OPINION OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 189 b (2) (d) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION adopting a programme of Community action on health monitoring in the context of the framework for action in the field of public health (1997-2001)
Date: 1996-11-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU action, action programme, data processing, health policy, public health

COMMISSION  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  11.11.1996 
COM(96)  581  final 

95/0238  (COD) 

OPINION  OF  THE  COMMISSION 
pursuant  to  Article  189 b (2)  (d)  of  the EC  Treaty, 
on  the  European  Parliament's  amendments 
to  the  Council's  common  position  regarding  the 

proposal  for  a 
EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT  AND  COUNCIL  DECISION 

adopting  a  programme  of  Community  action 
on  health  monitoring  in  the  context  of  the  framework 
for  action  in  the  field  of  public  health 
(1997-2001) 

AMENDING  THE  PROPOSAL  OF  THE  COMMISSION 
pursuant  to  Article  189  a  (2)  of  the  EC  Treaty 

The  entry  into  force  of  the  Treaty  of  the  European  Union  conferred  upon  the  Community 
particular  competence  with  regard  to  public  health.  In  order  to  attain  the  health  protection 
objectives  set  out  in  Articles  3(o)  and  129  of  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European 
Community,  the  Commission  set  out  in  its Communication  COM(93)559 final  a  framework 
for  action  in  the  field  of  public  health. 

In  initiating  action  under  Article  129,  the  Community  has  to  address  itself  to  preventing 
disease  and  protecting  health.  A  prerequisite  for  such  action  is  knowledge  about  existing 
problems,  their  nature,  and  their  extent.  It  is  therefore  necessary  to  measure  the  changes  in 
health  as well  as the impact  of policies,  programmes,  and  actions,  both  in the Member  States 
and  at  the  Community  level,  in  order  to  ascertain  that  actions  attain  their  objectives  and 
actually  lead  to  the  improvements  intended.  Appropriate  measures  to  monitor  health  and  its 
determinants,  as well  as a capacity  for  the monitoring  and  evaluation  of  actions  are  therefore 
needed. Based  on the criteria laid down in the above-mentioned  Commission  communication, 
health  data  and  indicators  have  been  identified  as  essential  means  to  the  acquisition  of  such 
knowledge  and  capacity,  and,  therefore,  as  a priority  for  Community  action. 

The  Commission  has  therefore  proposed  a  programme  of  Community  action  on  health 
monitoring1  with  the  aim  to contribute  to the development  of a high-quality,  policy-oriented 
health  monitoring  system  for  the European  Community.  This  aim  is intended  to  be  achieved 
1) by establishing  a set of health  indicators, 2) by developing a network for  the collection  and 
dissemination  of  the  data  needed  for  the  indicators;  and  3)  by  developing  the  capacity  to 
undertake  analyses  of  the  data. 

The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  (ECOSOC)  adopted  its  opinion  on  27  March  19962. 

In general, the opinion  is very favourable towards the proposed  health monitoring  programme. 
The ECOSOC  warmly  welcomes and  endorses  it, emphasising  the importance  of  establishing 
and  maintaining  health  indicators.  It  stresses  the  Commission's  cooperation  with  the  World 
Health  Organization,  the Organization  for  Economic  Cooperation  and  Development,  and  the 
European  Monitoring  Centre  for  Drugs  and  Drug  Addiction. 

The  ECOSOC  proposes  that  the  proposed  list  of  domains  and  headings  for  potential  health 
indicators, which  appear in Annex  A of the Communication  which  accompanies the proposal, 
be  annexed  to  the  latter.  Finally,  it  draws  attention  to  the  size  of  the  appropriations  of  the 
programme which  it feels should be increased because of the importance of the subject  matter. 

1  OJ  No.  C  338/4,  16/12/1995; COM(95)449  final 
2  OJ  No. C  174/3,  17/6/1996, p. 3 

The Committee  of the Regions  (COR) adopted  its opinion on  18 January  \9963. 

The COR has no objections to the general objectives of the proposed programme, but it insists 
that  the  COR  and  the  local  and  regional  authorities  be  given  a  significant  role  in  the 
implementation  of the programme. It also notes that the programme could be used for setting 
up minimum  standards of health  in all Member States in the future. 

The COR is concerned that the budget is too low to permit the cooperation that will be needed 
with other agencies, local  and regional  authorities, etc. 

The COR proposes to reduce the proposed  Committee to one (1) representative per Member 
State instead of the proposed two (2) representatives per Member States. In addition, it would 
like to have additional Committee members drawn from  regional bodies such as the COR, the 
NOMESKO (the Nordic Committee for Medical  Statistics) and others. 

The European Parliament adopted its opinion following the first reading on 17 April 19964, 
containing 44 amendments to the original Commission proposal. The amendments adopted are 
intended to modify  or supplement the proposal  for  a Decision  on a number of points: 

the implementation  arrangements for  the programme: comitology  and budget; 

general aspects relating to the scope of the programme (including the establishment of 
a European Health  Observatory,  and the setting of health targets by Member  States); 

further  information  on  certain  measures, through  rewording  or  additions to  the text, 
including  an  Annex  (II),  containing  a  list  of  potential  domains  in  which  the  health 
indicators may be established. 

The Commission accepted 28 amendments of the 44 proposed by the Parliament, either in full 
or in part. 

On  13  May  1996  the  Commission  adopted  an  amended  proposal  taking  account  of  the 
aforementioned  Parliament  amendments5, 

On  14  May  1996  the  Council  unanimously  adopted  a  common  position  with  a  view  to 
adopting the Decision  in question. 

The  Commission  was  unable  to  accept  this  common  position  and  expressed  reservations 
concerning the following  points: 

3  OJ No. C 129/50, 2/5/1996, p. 50 
4  Doc. PE 215.742/fin. 
5  Com(96) 222 final 

Article  3  (Budget):  The  common  position  adopted  by  the  Council  makes  provisions 
for  a budget  of  13 MECU  for  the  programme  over  a  period  of  five  years  between  1 
January  1997  and  31 December  2001. In  its  proposal,  the  Commission  had  proposed 
a  total  of  13.8  MECU  for  the  period  1997-2001. The  Commission  considers  that  its 
proposal  respects  the  ceilings  under  Rubric  3  of  the  Financial  Perspective  and  is 
relatively  modest  given  the  scale  of  the  new  programme  and  its  importance.  The 
Commission  has  therefore  askçd  that  a  statement  be  inserted  in  the  Council  minutes 
reserving  its  position  on  the budget,  which  it  considers  insufficient. 

