° CI5. 18.01.1994. p. 6 

"'OJ N* CI5, 18.01.1994, p. 6 
,10'OJ NT CI58. 26.06.1989, p. 477 
" " O J N* CI58. 17.06.1991. p. 45 
121 OJ N° C329. 6.12.1993. p. 375 

in 

Whereas 

their  resolution  of 
8. 
13 November  1992(13), the Council  and the 
Ministers  for  Health  meeting  within  the 
Council 
to 
consider  the  existing  arrangements  which 
provide  for  cooperation  between  member 
States  in  the  field  of  monitoring  and 
control  of  communicable  diseases; 

the  Commission 

invited 

9. 
Whereas  the  actions  undertaken  at 
Community  level  in  the  field  of  AIDS 
need  to  be  continued  and  extended  to 
cover certain other communicable diseases, 
and  also  to  be  consolidated  within  the 
framework  of  the  action  in  the  field  of 
the 
set 
health 
public 
Commission(14); 

out 

by 

particular 

9. 
Whereas  the  actions  undertaken  at 
Community  level  in  the  field  of  AIDS 
need  to  be  continued  and  extended  to 
cover certain other communicable diseases, 
transmissible 
sexually 
in 
diseases 
to  be 
and 
consolidated  within  the  framework  of  the 
action  in  the  field  of  public  health  set  out 
by  the  Commission(,7)  and  in  Chapter  VII 
of the  White  Paper  on  social  policy(18); 

fSTDs\ 

also 

10.  Whereas  the actions must take  into 
account,  as  the  Council  requested  in  its 
Resolution  of  27  May  1993(15),  other 
actions  undertaken  by  the  Community  in 
the  field  of  public  health  or  having  an 
impact  on  public  health; 

11.  Wrhereas in its Resolution  of 2 June 
1994  concerning 
for 
the 
Community  action  in  the  field  of  public 
health(16),  the  Council  agreed  that  priority 
should  be  given  at  present  to  AIDS  and 
other  communicable  diseases; 

framework 

lM'  OJ  N* C  326,  11.12.1992,  p. 1 
l! n  COM(93)  559  final  of  24.11.1993 
•  "'  OJ  N* C  174,  25.06.1993. p. 1 
(!,,)  OJ  N* C  165.  17.06.1994,  p. 1 

l p)  COM(93)  559  final  of  24.11.1993 
"*' COM(94)  333  final  of  27.07.1994 

? 

12.  Whereas,  in  accordance  with  the 
principle of subsidiarity, actions on matters 
not within the exclusive competence of the 
Community,  such  as action  on  HIV/AIDS 
and  communicable  diseases,  should  be 
undertaken  by the  Community  only  when, 
by  reason  of  its  scale  or  effects, 
its 
objectives  can  be  better  achieved  at 
Community  level; 

13.  Whereas  cooperation  with 
the 
competent  international  organisations  and 
with  non-member  countries  should  be 
strengthened; 

14.  Whereas a multiannual  programme 
the  objectives  of 
is  required,  defining 
Community  action,  the priority  actions  for 
the  prevention  of  AIDS  and  other 
communicable 
the 
and 
appropriate  evaluation  mechanisms; 

diseases, 

12b  (new) 
Whereas it is necessary  to promote  studies 
in  the Member  States  to  identify  the  most 
effective  methods  of  prevention  and  to 
publish  the  most  significant  results  of this 
work; 

13.  Whereas  cooperation  with  non-
for 
member 
and 
combating 
consequently 
the 
competent 
organisations 
should  be  strengthened; 

countries 
these 
cooperation  with 

is 
scourges 

international 

essential 

14.  Whereas a multiannual  programme 
the  objectives  of 
is  required,  defining 
Community  action  and  the priority  actions 
for  the  prevention  of  AIDS  and  other 
in  particular 
communicable  diseases, 
and 
ensuring 
STDs. 
the 
continuity 
already 
of 
undertaken,  and 
receiving  appropriate 
funding  and  benefiting  from  transparent 
evaluation  mechanisms; 

