Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision adopting a programme of Community action from 1999 to 2003 on injury prevention in the framework for action in the field of public health
Date: 1998-04-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: accident prevention, action programme, exchange of information, public health, trauma

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Brussels,  15.04.1998 
COM(1998) 229  final 

97/0132  (COD) 

AMENDED  PROPOSAL 
for a European Parliament and Council Decision 
adopting a programme of Community  action from  1999 to 2003 
on injury prevention  in 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 : 

in 

in  the  public  health  field,  assisting 

In  its  communication1  on  the  framework  for  Community  action  in  the  field  of  public 
health,  the  Commission  described  the  principles  and  strategy  to  be  pursued  in 
undertaking  Community  activities  with  a  view  to  achieving  the  health  protection 
objectives  set  out  in  Articles  3(o)  and  129  of  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European 
Community. The Community's role is defined  therein as underpinning  the efforts  of the 
Member  States 
the  formulation  and 
implementation  of objectives  and strategies, and contributing to the provision of a high 
level  of  health  protection  across  the  Community,  setting  as  a  target  the  best  results 
already obtained in a given area anywhere in the Community. 
In  accordance  with  Article  129,  the  Commission  is  putting  forward  proposals  for 
adoption by the European Parliament and the Council for  supporting action contributing 
to the provision of a high  level of health protection. The above-mentioned  Commission 
communication  sets  out  criteria  with  a  view  to  determining-  the  priority  fields  for 
Community  action  programmes.  By  reference  to  these  criteria,  injury  prevention  has 
been pinpointed as one of the priority fields. The present Commission proposal  is based 
on Article  129; advance notice of it was given  in the Commission's  annual  programme 
of work.  It accords with the principle  of  shared  responsibility  between  the  Community 
and the Member  States, and seeks to promote public health by contributing to measures 
seeking to reduce the scale of the injury  problem. 
The  Commission  adopted  its decision  and  forwarded  the proposal  for  a decision  to the 
European Parliament and the Council on  14 May  19972. 
-  The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  adopted  its  opinion  on  30  October  19973, 
welcoming  the action programme  and the approach proposed  by the  Commission  in 
its communication and its proposal for a decision. The Committee recommended that 
sufficient  financial  resources  be  allocated  up  to  2003,  having  regard  to  the 
programme's  excellent  value  for  money.  It  called  for  the  various  socio-economic 
partners and interest groups to be involved  in the implementation  of the programme, 
and underlined the need for consistency  and complementarity  with other  Community 
programmes and action, more especially: 
extension and improvement of the old "Ehlass"' system; 
the  need  for  linkage  between  the  programme  and  Directive  92/5 9/EC  on  general 
product  safety; 
the  question  of  home  accidents,  this  being  one  of  the  fields  within  which  health 
indicators  are  to  be  established  pursuant  to  European  Parliament  and  Council 
Decision  1400/97/EC  adopting  a  Community  action  programme  on  health 
monitoring within the framework  for action in the field of public health. 

- 
- 

- 

1  COM(93) 559, 24.11.1993 

->  OJC  202, 2.7.1997 
OJC  19,21.1.1998 

2-3 

The Committee of the Regions adopted  its opinion on  18 September  19974, endorsing  the 
Commission's  proposal  and  stressing the importance  of involving the inter-sectoral  group 
of  experts  and  of  cooperating  with  local  and  regional  authorities.  It  recommended  a 
number of measures concerning the maximum level of alcohol in the blood,  designer  drugs 
and  road  accidents  in  association  with  drug-taking.  In  its  reply  to  the  Committee's 
opinion,  the  Commission  pointed  out  that  all  these  recommendations  were  already 
covered  by ongoing  measures.  The  Committee  also  stressed  the  need  for  an  independent 
secretariat  ("health  observatory").  The  Commission  will  not  be  following  up  this 
recommendation  because  of the  danger  of duplication  of  effort  with  work  in  progress  at 
the  WHO,  the  OECD  and  within  the  Commission  itself  under  the  Community  action 
programme on health monitoring. 

The European  Parliament  adopted  its  opinion  at  first  reading  on  11 March  1998,  setting 
out 28 amendments to the Commission's proposal. These amendments  seek to  add  further 
detail to, and extend the scope of,  the proposal for  a decision, with special reference  to: 

-  self-inflicted  injuries other than attempted  suicides; 

- 

intentional  injuries  resulting  from  violence  to  children  and  women  and  in  sporting 
contexts (e.g. hooliganism) and their impact on public health; 

-  development  of two  Community systems for  collecting  information  on injuries  within a 
broader definition  of what is meant by an injury.  Work undertaken  under the old Ehlass 
system  will  have  to  be  incorporated  into  the  Commission  proposal  and  improved, 
making use of modern information  technologies. 