Article  5  (Comitology):  The  Council  wants  to  introduce  a  "mixed"  comitology 
procedure  for  the  implementation  of  the  programme.  Under  this  procedure,  which  is 
similar  to  that  set  up  for  the  other  public  health  programmes  (AIDS,  Cancer,  and 
Health  Promotion),  there  would  be  9  matters  which  fall  under  the  Committee's 
"management"  competence,  and  others  falling  within  its  "advisory"  competence.  The 
Commission  has entered  a reservation  concerning  this approach,  which  it finds  overly 
bureaucratic  and  onerous,  preferring  a  purely  advisory  committee  which  could  cover 
explicitly,  but  not  limited  to,  some  of  the areas  of activity  envisaged  by  the  Council. 

Article  7(3)  (Evaluation):  The  Council  wanted  the  Commission  to  make  proposals 
concerning the continuation  of the  programme.  The Commission  regrets  the  reference 
to  evaluations  forming  the  basis  for  making  recommendations  concerning  the 
continuation  of the programme,  as this may  not be desirable  or appropriate  in relation 
to the right of initiative of the Commission.  Accordingly,  the Commission  has entered 
a  reservation  on  Article  7(3)  into  the  Council  minutes. 

Recital  26,  Article  5(g),  Annex  I  (objective  A  and  action  A.3):  The  Commission 
regrets the deletion  of the words  "progressively  harmonised  data" in recital  26, and the 
reference  to making  data merely  "comparable"  rather than  "progressively  harmonised" 
in  Art.  5(g),  and  objective  A  and  action  A.3  of  Annex  I,  and,  in  view  of  the  second-
reading  of the European  Parliament,  reserves its position  on this  matter.  A reservation 
on  this  matter  has  been  entered  into  the  Council  minutes. 

Furthermore,  the  Council  did  not  adopt  most  of  the  amendments  proposed  by  European 
Parliament  which  the  Commission  had  introduced  in  its  amended  proposal:  Given  the 
importance  attached  by  Parliament  to these  amendments,  the  Commission  could  only  express 
its  reservation  at  their  non-inclusion  in  the  Council's  common  position  and  made  a statement 
to  be  entered  in  the  minutes  to  this  effect. 

On  23  October  1996  the  European  Parliament6,  adopted  19  amendments  to  the  Council 
common  position.  The  Commission's  opinion  concerning  each  of  these  amendments  is given 
in  the  Annex. 

The  Commission  points  out  that  in  accordance  with  Article  189b(3)  of  the  Treaty  if,  within 
three  months  of  receiving  the  Parliament  amendments,  the  Council,  acting  by  a  qualified 
majority,  approves all of the amendments, it shall  amend  its common  position  accordingly an--. 
adopt  the  act  in  question;  however,  the Council  shall  act unanimously  on the  amendments on 
which  the  Commission  has delivered  a negative  opinion.  If  the  Council  does  not  approve  the 
act in  question,  the President  of the Council,  in  agreement  with  the President  of  the  European 
Parliament,  shall  forthwith  convene  a  meeting  of  the  Conciliation  Committee. 

Doc.  PE  218.544/fin. 

4 /b 

ANNEX7 

Amendment  1: Commission  opinion: partially  accepted. 
The  Commission  can  only  accept this  amendment  partially  because  a  recital  should 
refer  to  a  legal  text  (e.g.,  resolution,  conclusion,  recommendation)  and  not  to  "a 
conciliation  meeting". 

Amendment  2: Commission  opinion: partially accepted. 
The  Commission  can  only  accept  this  amendment  partially  because  the  word 
"comparable" results in limiting the data to be collected by the system  to only those 
which are comparable. This is not desirable as most data currently are not comparable. 
We should  not  await the production  by Member  States of Comparable data in order 
to develop health indicators. Furthermore, it is important  to emphasise that the system 
includes the collection of health data. Finally, the network may already be in existence 
and need  therefore  not be established anew. 

Amendments 3: Commission  opinion:  rejected 
Support  for  Member  States  specific  activities  is  outside  the  scope  of  the  health 
monitoring  programme.  Furthermore,  the  subsidiarity  principle  would  indicate  that 
establishment and improvement of Member State databases is the purview of Member 
States. 

Amendment  4: Commission  opinion:  rejected. 
The Commission  rejected  this amendment because this is an important  recital. There 
are no apparent  reasons for  its deletion. 

Amendments  5: Commission  opinion:  rejected. 
Text  should  be aligned  to the wording of Article 129. 

Amendment  6: Commission  opinion:  partially  accepted. 
The  Commission  can  only  accept this  amendment  partially  because not all  data will 
require joint  development  of  definitions,  etc.  It  is  therefore  misleading  to  use  this 
wording.  Furthermore,  as currently  worded, the amendment  does not make sense. 

Amendments  7: Commission  opinion: accepted. 
The wording of this amendment  is that of the original  Commission  proposal. 

Amendment  8: Commission  opinion: .rejected. 
The  margin  contained  in Rubric  3 of the budget, under which  this programme  falls, 
does not  allow for  such  an increase. 

The  numbering  of  the  amendments corresponds to  the  numbering  of  the Recommendation  for  second 

reading - Doc. PE 218.544/fin. 

Amendment  9: Commission  opinion:  accepted. 
The  Commission  can  fully  accept  this  amendment  because  the  wording  is  consistent 
with  that  of  the  three  other  public  health  programmes  as  agreed  in  the  conciliation 
meeting  in  December  1996. 