coherence 
actions 

the 

and 

patterns, 

the  objectives  of 

this 
15.  Whereas 
programme  must  be  to contribute  towards 
stemming  the  spread  of  AIDS  and  other 
communicable  diseases  in the  Community 
by  improving  knowledge  concerning  their 
prevalence 
improving 
recognition  of risk  situations and  practices 
and  improving  early  detection  and  social, 
health and medical  support, with a view to 
preventing  the  transmission  of  AIDS  and 
other  communicable  diseases  and  thus 
the  associated  mortality  and 
reducing 
morbidity  as  well  as  combating  all  forms 
of  discrimination  against  people  suffering 
from  AIDS or infected  with the HIV virus; 

16b  (new) 
Whereas  it  is  essential  to  support  actions 
aimed 
forms  of 
discrimination  affecting  people living with 
HIV  and  AIDS,  as  well  as  initiatives 
aimed at improving their living conditions; 

combating 

all 

at 

the  objectives  of 

this 
15.  Whereas 
programme  must  be to  contribute  towards 
improving  knowledge  concerning 
the 
prevalence  and patterns  of HIV/AIDS  and 
other  communicable  diseases,  improving 
recognition 
and 
risk 
improving  early  detection  and  social  and 
medical  support, with a view to preventing 
the transmission  of communicable diseases 
and  thus reducing  the  associated  mortality 
and  morbidity; 

situations 

of 

16.  Whereas, from  an operational  point 
of view, past actions to establish  European 
n o n - g o v e r n m e n t al 
n e t w o r ks 
organisations  and  to  mobilize  resources 
should  be  maintained  and  developed; 

of 

5 

17.  Whereas  possible  duplication  of 
effort  should be avoided by the promotion 
of  exchanges  of  experience  and  by  the 
development  of  information  material  for 
the public, health  educators and those who 
train  the  health  professions; 

17.  Whereas  possible  duplication  of 
effort  should  be avoided  by the promotion 
of  exchanges  of  experience  and  by  the 
development  of  information  material  for 
the public, health  educators and those who 
train  the  health  professions,  and  for  non 
than 
governmental  organizations  other 
patients'  associations; 

18.  Whereas this programme should be 
of  five-year  duration  in  order  to  allow 
sufficient  time for the various actions to be 
implemented  and to achieve the  objectives 
set; 

18b  (new) 
Whereas  access to this programme  should 
be  facilitated,  with  especial  stress  on 
reaching  organizations  which  lack  means 
of 
on 
to 
Community  programmes; 

information 

access 

easy 

the  procedures 

18c (new) 
for  granting 
Whereas 
financial  aid 
should  be  simple  and 
accessible,  and  there  should  be  guarantees 
of 
these 
procedures  and  the  relevant  controls; 

transparency  of 

total 

the 

18d  (new) 
Whereas  this  decision  establishes,  for  the 
total  duration  of  the  programme,  a  total 
appropriation  which  constitutes  the  key 
reference,  within the meaning of point  1  of 
the  statement  of  the European  Parliament, 
the  Council  and 
the  Commission  of 
6  March  1995.  for the budgetary  authority 
within the framework  of the annual  budget 
procedure; 

M 

HAVE  DECIDED  AS  FOLLOWS: 

A  Community 

Article  1: 
action 
programme  on  AIDS  and  certain  other 
communicable  diseases  is  adopted  for  a 
five-year  period. 

The  Commission 

Article  2: 
shall 
ensure  implementation  of  the  actions  set 
out  in  the  Annex  in  accordance  with 
Article  5  and  in  close  cooperation  and 
partnership  with  the  Member  States.  The 
institutions  and  organizations  active in the 
field  of  the prevention  of  AIDS  and  other 
communicable  diseases  shall  take  part  in 
them  as well. 

Article  3: 
shall 
available  for  each  financial  year. 