The Commission  has accepted  23 of the amendments,  either in whole (12)  or  in part  (11). 
Because  of  this  acceptance,  it  is  necessary  to  submit  an  amended  proposal,  with  the 
necessary changes being  made to  the  Commission's  proposal  in terms  of the  recitals,  the 
articles  and  the  annex.  The  recent  report  on  the  operation  of,  and  data  collected  by,  the 
old Ehlass  system  over the period  1986-97," as presented  to  the "consumer"  Council  on 3 
November  1997,  showed  how  useful  the  system  was  and  highlighted  the  scale  of  the 
problem  of  unintentional  injuries  and  their  socio-economic  impact.  The  Member  States 
took  a  positive  view  of  the  old  system  and  wanted  to  see  it  continued  and,  if  possible, 
improved. The merits of the Commission's amended proposal lie in the fact  that: 

- 

it  brings in, through  this programme,  all the tools  and  measures  needed  to  strengthen, 
extend  to  a broader  concept  of  injury  (i.e.  intentional  and  unintentional  injury,  suicide 
injury),  use  and  exploit  data  from  the  previous  system,  more 
and  self-inflicted 
especially  by using  the  existing  data  processing  architecture  of  the  EUPHIN  network 
(European  Union  Public Health  Information  Network)  developed  as  part  of  common-
interest  projects  under  the  computerised  interchange  of  data  between  administrations 
(IDA)5 

4  OJC  379,  15.12.1997 

5  OJC  54, 21.2.1998, p. 3 

4: 

- 

- 

it provides input for  health indicators in fields relating to home and leisure accidents, 
mental health and product  safety,  as provided for in the Community action programme 
on health monitoring6; 

it presents, having regard  to the scale of the problem  of intentional  and  unintentional 
injuries  and  their  socio-economic  impact  in  the  European  Union7,  an  exceptionally 
favourable  cost-benefit  ratio  thanks  to  the  collection  and  rapid  exploitation  of 
information  on  injuries,  selection  of  the  best  ways  of  preventing  such  injuries  at 
Community level, and epidemiological follow-up to such injuries. 

The  Commission's  opinion  on  each  of  the  amendments  adopted  by  the  European 
Parliament is set out in the Annex. 

6  OJL  193, 22.7.1997; Decision No 1400/97/EC, 30.6.1997 
7 

83 000 deaths a year due to home and leisure accidents: 43 000 deaths per year by suicide. 700 000 
attempted  suicides:  ECU  7.7  billion  per year  in  terms of  hospital  expenditure  and  ECU  23  billion 
relating to the overall cost of unintentional  injuries alone. 

ANNEX 

Amendment  No  1  Commission opinion: accepted  in part 

Experience acquired under the old EHLASS system will be taken into account  and used to 
strengthen the Community added value of the Commission's proposal. 

Amendment.No 2  Commission opinion: accepted 

The report  on the old EHLASSf system provided  an estimated overall cost figure for  home 
and leisure accidents which confirms this socio-economic impact. 

Amendment  No 3  Commission opinion: accepted 

Bearing in mind the estimated total cost of home and leisure accidents set out  in the 
above-mentioned  report,  even a minimal reduction  in accidents will have a favourable 
cost-benefit  impact. 

Amendment  No 4  Commission  opinion:  accepted 

This amendment  defines the new concept  of injury  and the target group (with the inclusion 
of "women"). 

Amendment  No 5  Commission opinion: accepted in part 

o 

The collection and rapid exploitation  of data will greatly enhance the  programme's 
Community added value. The amended proposal will propose a different  form  of words to 
the old EHLASS  system. 

Amendment  No 6  Commission opinion: accepted 

This amendment  adds a reference to collection systems and data protection. 

Amendment  No 7  Commission opinion: accepted 

This amendment  highlights the consistency and complementarity  of Community  action. 

Amendment  No 8  Commission  opinion:  accepted 

The Commission can accept the idea of the definition  of injury  in its proposal being 
extended to intentional  injury,  and specifying  particular target groups. The amendment  is 
in line with WHO resolutions. 

Amendment  No 9  Commission  opinion: accepted 

Sporting activity forms part of the concept of unintentional injury  as mentioned  in the 
Commission's original proposal. The Commission can go along with the idea of the 
definition  being extended to unintentional  injury. 