Amendment  10: Commission  opinion:  partially  accepted. 
Part  1  is  accepted  only  partially  because  the  exact  formulation  contained  in  the 
comitology decision of  1987 should be followed.  The Committee representation  should 
be analogous to that of the other health programmes (which  have 2 representatives per 
Member  States). Part 2-4 are fully  accepted because the wording is that of the original 
Commission  proposal. 

Amendments  11: Commission  opinion:  rejected. 
The text  should  be  aligned  to the wording  of  Article  129, which  does not  impose any 
legal  obligation  to  cooperate  with  non-governmental  organisations. 

Amendment  12: Commission  opinion:  rejected. 
This  amendment  is  rejected  because  the  dates  for  the  duration  of  the  programme 
depend on its adoption. It is therefore inappropriate to specify  the specific  dates for the 
interim  and  final  reports because they  may  not  end  up  corresponding  to  the  half-way 
point  and  the  end  of  the  programme,  respectively. 

Amendments  13: Commission  opinion:  accepted. 
The  wording  is that  of  the  original  Commission  proposal. 

Amendment  14: Commission  opinion:  rejected. 
This amendment  is rejected  because the first  part  of the amendment  limits the  routine 
collection  of data to comparable data, which is too restrictive, as it prevents supporting 
the  activities  necessary  to  improve  the  comparability  of  the  data.  The  second  part 
implies  an  obligation  to  harmonise  national  data  which  may  require  harmonisation  of 
legal  provisions  something  which  cannot  be  done  under  Article  129. 

Amendments  15: Commission  opinion:  rejected. 
Support  for  Member  States  specific  activities  is  outside  the  scope  of  the  health 
monitoring  programme.  Furthermore,  the  subsidiarity  principle  would  indicate  that 
establishment  and  improvement  of Member  State databases is the purview  of Member 
States.  Finally,  this  programme  is  not  an  instrument  for  disbursing  funds  to  the 
Member  States.  Such  action  would  not  correspond  to  any  objective,  nor  would  it 
provide  any  added  value. 

Amendment  16: Commission  opinion:  partially  accepted. 
It  is  not  the  Commission  which  always  undertakes  such  activities  directly.  However, 
it  will  seek  to  ensure that  these  activities  are  initiated  as well  as  supported. 

Amendments  17: Commission  opinion:  accepted. 
The  wording  is that  of  the  Commission's  amended  proposal. 

Amendment  18: Commission  opinion: partially  accepted. 
Analyses  are  contained  in  reports.  Information  materials  are  important  even  if they 
may  not  be reports  or  contain  analyses. Furthermore,  health  systems  are  considered 
part of the determinants of health, and cost-effectiveness  analysis of health systems is 
outside the scope of the programme. 

Amendment  19: Commission  opinion: accepted. 
It is appropriate  to  support  wide dissemination  of  reports and  information  materials 
prepared  under the programme. 

AMENDED PROPOSAL 

FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 
ADOPTING A PROGRAMME OF COMMUNITY ACTION 
ON HEALTH MONITORING IN THE CONTEXT OF 
THE FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION 
IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC HEALTH 
(1997-2001) 

(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article  189 a (2) 
of the EC-Treaty) 

Council  Common  Position 

Amended  Proposal 

THE EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT  AND THE 
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

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

Having regard  to the proposal  from the 
Commission (1), 

Having regard  to the Opinion of the Economic 
and Social Committee (2), 

Having regard  to the Opinion of the Committee of 
the Regions (3), 

Acting in accordance  with the procedure  referred 
to in Article  189b of the Treatv, 

(l)OJN°  C 338,  16.12.1995. p. 4 
(2) OJNo  C  174.  17.6.1996, p. 3 
(3)OJN°  C  129. 2.5.1996, p. 50 

10 

Council  Common Position 

Amended  Proposal 

1. Whereas, pursuant to Article  3 (o) of the Treaty, 
Community  action  must  include  a contribution of 
the  Community  towards  the  attainment  of  a  high 
level  of  health  protection;  whereas  Article  129 
expressly  provides for  Community  competence  in 
this  field,  by  encouraging  cooperation  between 
Member  States  and,  if  necessary,  by  supporting 
their action through promoting coordination of their 
this  field  and 
policies  and  programmes 
non-member 
encouraging 
countries 
international 
organisations. 

cooperation  with 
relevant 

and 

the 

in 

1. Whereas, pursuant to Article 3 (o) of the 
Treaty, Community  action must include a 
contribution towards the attainment of a high level 
of health protection; whereas Article  129 of the 
Treaty  expressly  provides for Community 
competence in this field insofar as die Community 
contributes to it by encouraging cooperation 
between the Member States and, if necessary, by 
lending support to their action; 

2. Whereas the Council, in its resolution of 
27 May  1993 on future  action in the field of 
public health (1), considered that improved 
collection, analysis and distribution of health data, 
as well as an improvement  in the quality and 
comparability  of available data, are essential  for 
the preparation of future  programmes; 

3. Whereas the European Parliament, in its 
Resolution on public health policy  after  Maastricht 
(2), stressed the importance of having  sufficient 
and relevant information  as a basis for the 
development  of Community  actions in the field of 
public health; whereas the European Parliament 
called on the Commission to collect and  examine 
health data from Member States with a view to 
analysing the effects  of public health policies on 
health status in the Community; 

3. Whereas the European Parliament,  in its report 
on public health policy  after  Maastricht, has 
stressed the importance of having sufficient  and 
relevant  information  as a basis for the 
development  of Community  actions in the field of 
public health; whereas the European  Parliament 
called on the Commission  to collect  and examine 
health data from  Member States and analyse 
trends and assess the effects  of public health 
policies, as well as the impact of other policies on 
health: 

4. Whereas the Commission, in its communication 
of  24 November  1993 on the framework  for 
action in the field of public health,  identified 
increased cooperation on standardization and 
collection of comparable/compatible  data  on 
health, and the promotion of systems of health 
monitoring and surveillance as a prerequisite  for 
the establishment  of a framework  for  supporting 
Member States' policies and programmes; whereas 
the area of health  monitoring, including health 
data and indicators, has been  identified  as a 
priority  area for proposals on multiannual 
Community  programmes in the field of public 
health; 