The  budgetary 
the 

determine 

authority 
appropriations 

The  total  appropriation  for 

Article 3 
the 
1. 
implementation  of  this  programme  for  the 
period  referred  to  in  Article  1  shall  be 
MECU  49.6; 

The  annual  appropriations  shall  be 
the  budgetary  authority 
financial 
the 

limit 

of 

2. 
authorized  by 
within 
the 
perspective; 

The  Commission 

Article  4: 
shall 
ensure  that  there  is  a  consistency  and 
complementarity  between  the  Community 
actions  to  be  implemented  under 
this 
programme  and  those  implemented  under 
other  relevant  Community  programmes 
and  initiatives. 

Article 4 
The  Commission  shall  ensure  that  there  is 
consistency  and  complementarity  between 
the  actions  to  be  implemented  under  this 
programme  and  those  implemented  under 
other  relevant  Community  programmes 
and initiatives, including the programme of 
research  in  the  field  of  biomedicine  and 
health  under  the  Community's  framework 
research  programme,  and  Community 
action  in  developing  countries; 

41 

Article  5 
For  the implementation  of the  programme 
the  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  an 
Advisory  Committee,  hereinafter  referred 
to  as  "the  Committee",  comprising  two 
representatives  from  each  Member  State 
and 
a  Commission 
chaired 
representative. 

by 

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  chairman 
may  lay down  according  to the urgency  of 
the  matter,  if  necessary  by  taking  a vote. 

in  the 
The  opinion  shall  be  recorded 
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  has 
been  taken  into  account. 

Article 6 
1. 
The  Community  will  encourage 
cooperation  with  third  countries  and  with 
international  public health organizations, in 
particular the World  Health  Organizations. 

Article  6 

This  plan 

shall  be  open 

to 
2. 
participation by the associated  countries of 
Central  and  Eastern  Europe  in  accordance 
with  the  conditions  laid  down  in  the 
to  the  association 
additional  protocols 
agreements  to  be  concluded  with  these 
countries 
in 
Community  programmes.  The  plan  shall 
also  be  open  to  participation  by  Cyprus 
and  Malta  on  the  basis  of  additional 
appropriations  under  the  same  rules  as 
those  applied  to  the  EFT A  countries,  in 
accordance  with  the  procedures  to  be 
agreed  with  these  countries; 

to  participation 

relating 

The  Commission  will 

Article  7 
1. 
regularly 
publish  a  report  on  the  progress  of  the 
the  Community 
programme  and  on 
funding  in the various fields of action. The 
report  will  be  communicated 
the 
European  Parliament,  the  Council,  the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  and  the 
Committee  of  the  Regions; 

to 

in 

the 
The  EFT A  countries, 
2. 
framework  of the EEA Agreement, and the 
countries from  Central  and Eastern  Europe 
with  whom  the Community  has concluded 
association  agreements,  may  be associated 
with  the activities  described  in the Annex, 
according 
those 
agreements. 

the  provisions  of 

to 

The  Commission  will 

Article  7 
regularly 
1. 
actions 
publish 
for 
undertaken 
Community  support in the various fields of 
action. 

information 
and 

opportunities 

the 

on 

The Commission  will  submit to the 
2. 
European  Parliament, 
the  Council,  the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee,  and  the 
Committee  of  the  Regions  a  mid-term 
report  on  the  actions  undertaken,  as  well 
as  an  overall  report  at  the  end  of  the 
programme. 

3 

to  provide  support 

1. 
Exploration with Member  States of 
ways to increase the quantity  and  improve 
the  quality,  comparability  and  availability 
of  data,  and 
to 
strengthen 
surveillance 
systems  and  the  European  Centre  for  the 
Epidemiological Monitoring of AIDS, with 
regard  to  infection  by  HIV  and  connected 
diseases; 

national 

the 

of 

c o o r d i n a t i on 

1  a  (new) 
Contribution towards improving the quality 
national 
and 
epidemiological  monitoring  systems,  and 
participation 
the  development  of 
surveillance  networks,  on  the  basis  of 
jointly-defined  methodologies 
and 
conditions  for  data  transmission,  prior 
consultation  and  coordination  of  replies; 

in 

Annex 

Community 
programme 
action 
concerning  the  prevention  of AIDS  and 
other  communicable  diseases 

I. 