Amendment  No  10  Commission opinion:  refused 

The Commission cannot accept this recital as it explains the reasons for each  Community 
measure, and is too general. 

Amendment  No  11  Commission opinion:  accepted 

This amendment  highlights the consistency and complementarity  of Community  action. 

Amendment No  12  Commission opinion: accepted in part 

This amendment highlights the consistency and complementarity of Community action, 
but needs to be reworded. 

Amendment No 13  Commission opinion: accepted in part 

.»# 

This amendment highlights the consistency and complementarity of Community action, 
but needs to be reworded and contain a reference to "common-interest  projects" under the 
EDA programme 

Amendment No 14  Commission opinion:  refused 

The Commission cannot enter into any such commitment,  as this has to be left to the 
Commission's discretion during the life of the programme. 

Amendment No  15:  Commission opinion: accepted  in part 

This amendment  needs rewording. 

Amendment No 16  Commission opinion: accepted 

This amendment redefines  and clarifies the new concept of injuries and related action and 
systems, and makes clear reference to the epidemiological monitoring of injuries,  as 
mentioned in the explanatory memorandum accompanying the Commission's  original 
proposal. 

Amendment No 17  Commission opinion: accepted  in part 

The Commission has to reword this amendment, which would include accidents arising 
from  natural disasters. These are clearly excluded from  the Commission's  original 
proposal (footnote 45) and are covered by Community action in the field of civil 
protection. 

Amendment No 18  Commission opinion: accepted  in part 

The Commission  has to reword the text in terms of point (b) "information  on  injuries 
resulting from  suicide and on self-inflicted  injury" and with regard to the old  EHLASS 
system. 

Amendment No 19  Commission opinion: accepted 

The ECU  14 million are the sum of the ECU 6.5  million proposed by the European 
Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee and the ECU 7.5 million from the transfer  of 

the old EHLASS system from consumer policy to the programme. The total  amount 
accords with the financial perspectives. 

Amendment No 20  Commission opinion:  refused 

The Commission cannot accept this amendment because of the need for  consistency with 
other Parliament  and Council decisions on public health action programmes. 

Amendment No 21  Commission opinion:  refused. 

The Commission's original proposal  is in line with the decision on committee procedures. 

Amendment No 22  Commission opinion: accepted 

The rewording of the annex is in line with the amendments accepted by the Commission. 

Amendment No 23  Commission opinion: accepted  in part 

The Commission has to reword the title of the chapter to read "suicide or  self-inflicted 
injury". 

Amendment No 24  Commission opinion: accepted 

Amendment No 25  Commission opinion: accepted in part 

This amendment underlines what action has to be taken in the wake of the amendments 
proposed by Parliament  and accepted by the Commission; nonetheless, the wording 
concerning EHLASS needs to be changed. 

Amendment  No 26  Commission  opinion: accepted  in part 

The phrase "in conjunction  with EHLASS" does not  need to be mentioned  as EHLASS is, 
as a system, an integral part of the programme. 

The idea of "notification  to enforcement  authorities" is covered by the rapid alert  system 
for products under Directive 92/59/EC concerning general product  safety. 

Amendment No 27  Commission opinion:  refused 

The substance of this amendment is outside the scope of Article 129. 

Amendment No 28  Commission opinion: accepted  in part 

The great majority  of this amendment can be accepted; only the part "for  example.... older 
people" is outside the scope of the measure. 

% 

AMENDED PROPOSAL 

for a European Parliament and Council Decision 
adopting a programme of Community action from 1999 to 2003 
on injury prevention in the framework for action 
in the field of public health 
in accordance with Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty 

[ 

ORIGINAL PROPOSAL 
OJ No C 202 of 02.07.1997 

I 

AMENDED 
PROPOSAL 

= = == 

I 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,  Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1, 

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Economic  and  Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social 
Social Committee, 

Committee2, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the  Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  of  the 
Regions, 

Regions3, 

Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in  A c t i ng  in  a c c o r d a n ce  w i th 
A r t i de  1 8%  of ^  T r e Q ty  4 
Article  189b of the Treaty, 

t he  procedure  referred  to  in 

Whereas injuries should be considered as one 
1. 
of the major health scourges referred  to in Article 129 
throughout  the European  Community  and  a cause of 
substantial public concern; 

Whereas,  in accordance  with Article  3(o) of 
2. 
the  Treaty,  Community  action  shall 
include  a 
contribution to the attainment of a high level of health 
protection; 