(l)OJN°C  174, 25.6.1993, p. 1 
(2) OJ N° C 329, 6.12.1993, p. 375 

11 

Council  Common Position 

Amended  Proposal 

5.  Whereas  in  its Resolution  of  2  June  1994  on 
the  framework  for  action  in the  field  of 
Community  health  (1), the  Council  indicated  that 
the  collection  of  health  data  should  be  accorded 
priority  and  invited  the  Commission  to  present 
relevant  proposals;  whereas  the  Council 
considered  that  data  and  indicators  used  should 
include  measures  relating  to  the  quality  of  life  of 
the  population, accurate  assessments  of  health 
needs, estimates  of  the  avoidable  deaths  from  the 
prevention  of  diseases,  socio-economic  factors  in 
health among  different  population  groups, and, 
where  appropriate  and  if  the  Member  States judge 
it  necessary,  health  aid,  medical  practices,  and  the 
impact  of  reforms; 

6.  Whereas  health  monitoring  at  the  Community 
level  is essential  for  the  planning,  monitoring,  and 
assessment  of  Community  actions  in  the  field  of 
public  health,  and  the  monitoring  and  assessment 
of  the  health  impact  of  other  Community  policies; 

7.  Whereas,  on  the  basis  in particular  of 
knowledge  of  data  relating  to  public  health  in 
Europe  obtained  by  setting  up  a  Community 
health  monitoring  system,  it will  be  possible  to 
monitor  public  health  trends  and  define  public 
health  priorities  and  objectives; 

8.  Whereas  health  monitoring,  for  the  purposes  of 
this  Decision,  encompasses  the  establishment  of 
Community  health  indicators  and  the  collection, 
dissemination,  and  analysis  of  Community  health 
data  and  indicators; 

9.  Whereas  in Decision  93/464/EEC  of  22  July 
1993 on the  framework  programme  for  priority 
actions  in the  field  of  statistical  information  1993 
to  1997  (2), the  Council  identified  under  the 
heading  "Health  and  safety  statistics"  the  analysis 
of  mortality  and  morbidity  by  cause  as  one  of  the 
fields  of  priority  actions  under  the  sectoral 
programmes  for  social  policy,  economic  and  social 
cohesion  and  consumer  protection; 

(1)  OJN°  C  165,  17.6.1994,  p. 1 
(2)  OJN°  L  219,  28.8.1993, p. 1 

12 

Council  Common Position 

Amended  Proposal 

10. Whereas in Decision 94/913/EC of 
15 December  1994 adopting a specific  programme 
of research and technological  development, 
including demonstration, in the field of 
biomedicine and health (1994-1998) (1), the 
Council identified  a specific  research task of 
coordination and  comparison of European health 
data, including nutritional  data, from  the various 
Member States; whereas this was taken up in the 
relevant research work programme; 

11. Whereas health monitoring at Community 
level should enable measurements of health status, 
trends and determinants to be carried out, facilitate 
the planning, monitoring and evaluation of 
Community programmes and actions, and provide 
Member States with health information  supporting 
the development and evaluation of their health 
policies; 

12. Whereas, in order to give full  effect  to 
requirements and expectations  in this area, a 
Commumty  health monitoring system should be 
developed, comprising the establishment  of health 
indicators and the collection of health data, a 
network for transmission and sharing of health 
data and indicators, and a capacity  for analysis 
and dissemination of health  information; 

12. Whereas, in order fully  to meet  requirements 
and expectations  in this area, a Community  health 
monitoring system should be set up, involving the 
establishment of health indicators and the 
collection of health data, a network  for 
transmission and sharing of health data and 
indicators, and building capacity  for analysis and 
dissemination of health  information; 

13.  Whereas available options and possibilities 
for developing the various parts of a Community 
health monitoring system, including those making 
existing provisions  more stringent, should be 
carefully  examined with respect to the desired 
performance,  flexibility  and the costs and  benefits 
involved; whereas a flexible  system is required 
which can incorporate features  which are deemed 
valuable at present  while adapting to new 
requirements and other priorities; whereas such a 
system should  include the definition  of sets of 
Community  health  indicators and the collection of 
the data necessary  for the establishment  of such 
indicators; 

13. Whereas available  options and possibilities  for 
developing the various parts of a Community 
health monitoring system, including that of 
enhancing existing capabilities and/or setting up 
an observatory, should be examined  with respect 
to the desired performance,  and the costs and 
benefits  involved; and whereas a flexible  system 
is required which can incorporate  features  which 
are valuable at present while adapting to new 
requirements or other priorities; whereas a 
Community  health monitoring system should 
include the definition  of sets of Community  health 
indicators and the collection of the data  necessary 
for the establishment  of such indicators; 

14. Whereas Community  health data and 
indicators should draw from  existing European 
data and indicators, such as those held by Member 
States or transmitted by them to international 
organizations, so as to avoid unnecessary 
duplication of work; 

(1) OJ N° L 361, 31.12.1994, p. 40 

13 

Council  Common  Position 

Amended  Proposal 

15. Whereas the situation with regard to the 
collection of data varies from  one Member State 
to another, 

16. Whereas a Community  health monitoring 
system would benefit  from  the establishment  of a 
telematics network for the collection and 
distribution of Community  health data and 
indicators; 

16. Whereas the Community  health monitoring 
system would benefit  from being based on a 
network, the backbone of which relies on 
telematics, for the collection and distribution of 
Community  health data and indicators; 

17. Whereas the Community  health monitoring 
system should be capable of producing data for 
the preparation of regular reports on health status 
in the European  Community, analyses of trends 
and health problems, and should help produce and 
disseminate  health  information; 

18. Whereas the setting up of a health-monitoring 
system at Community  level necessarily 
presupposes compliance with provisions 
concerning the protection of data and the 
introduction of  measures to guarantee their 
confidentiality,  such as the provisions  laid down in 
Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament 
and of the Council of 24 October  1995 on the 
protection of individuals with regard to the 
processing of personal data and on the  free 
movement of such data (1) and in Council 
Regulation (Euratom, EEC)  n°  1588/90 of  11 June 
1990 on the transmission of data subject  to 
statistical confidentiality  to the  Statistical  Office  of 
the European  Communities (2); 