Actions 
sexually  transmitted  diseases 

on  HIV/AIDS 

and 

A. 

Data  collection 

1. 
Exploration  with Member  States of 
ways  to  increase  and  improve  AIDS  and 
HIV  data  at  the  Community  level,  and 
provide  support  to  strengthen  the work  of 
the  national  epidemiological  surveillance 
systems  and  the  European  Centre  for  the 
Epidemiological  Monitoring  of  AIDS. 

'* 

for 

lb  (new) 
Setting  up  of  a  Community  network  of 
public  health  epidemiologists 
the 
purpose  of  defining  common  surveillance 
methods  and  tools  and  enhancing  the 
ability  to  respond  in  a coordinated  wav to 
the 
communicable 
diseases, especially in the case of epidemic 
outbreaks; 

development 

of 

a n a l y s is 

G a t h e r i n g, 

2. 
and 
dissemination  of  information  concerning 
preventive  measures  and  the  knowledge, 
attitudes  and  behaviour  of  the  general 
public and target groups; promotion  of the 
development  and  use  of  measures  for 
assessing  effectiveness  and  new  surveys 
where  existing  information  is  inadequate, 
including  Eurobarometer  surveys. 

2. 
Promotion  of  initiatives  to  verify 
and  disseminate  existing  information  on 
the knowledge,  attitudes  and  behaviour  of 
the  general  public  and  of  certain  target 
groups  with  regard  to  HIV/AIDS  and 
STDs.  and  on  the  preventive  measures 
taken 
the  European  Community; 
devising of new Eurobarometer surveys on 
changes  in  behaviour  patterns  in  response 
to AIDS; 

in 

2  a  (new) 
Collection,  analysis  and  promotion  of  the 
dissemination  of  information  concerning 
preventive  measures;  promotion  of  the 
development 
evaluation 
and  use  of 
methods  for  determining  the  effectiveness 
of  preventive  measures  and  information 
campaigns  aimed  at the general  public and 
target  groups; 

\C~ 

B. 

Measures for children and young 
people 

initiatives 

Encouragement  of 

to  HIV/AIDS  and  STDs, 

to 
3. 
information 
ascertain  and  disseminate 
about  children's  and  young  people's 
knowledge,  attitudes  and  behaviour  in 
relation 
to 
examine current practice in providing them 
with  information  both  within  and  outside 
formal 
settings  such  as  schools  and 
training  institutions  and  to  promote  the 
exchange  of  educational  and 
training 
material,  and 
the  setting  up  of  pilot 
projects  and  networks. 

and 

clubs 

training 

practices 

Examination  and 
as 

evaluation  of 
3. 
present 
the 
regards 
dissemination  of  information  within  and 
outside official  structures  such  as schools. 
sports 
centres; 
promotion  of  exchanges  of  materials  and 
of  teaching  and  training  methods,  and 
support 
in 
particular  at  groups  of  young  people 
lacking  a  formal  structure;  to  this  end, 
development  of  exchanges  of  educational 
and training materials suited to every stage 
individual's  development,  and 
the 
of 
support 
in 
for  pilot  projects  aimed 
particular  at  groups  of  young  people 
lacking  a formal  educational  structure 

for  pilot  projects  aimed 

C. 

Prevention  of  HIV  and  STD 
transmission 

4. 
Examination  and  exchanges  of 
information  on  problems  and  situations 
related  to  groups  at  risk  (drug  users,  sex 
workers,  homosexuals  and bisexuals),  risk 
situations  (mobile  populations  and  border 
areas,  penal  institutions);  and  modes  of 
transmission;  exchange  of  experience  on 
harm-reduction  measures  and  preventive 
actions;  and  promotion  of  appropriate 
preventive  measures  and  of  pilot  projects. 