3. 
Whereas  Article  129  expressly  provides  for 
Community  competence in this field,  by encouraging 
cooperation  between  the  Member  States  and,  if 
to 
necessary, 
their  action  by 
lending  support 
promoting  coordination  of 
their  policies  and 
programmes,  and by fostering  cooperation  with  third 
countries and international organisations competent in 
the field  of public health; whereas Community action 
should be directed towards the prevention  of diseases, 
and 
the  promotion  of  health  education  and 
information; 
I 

; 

: 

1 COM(97) 178 final OJ No C 202 of 
02.07.1997 

I OJ No C 19 of 21.01.1998 
3-QJNoC379 of 15.12.1997 
i  Opinion of the European Parliament of 11 
March 1998 

OJNoC 

4.  Whereas  the  Resolution  of  the  Council  and  the 
Ministers  of Health  meeting within  the  Council  on  27 
May  1993  on  future  action  in  the  field  of  public 
health1  affirmed 
the  need  for  Community  action 
aiming  at  adding  life  to  years  and  years  to  life  and 
selection  of areas  for  such  action  with  regard  to  their 
amenability to preventive action; 

4.  Whereas  the  Resolution  of  the  Council  and 
the 
Ministers  of  Health  meeting  within  the  Council  on  27 

May  1993 on future  action  in  the  field  of  public  health^. 
affirmed  the  need  for  Community  action  aiming  at  adding 
life  to  years  and  years  to  life  and  selection  of  areas  for 
such action  with  regard  to  their  amenability  to  preventive 
action; 

5. Whereas the European Parliament, in its Resolution 
on  public  health  policy  after  Maastricht  of  19 
November  19932 called on the Commission  to develop 
and  implement  activities  in  the  field  of  accident 
prevention; 

6. Whereas the  Commission,  in  its  Communication  of 
24  November  1993  on  the  Framework  for  Action 
in 
the  Field  of Public  Health3,  identified  intentional  and 
unintentional  injuries  and  accidents  as  a  priority  area 
for action  in the public health field; 

5. Whereas the European  Parliament,  in  its Resolution  on 
public  health  policy  after  Maastricht  of  19  November 

1993^  called  on 
implement activities in the field of accident  prevention; 

the  Commission 

to  develop  and 

6. Whereas  the  Commission,  in  its  Communication  of  24 
November  1993 on the Framework for  Action  in the Field 
of Public  Health!,  identified  intentional  and  unintentional 
injuries  and  accidents  as  a  priority  area  for  action  in  the 
its 
public  health  field;  whereas 
Communication7  of  28  January  1998  establislung  a  general 
framework  tor  Community  activities  in  favour  of consumers 
identified  home  and  leisure  accidents  as  a  priority  area  for 
action; 

the  Commission 

in 

^ J N oC  174 of 25.06.1993, p. 1 

2  OJ No C 329 of 06.12.1993. p.375 

3  COM(93)559 final of 24.11.1993 

t  OJNoC  174 of 25.6.1993 

$ OJ No C 329 of 6.12.1993 

7COM(93)559  final  of  24.11.1993  and 
COM(97)684 final of 28.01.1998 

10 

7. Whereas the European Parliament and the Council, 
in  their  Decision  No  3092/94/EC4,  introduced  a 
Community  system  of  information  on  home  and 
leisure  accidents with  which  this  Decision  should be 
closely coordinated; 

7. Whereas the European Parliament  and  the Council, in 
their Decision No 3092/94/EC|1 introduced  a Community 
system  of  information  on  home  and  leisure  accidents 
which was discontinued  at  the end  of  1997; whereas the 
Council  of  3  November  1997  gave  a  favourable 
assessment  of the  svstem  and  wished  it  to be  continued. 
this 
improvements,  where  necessary;  whereas 
with 
Decision  must  accordingly  strengthen, 
improve  and 
extend  the  old  svstem:  whereas  the  objective  of  the 
collection  of data  and  the  methodology  used  for  the new 
svstem must be to produce Community statistics. 