19. Whereas a multiannual programme  should be 
launched within the framework  for  action  in the 
field of public  health,  in order to permit the 
development  of a Community  health monitoring 
system and of appropriate  mechanisms for its 
evaluation; 

20. Whereas, in accordance with the principle of 
subsidiarity, action on matters not falling  within 
the exclusive competence  of the Community, such 
as action on health  monitoring,  must be 
undertaken by the Commumty  only  if,  by reason 
of their scale or effects,  it can be better achieved 
by the Community; 

20. Whereas, in accordance  with the principle of 
subsidiarity, action on matters  not under the 
exclusive competence  of the  Community, such as 
action on health monitoring,  must be undertaken 
by the Community  only  if,  by  reason of their 
scale or effects,  it may be better carried out at 
Community  level; 

(1) OJ N° L 281,  23.11.1995,  p.TT 
(2) OJ N° L  151,  15.6.1990, p.  1; Regulation 
amended by the  1994 Act of accession. 

14 

Council  Common Position 

Amended  Proposal 

21.  Whereas policies and programmes  formulated 
and implemented  at Commumty  level, in particular 
those undertaken within the framework  for action 
in the field of public health, should be compatible 
with the targets  and objectives  of Community 
action on health monitoring; whereas the 
implementation of Community  actions on health 
monitoring should be coordinated with and take 
account of relevant research activities under the 
Community's Framework  Programme for Research 
and Technological  Development; whereas the 
projects on telematics applications in the health 
field under the Community's RTD Framework 
must be coordinated with Community  actions on 
health monitoring; whereas actions under the 
Community's framework  programme for  statistical 
information,  the Community  projects  in the  field 
of telematics interchange of data between 
administrations  (IDA) and G-7 health-related 
projects  must be closely coordinated with the 
implementation of Community  actions on health 
monitoring; whereas the work undertaken by the 
specialized  European agencies, such as the 
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug 
Addiction  (EMCDDA) and the European 
Environment  Agency, should be taken into 
account; 

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

22. Whereas cooperation  in this area with the 
competent  international  organisations and with 
third countries should be  fostered: 

23.  Whereas, from  an operational  point of view, 
the investments  made in the past in terms both of 
the development  of Community  networks and of 
cooperation with international  organizations 
competent  in this field should be safeguarded  and 
further  developed; 

24. Whereas it is important that the Commission 
should ensure  implementation of this programme 
in close cooperation with the Member States. 

15 

Council  Common  Position 

Amended Proposal 

25. Whereas  a "modus vivendi" (1) 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 concluded on 20 December  1994; 

26. Whereas data is insufficiently  comparable at 
present and unnecessary  duplication of  effort 
should be avoided by the joint development of 
comparison and conversion methods, criteria and 
techniques, suitable data collection tools such as 
surveys, questionnaires or parts thereof, and 
content specifications  for  health information  to be 
shared using in particular a telematics network; 

26. Whereas data are insufficiently  comparable at 
present and there should be joint development of 
methodologies, comparison and conversion criteria 
and techniques, progressively  harmonized data 
collection tools such as survey, questionnaires or 
parts thereof, and content specifications  for health 
information  to be shared using in particular a 
telematics network; 

27.Whereas, in order to increase the value and 
impact of the action programme, a continuous 
assessment of the measures undertaken  should be 
carried out, with particular regard  to their 
effectiveness  and the achievement of objectives at 
both national and  Community  level, and, where 
appropriate, the necessary  adjustments  should be 
made; 

28. Whereas this Decision lays down, for the 
entire duration of this programme, 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 the Commission of 6 March  1995 (2) 
, for the budgetary  authority  during the annual 
budgetary  procedure; 

29. Whereas this programme  should  run for five 
years in order to allow  sufficient time for actions 
to be implemented  to achieve  the objectives set, 

(l)OJN°C  102. 4.4.1996, p. 1 
(2)OJN°C  102, 4.4.1996, p. 4 

16 

Council  Common Position 

Amended  Proposal 

HAVE  DECIDED  AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

Establishment of the programme 

1.  A programme  of  Community  action  on  health 
to  as  "the 
monitoring,  hereinafter 
programme",  shall  be  adopted  for  the  period  1 
January  1997  to  31  December  2001  within  the 
framework  for action in the field of public health. 

referred 

1. A programme of Community  action on health 
monitoring, hereinafter refereed to as "this 
programme", is hereby  adopted for the period 
1 January  1997 to 31 December 2001 within the 
framework  for action in the field of public health. 

2. The objective  of the programme shall be to 
contribute to the establishment of  a Community 
health-monitoring  system which helps to: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

measure health status, trends and 
determinants throughout the Community, 

facilitate  the planning, monitoring and 
evaluation of Community  programmes 
and actions and 

provide Member States with appropriate 
high-quality  health information  to make 
comparisons and to support  their national 
health policies 

by encouraging cooperation between Member States 
and, if necessary, by supporting their action through 
promoting  coordination  of  their  policies  and 
programmes 
field  and  encouraging 
cooperation  with  non-member  countries  and  the 
relevant  international  organisations. 

this 

in 

3. The actions to be implemented under the 
programme and their specific  objectives  are set 
out in Annex  1 under the following  headings: 

A. Establishment  of Community health indicators; 
B. Development  of a Community-wide  network 
for sharing health data; 
C. Analyses and reporting. 

17 

Council  Common Position 

Amended  Proposal 

A  non-exhaustive  list  of  areas  in  which  health 
indicators  could  be  established  is  set  out  in  Annex 
II. 

Article  2 

Implementation 

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

2. The  Commission  shall  cooperate  with  the 
institutions  and  organizations  which  are  active  in 
the  field  of  health  monitoring. 

Article  3 

Budget 

1. The  financial  framework  for  the  implementation 
of  the  programme  for  the  period  referred  to  in 
Article  1 shall  be  ECU  13  million. 