4. 
Examination  and  exchange  of 
information  concerning  the  problems  and 
situations  especially  of  persons  at  greatest 
risk  of  contamination 
(recipients  of 
multiple  blood 
transfusions!  persons 
engaging  in  high-risk  behaviour  (injection 
sexual 
of  drugs,  prostitution,  unsafe 
practices,  etc.).  or  persons  in  particular 
circumstances 
the  military, 
(prisoners, 
tourists,  migrants  and  frontier  dwellers, 
and  concerning  modes  of  transmission; 
exchange  of  experience  on  prevention 
campaigns and measures aimed at reducing 
risks;  promotion  of appropriate  preventive 
measures  and  pilot  projects; 

to 

information 

disseminate 

4  a  (new) 
Exchanges  of 
concerning 
messages and the promotion  of appropriate 
effective 
measures 
messages  aimed  at  the  general  public, 
notably 
inform, 
through  campaigns  to 
educate  and  raise  the  awareness  of  the 
general  public  on  means  of  protecting 
themselves against the risk of transmission 
via  sex,  the  problems  which  these  means 
pose,  and  the  use  of  such  means; 

5. 
Promotion  of  information,  advice 
and  counselling  to  pregnant  women  who 
may be at risk of transmitting HIV to their 
babies;  exchange  of  views  and  experience 
on  screening  pregnant  women;  and  co 
ordination  of  research  on  minimizing 
mother-child  transmission. 

T 

D. 

Social  and  psychological  support 
and  combating  discrimination 

Exchanges  of  experience  and 
6. 
of 
concerning  models 
information 
assistance  and  support, 
the 
including 
particular  difficulties  facing  families  with 
infected  members, and concerning  policies 
and 
and 
on 
discriminatory  situations,  promotion  of 
analyses  and  pilot  projects  on the  psycho 
social  aspects  of  the  disease,  and  the 
setting  up  of  networks  of  organizations 
providing  information  and  assistance. 

screening 

practices 

Exchanges  of 

concerning  models 

information  on 
information 

experience  and 
6. 
information 
of 
assistance and support for  those with HIV, 
those  with  AIDS  and  their  families  and 
friends. Promotion of studies, pilot projects 
and actions on the psvcho-social  aspects of 
HIV/AIDS. Preparation  and distribution of 
bulletins  and  directories  containing  up-to-
the  organizations 
date 
providing 
and  assistance; 
encouragement of networks of associations 
dispensing  information  and  psycho-social 
assistance. Analysis of existing or potential 
discriminatory situations. Establishment of 
a  record  of  the  measures  taken  by  the 
Member  States  to  combat  all  forms  of 
discrimination,  especially 
in  housing, 
insurance, lending, housing, education  and 
health  care.  Exchange  of  information  and 
experience  in  this  field,  particularly  as 
regards  policy  and  practice  concerning 
HIV  tests; 

II. 

Specific  Community  measures 
for 
communicable 
diseases 

certain 

A. 

Actions  related  to  vaccination 

living 

in  certain 

Support  for  initiatives  designed  to 
7. 
of 
levels 
on 
information 
produce 
vaccination  cover 
the  Community, 
in 
especially  among  children,  at-risk  groups 
risk 
and  persons 
situations,  against  communicable  diseases 
preventable  by  vaccination;  promotion  of 
initiatives  designed 
the 
vaccination  cover  of  the  general  public, 
and  especially  of  at-risk  groups  and 
persons  living  in  certain  risk  situations; 
encouragement  of  measures  designed  to 
match  vaccination 
the 
epidemiological  context. 

schedules 

improve 

to 

to 

B. 

Creation  and  development  of 
networks 

1°. 

Surveillance 

8. 
Contribute to improving the quality 
of  Member  States'  surveillance  systems, 
taking  into  account  the  views  of  servers 
and  users, and assist in the development  of 
networks,  based  on  agreed  methodologies 
of 
and 
of 
and 
information, 
coordination  of  responses. 

transmission 

consultation 

conditions 

prior 

13 

of 

results 

Promote knowledge and exchanges 
9. 
of  experience  on  the  ways  in  which 
surveillance 
nosocomial 
infections  are  analysed,  processed  and 
used  by  the  actors  in  the  field,  and 
encourage actions to increase awareness of 
the  problems  and  inclusion  of  comparable 
and  reliable data on nosocomial  infections 
in  routine  surveys  concerning  hospital 
conditions,  and  support  the  creation  of 
new 
such 
infections. 

surveillance  networks 

for 

2°. 