1. The  financial  resources  for  implementation  of 
this  programme  for  the  period  referred  to  in 
Article  1 shall  be  ECU  H8  million. 

2. The annual  appropriations  shall be authorized by 
the  budgetary  authority'  within  the  limits  of  the 
financial  perspective. 

Article  4 

Consistency  and  complementarity 

that 

there 

the 
The  Commission,  with  the  assistance  of 
Member  States, 
is 
shall  ensure 
consistency  and  complementarity  between  actions 
to be  implemented  under this programme  and  other 
relevant  Community  programmes  and  initiatives, 
covering  those  that  are  situated  in  the  context  of 
public-health  action  as  well  as,  in  particular,  the 
framework  programme  for  statistical  information, 
projects  in the field of telematic  interchange of data 
framework 
between  administrations 
technological 
programme 
development. 
telematics 
applications  of  the  latter. 

and 
research  and 
particular 

the 

the 

for 

in 

The  Commission  shall  ensure  that  there  is 
consistency  and  complementarity  between  actions 
to  be  implemented  under  this  programme  and 
other  relevant  Community  programmes  and 
initiatives,  including  the  framework  programme 
for  statistical  information,  the  projects  in  the  field 
of  telematic  interchange  of  data  between 
administrations,  and  the  framework  programme 
for  research  and  technological  development  and  in 
particular  the  telematics  applications  of  the  latter. 

18 

Council  Common  Position 

Amended  Proposal 

Article  5 

Committee 

1. The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  a 
Committee,  consisting  of  two  members 
designated  by  each  Member  State  and  chaired  by 
a  representative  of  the  Commission. 

1. The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  a 
committee  of  an  advisory  nature,  hereinafter 
referred  to  as  'the  Committee'. composed  of  two 
members  per Member  State  and  chaired  by  the 
representative  of  the  Commission. 

2. The  representative  of  the  Commission  shall 
submit  to  the  Committee  a  draft  of  the  measures 
to  be  taken  concerning: 

2.  The  representative  of  the  Commission  shall 
submit  to  the  Committee  a  draft  of  the  measures 
to be  taken  concerning  in particular  : 

(a) 

(b) 

c) 

(d) 

(e) 

(f) 

(g) 

(h) 

(i) 

the  Committee's  rules  of  procedure; 

(a) 

the  Committee's  rules  of  procedure; 

(b) 

(c) 

an  annual  work  programme  indicating  the 
priorities  for  action; 

the  arrangements,  criteria,  and  procedures 
for  selecting  and  financing  projects  under 
the  programme,  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); 

an  annual  work  programme  laying  down 
the  priorities  for  action; 

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

the  evaluation  procedure; 

(d) 

the  evaluation  procedure; 

the  arrangements  for  dissemination  and 
transfer  of  results; 

(e) 

the  arrangements  applicable  to  the 
reporting,  conversion  and  harmonisation  of 
data; 

the  arrangements  for  cooperating  with  the 
institutions  and  organizations  referred  to 
in  Article  2 (2); 

(0 

the  arrangements  for  the  definition  and 
selection  of  indicators; 

the  provisions  applicable  to  reporting  the 
data  conversion  thereof  and  other 
methods  for  making  the  data  comparable 
in  order  to  achieve  the  objective  referred 
to  in  Article  1(2); 

the  provisions  for  the  definition  and 
selection  of  indicators; 

the provisions for the content  specifications 
necessary  for  setting  up  and  operation  of 
the  relevant  networks; 

(g) 

the  arrangements  for  the  content 
specifications  necessary  for  the  setting  up 
and  operation  of  the  networks; 

Deleted 

Deleted 

19 

Council  Common Position 

Amended  Proposal 

Deleted 

The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the 
draft  measures referred  to above within a time 
limit which the Chairman may lay down according 
to the urgency  of the matter. The opinion shall be 
delivered by the majority  laid down in Article 
148 (2) of the Treaty  in the case of decisions 
which the Council  is required to adopt on a 
proposal from the Commission. The votes of the 
representatives of the Member States within the 
Committee shall be weighted in the manner set 
out in that Article. The Chairman shall not vote. 

The Commission shall adopt measures which shall 
apply immediately. However, if these measures are 
not 
in  accordance  with  the  opinion  of  the 
Committee,  they  shall  be  communicated  by  the 
Commission to the Council forthwith. In that event: 

Deleted 

the Commission shall defer application of 
the measures which it has decided upon 
for a period of two months from  the date 
of such communication; 

the Council, acting by a qualified 
majority,  may take a different  decision 
within the time limit laid down in the 
first indent. 

3. In addition,  the Commission may consult the 
Committee on any other matter concerning the 
implementation  of this programme, including the 
arrangements for coordination with the other 
programmes and  initiatives referred  to Article 4. 

3. In addition, the Commission may consult the 
Committee on any other matter concerning the 
implementation of the programme. 

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. 

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. 

The opinion shall be recorded  in the minutes; in 
addition, each Member State shall have the  right 
to ask to have  its opinion recorded  in the minutes. 

The opinion shall be recorded  in the minutes; in 
addition, each Member State shall  have the  right 
to ask to have its opinion  recorded  in the minutes 

20 

Council  Common Position 

Amended  Proposal 

The Commission shall take the utmost account of 
the opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall 
inform the Committee of the manner in which its 
opinion has been taken into account. 

The Commission shall take the utmost account of 
the opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall 
inform the Committee of the manner in which its 
opinion has been taken into account. 

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

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

financial  assistance granted under the 
programme  (amounts, duration, 
breakdown, and beneficiaries); 

financial  assistance granted under the 
programme (amounts, duration, 
breakdown, and  recipients: 

Commission  proposals  or  Community 
initiatives and the implementation of programmes in 
other  areas  which  are  of  direct  relevance  to 
achievement  of  the  objectives  of  the  programme, 
with  a  view  to  ensuring  the  consistency  and 
complementarity referred to in Article 4. 

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, with a view 
to ensure the consistency  and 
complementarity  required  under Article 4. 

Article 6 

International  cooperation 

1. In  the  course  of  implementing  the  programme, 
cooperation  with  non-member  countries  and  with 
international organizations competent in the field of 
public  health,  in  particular  the  World  Health 
Organization, 
the  Organization  for  Economic 
Cooperation and Development and the International 
Labour  Organization,  shall  be  encouraged  and 
implemented in accordance with the procedure laid 
down in Article 5. 

1. In the course of implementing this programme, 
cooperation with third countries and with 
international  organisations competent in the field 
of public health, in particular the World Health 
Organization and the Organization for Economic 
Cooperation and Development,  shall be  fostered 
and implemented  in accordance with Article 5. 

(ACCEE), 

in  accordance  with 

2. The programme shall be open to participation by 
the  associated  countries  of  Central  and  Eastern 
Europe 
the 
conditions laid down in the Additional Protocols to 
the Association Agreements relating to participation 
in  Community  programmes,  to be  concluded  with 
those  countries.  The  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  European  Free 
Trade Association (EFTA) countries, in accordance 
with procedures  to be agreed with those countries. 

21 

Council  Common Position 

Amended Proposal 

Article 7 

Monitoring and evaluation 

1. The Commission, taking into account the 
reports drawn up by the Member States and with 
the participation, where necessary, of independent 
experts, shall ensure that an evaluation is made of 
the actions undertaken. 

2. The Commission shall submit to the European 
Parliament and the Council an interim  report 
halfway  through the programme and a final report 
on completion thereof. The Commission shall 
incorporate  into these reports information on 
Community financing in the various fields of 
action and on complementarity  with the other 
programmes and initiatives referred  to in 
Article 4, as well as the results of the evaluation 
referred  to in paragraph  1. It shall also send the 
reports to the Economic and Social Committee 
and the Committee of the Regions. 

3.  On  the  basis  of  the  evaluations  referred  to  in 
paragraph  1, the  Commission  may,  if  appropriate, 
make  relevant  proposals  with  a  view  to  the 
continuation of this programme. 

Deleted 

Done at Brussels, 

For the European  Parliament 
The President 

For the Council 
The President 

22 

Council  Common Position 

Amended  Proposal 

Annex I 

Specific  Objectives  and Actions 

A. ESTABLISHMENT  OF COMMUNITY 
HEALTH  INDICATORS 

Objective 

To establish Community  health indicators by a 
critical review of existing health data and 
indicators and develop appropriate  methods for the 
collection of health data and for making such data 
comparable, in accordance with the objective 
referred  to Article  1  (2). 

To establish Community  health  indicators by a 
critical review of existing health data and 
indicators, and develop appropriate  methods for 
the collection of comparable and progressively 
harmonized  health data, in accordance with the 
objective  referred  to in Article  1(2). 

1. Carrying out an identification, review and critical 
analysis  of  existing  health  indicators  and  data  at 
European level and at Member State level taking as 
a  basis  data  validated  by  the  Member  States  in 
order  to  determine  their  relevance,  quality  and 
coverage  with  regard  to  the  establishment  of 
Community  health indicators. 

2.  Identification  of  a  set  of  Community  health 
indicators, including a subset of core indicators for 
the  monitoring  of  Community  programmes  and 
actions in public health, and a subset of background 
indicators for  the  monitoring  of other  Community 
policies, programmes and actions, and for providing 
Member States with common measures for making 
comparisons. A non-exhaustive list of the areas in 
which health indicators could be established  is set 
out in Annex II. 

2. Creation of a set of Community  health 
indicators, including a sub-set of core indicators 
for the monitoring of Community  programmes 
and actions in public health, and a sub-set of 
background  indicators for the monitoring of other 
Community  policies programmes and actions, and 
for providing Member States with common 
measures for  making comparisons. A non-
exhaustive list of the areas in which health 
indicators could be established  is set out in 
Annex II. 

3. Development  of the  routine collection  data and 
of  methods for  making health data comparable, in 
order to achieve the objective referred  to in Article 
1  (2),  including  support  for  the  drawing  up  data 
dictionaries  and  the  establishment  of  appropriate 
conversion methods and rules. 

3. Development of the routine collection of 
comparable and/or progressively  harmonised data 
in the Member States, including support for the 
elaboration of data dictionaries, and the 
establishment  of appropriate conversion methods 
and rules. 

23 

Council  Common  Position 

Amended  Proposal 

4. Contributing to the collection of comparable 
data by supporting the preparation of surveys, 
including Community-wide  surveys in support of 
the framing  of Community  policies, or drawing up 
agreed specimen modules or questionnaires for use 
in existing surveys. 

4. Contributing to the collection of comparable 
data by supporting the elaboration of surveys 
including Community-wide  surveys in support of 
Community  policies, or modules of agreed forms 
of words for questions in existing surveys. 

5. Fostering cooperation with international 
organizations competent  in the field of 
Community health data and indicators and 
networks for the exchange of health data covering 
specific  areas in public health, in order to enhance 
comparability  of data. 

5. Foster co-operation with international 
organization competent  in the field of European 
health data and indicators and networks for the 
exchange of health data covering specific  areas in 
public health, in order to enhance comparability of 
data. 

the 

feasibility 

6.  Encouragement  and  support  for  the  assessment 
of 
and  cost-effectiveness  of 
developing  standardized  health-resource  statistics 
with  the  aim  of  including  them  in  a  future 
Community  health-monitoring  system. 

6a.(new) Carrying out feasibility  studies on the 
possibility  of setting  UP a permanent body (the 
European Observatory)  responsible for  monitoring 
and evaluation health data and  indicators in the 
Community area. 

B. DEVELOPMENT  OF A COMMUNITY-WIDE 
NETWORK  FOR  SHARING HEALTH DATA 

Objective 

To enable the establishment  of an effective  and 
reliable system for  the transfer  and sharing of 
health data and indicators using telematic 
interchange of data as the principal means. 