Dissemination  of  epidemiological 
information 

the 

the 

logistical 

production 

Contribute,  in  particular  by  the 
10. 
support 
of 
provision 
and 
to 
necessary, 
dissemination  of  a  regular 
information 
notice  and  of  a  European  Community 
bulletin 
diseases 
routine 
surveillance,  comprising  both 
surveillance  data  and  reports  on  specific 
investigations. 

communicable 

on 

C. 

Information, 
training 

education 

and 

of 

of 

and 

linking 

Encouragement 

exchanges 
1  1. 
between  Member  States  on  information 
campaigns  at  all  levels,  development  of 
reinforcing 
ways 
campaigns,  such  as  provision  of  specific 
telephone  and 
materials;  utilisation  of 
other 
and 
response  mechanisms, 
development  and promotion  of activities to 
complement  national  efforts,  including the 
setting up of networks and the exchange of 
experience  and  expertise. 

1© 

on 

the 

Evaluation  of 

impact  of 
11- 
information 
sexually 
campaigns 
transmissible diseases and their prevention, 
taking  account  of  assessment  findings; 
encouragement  of  exchanges  between 
member  States  on  information  campaigns 
at  all  levels,  development,  of  ways  of 
linking  and  reinforcing  campaigns  in  the 
Community,  such  as  provision  of  specific 
telephone  and 
materials;  utilisation  of 
and 
response  mechanisms, 
other 
development and promotion  of activities to 
complement  national  efforts,  including  the 
setting  up  or  strengthening  of  networks 
the  exchange  of  experience  and 
and 
expertise. 

for 

and 

Examination  of  current  training 
12. 
programmes 
other 
health 
professionals,  and  for  those  whose  work 
into  contact  with  certain 
brings  them 
communicable  diseases;  identification  of 
weaknesses  and  gaps,  and  devising  and 
promotion 
training 
further 
opportunities  and  programmes. 

of  new 

Studies 

exchanges 

of 
and 
12. 
experience concerning the training given to 
health  professionals  and  persons  who,  by 
virtue  of  their  work,  are  in  contact  with 
certain  communicable  diseases or who can 
act  to  prevent  such  diseases,  including 
persons  employed  to  provide  social  and 
psychological  counselling  to  HIV-positive 
persons and their families  and friends  with 
a view to identifying,  the weaknesses and 
gaps  and  helping  to  develop  and  promote 
new 
programmes 
training 
especially  in  the  field  of  epidemiology; 
promotion  of  exchanges  among  the  health 
professionals  involved  and  of  experiences 
in  this  area. 

further 

to 

the 

outbreaks  whenever 

13. 
Improvement  of  public  health 
routine 
regard 
practices  with 
surveillance  of  infectious  diseases  and 
epidemic 
and 
wherever  these  occur  in  the  Community; 
development  of  a  Community  network  of 
public  health  epidemiologists  with  a  view 
to  defining  common  methods  and  tools 
and enhancing the capacity for  coordinated 
response. 

M 

D. 

Early detection  and screening 

D. 

Early  detection  and  systematic 
screening 

Promotion  of investigations on the 
14. 
effectiveness  and  feasibility  of  screening 
for certain types of communicable diseases 
(tuberculosis, hepatitis, etc.). 

15. 
Support  for  the  training  of  health 
personnel,  in  particular  in  the  context  of 
early detection and systematic screening of 
communicable  diseases; 
cost-benefit 
analysis of screening for different  types of 
communicable disease, in particular among 
pregnant women. 

15. 
Support  for  the  training  of  health 
personnel,  in  particular  in  the  context  of 
of 
and 
detection 
early 
communicable  diseases; 
cost-benefit 
analysis of screening for different  types of 
communicable disease, in particular among 
pregnant women. 

screening 

Hb 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(95) 209  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

05 

Catalogue number  : CB-CO-95-234-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-89198-X 

Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985 Luxembourg 

2.3