7. Encouragement and support for the development 
of  a  network  for  transferring  and  sharing  health 
data,  mainly  using  telematic  interchanges  and  a 
system of distributed databases, in particular by the 
establislunent  of  data  specifications  and  of 
procedures  with 
to  access,  retrieval, 
confidentiality  and  security  for  the  different  types 
of information  to be  included  in the system. 

regard 

24 

Council  Common Position 

Amended  Proposal 

C. ANALYSES  AND REPORTING 

Objective: 

To develop methods and tools necessary  for 
analysis and reporting and to support analyses and 
reporting  on health status, trends and determinants 
and on the effect  of policies on health. 

8. Encouragement  and support for the 
development of capacity for analyses by 
enhancing existing capabilities and for  feasibility 
studies for possible new structures of comparative 
and predictive  methodologies and tools, the testing 
of hypotheses and models and the evaluation of 
health scenarios and outcomes. 

8. Encouragement of and support for the 
development of a capacity  for analyses, enhancing 
existing capabilities, and for feasibility  studies for 
possible new structures, comparative and 
predictive methodologies and tools, the testing of 
hypotheses and models and the evaluation of 
health scenarios and outcomes. 

9. Support for the analysis of the impact of 
Community  actions and programmes in the  field 
of public health, and for drawing up and 
disseminating reports evaluating such impact. 

9. Support for the analysis, preparation, and 
dissemination of reports evaluating the impact of 
Community action and programmes in the field of 
public health. 

10.  Support  for  the  preparation,  production  and 
dissemination  of  reports  and  other  information 
status  and  trends,  health 
material  on  health 
determinants  and  the  impact  on  health  of  other 
policies. 

10.  Support for the drafting,  preparation and 
production of reports and other  information 
material on health status and trends, health 
determinants and the impact on health of other 
policies. 

10a. (new) Support for the dissemination of 
reports and information  material to the Member 
States, international  organizations,  professionals 
and bodies in the health sector and the general 
public. 

25 

Council  Common  Position 

Amended  Proposal 

Annex II 

Annex II 

Non-exhaustive list of areas in which health 
indicators may be established 

Non-exhaustive list of areas in which health 
indicators may be established 

A. Health status 

A. Health status 

1. 

Life  expectancy: 

1. 

Life  expectancy: 

- life  expectancy  at certain ages, 
-  health  expectancies, 

- life expectancy  at certain ages, 
- health  expectancies, 

2.  Mortality: 
- overall, 
- causes of death, 
- diseases-specific  survival rates, 

2.  Mortality: 
- overall, 
- causes of death, 
- diseases-specific  survival rates, 

3.  Morbidity: 

3.  Morbidity: 

-  disease-specific, 

morbidity, 
- co-morbidity, 

-  disease-specific, 

morbidity, 
- co-morbidity, 

4. 

Functioning and quality  of life: 

Functioning and quality  of life: 

- self-perceived  health, 
- physical disability, 
- activity  limitations, 
- functional  status/ability, 
- health-related  work loss, 
-  mental health. 

- self-perceived  health, 
- physical disability, 
- activity  limitations, 
- functional  status/ability, 
- health-related  work loss, 
- mental health. 

5. 

Anthropometric  characteristics 

Anthropometric  characteristics 

B. Life  style and health habits 

B. Life  style and health habits 

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 

Tobacco  consumption 
Alcohol consumption 
Illegal drug consumption 
Physical  activities 
Diet 
Sex life 
Other 

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5 
6. 
7. 

Tobacco  consumption 
Alcohol consumption 
Illegal drug consumption 
Physical  activities 
Diet 
Sexual behaviour 
Other 

26 

Council  Common Position 

Amended  Proposal 

C. Living and working conditions 

C. Living and working conditions 

1.  Employment/unemployment: 

occupation. 

1.  Employment/unemployment: 

occupation. 

2. Work environment: 

2. Work environment: 

accidents, 
exposure to carcinogenic and 
other dangerous substances, 
occupational diseases. 

accidents, 
exposure to carcinogenic and 
other dangerous substances, 
occupational  health. 

3. Housing conditions 

3. Housing conditions 

4. Home and leisure activities: 

4. Home and leisure activities: 

accidents at home, 
leisure. 

5. Transport: 

car accidents. 

accidents at home, 
leisure. 

5. Transport: 

car accidents. 

6. External  environment: 

6. External  environment: 

air pollution, 
water pollution, 
other types of pollution, 
radiation, 
exposure 

to  carcinogenic  and 
other  dangerous  substances  outside  the 
work  environment. 

air pollution, 
water pollution, 
other types of pollution, 
radiation, 
exposure 

to  carcinogenic  and 
other  dangerous  substances  outside  the 
work environment. 

D. Health protection 

D. Health protection 

1. Sources of  financing 

2. Facilities/Manpower: 

1. Sources of  financing 

2. Facilities/Manpower: 

Health-resource  utilization. 
Health-care personnel. 

Health-resource utilization, 
Health-care personnel. 

3. Cost/Expenditure: 

3. Cost/Expenditure: 

In-patient care. 
Out-patient care, 
Pharmaceutical  products. 

In-patient care. 
Out-patient care. 
Pharmaceutical products. 

27 

Council  Common  Position 

Amended Proposal 

4. Consumption/uses: 

4. Consumption/uses: 

In-patient care, 
Out-patient care, 
Pharmaceutical products. 

In-patient care, 
Out-patient care, 
Pharmaceutical products. 

5. Health promotion and disease prevention 

5. Health promotion and disease prevention 

E. Demographic  and other social  factors 

E. Demographic and other social  factors 

1. 

Gender 

1. 

Gender 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

Age 

Marital status 

Region of residence 

Education 

Income 

Population  subgroups 

Health insurance  status 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

Age 

Marital status 

Region of  residence 

Education 

Income 

Population subgroups 

Health insurance status 

F. Miscellaneous 

F. Miscellaneous 

1. 

2. 

Product  safety 

Others 

1. 

2. 

Product  safety 

Others 

28 

ISSNJ3254-1475 

C0M(96)  581  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

05 

Catalogue  number  :  CB-CO-96-580-EN-C 

ISBN 92-78-11546-0 

Office  for  Official  Publications of the European  Communities 

L-2985  Luxembourg 

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