7a.  (new).  Whereas  the  large  number  of  injuries  caused 
each  year  in  Europe  represents  a  major  loss  of  human 
potential  with  huge  economic  and  social  repercussions 
both at national and Community level; 

7b.  (new).  Whereas  prevention  and  the  consequent 
reduction of injuries  should be a priority  in the context of 
Community  action 
the  field  of  public  health, 
particularly  in  view  of  the  great  economic  and  social 
benefit  to  be  derived  from  this  programme,  the  cost-
benefit ratio of which is also exceptionally favourable: 

in 

8.  Whereas,  in  accordance  with  the  principle  of 
subsidiarity  and  the  principle  of  proportionality 
established  in Article 3b of the Treaty, action must be 
undertaken by the Community only if and in so far as, 
by  reason  of  its  scale  or  effects,  it  may  be  better 
achieved  at  Community  level;  whereas  the  present 
programme  will  yield  a  Community-added  value by 
bringing  together  activities  already  undertaken  in 
relative 
level  and  by 
at  national 
complementing  one  another  with  significant  results 
for  the Community as a whole, by contributing to the 
strengthening  of  solidarity  and  cohesion  in  the 
Community  and  by  leading,  where  the  need  is 
recognised, to the establishment of best practice norms 
and standards. 

isolation 

OJNoL331 of 21.12.1994. p.l 

8. OJ No L33 lof 21.12.1994. p.l 

11 

8a  (new).  Whereas  measures  to  reduce  injury  should 
include  measures 
injuries 
to  prevent  and 
particularly  to  children,  voung  adults,  women  and  older 
people, whether caused  intentionally  or unintentionally,  or 
through suicide or  self-infliction; 

reduce 

for 

8b  (new).  Whereas  it  is  essential  for  the  implementation 
of the  programme  that  there  is  a  Community  information 
intentional  and 
collection  svstem  based,  both 
unintentional  injuries,  on  strengthening,  improving  and 
extending  the  old  Community  system  of  information  on 
home  and  leisure  accidents  (EHLASS)  and,  for  suicides 
injuries,  on  the  setting  up  and 
and/or  self-inflicted 
development  of an  information  collection  svstem  founded 
on 
the  operation  of 
Community  networks; 

the  experience  gained 

from 

including 

8c.  (new).  Whereas  the  operation  and  development  of 
information  collection  systems  and  networks  for  injury 
prevention  does not affect  compliance  with data  protection 
ensure 
legislation, 
confidentiality  and  security 
the 
Directive^  adopted  on  24  October  1995  bv  the  European 
Parliament  and 
the  protection  of 
individuals with  regard  to the  processing  of personal  data 
and on the free  movement  of such  data; 

in  accordance  with 

the  Council  on 

mechanisms 

to 

8d.  (new). Whereas  it  is  of paramount  importance  for  the 
study  of  injuries  and  for  determining  Community  health 
indicators  relating  to  domestic  activities,  recreation  and 
mental  health,  as  referred  to  in  European  Parliament  and 
Council  Decision  1400/97/EClO of 30 June  1997  adopting 
a  programme  of  Community  action  on  health  monitoring 
within  the  framework  for  action  in  the  field  of  public 
health  (1997-2001).  that  information 
is  collected  and 
exchanged  on the basis  of comparable  and  consistent  data 
on  intentional  and  unintentional  injuries,  suicides  or  self-
inflicted  injury; 

2 Directive  95/46/EC of 24.10.1995, OJ No 
L 281 of 23.11.1995. p.31 
12  OJ No L  193 of 22.07.1997,  p. 1 

12 

9.  Whereas  cooperation  with 
international 
organisations  competent  in  the field of public health 
and with third countries should be fostered; 

the 

10. Whereas, by providing support for acquiring better 
knowledge  and  understanding  of,  and  wider 
dissemination of information  about, injury prevention, 
ensuring  improved  comparability  of  information  in 
this field and by developing actions complementary to 
existing  Community  programmes  and  actions,  while 
avoiding unnecessary duplication, the programme will 
contribute  to  the  achievement  of  the  Community 
objectives set out in Article 129; 

8e.  (new). Whereas the  groups most susceptible  to  injury 
resulting from violence are children and women; 

8f.  (new). Whereas violence  in sporting contexts causes a 
great many injuries: 

10a.  (new).  Whereas  implementation  of  Community-
measures  to  prevent  and  reduce  injuries  should  take 
account  of  related  research  carried  out  under  the 
Community  research  and 
technological  development 
framework  programme and, in particular,  the  information 
technology  programme  in  the  field  of  public  health 
concerning the dissemination  of information  and  methods 
of training; 

10b.  (new).  Whereas  Community  action  on  injury 
prevention  should  take  into  account  in  general  the 
applications of telematics in the health sector: 

10c.  (new).  Whereas  implementation  of  measures  to 
prevent  injuries  should  be  closely  coordinated  with 
measures  under  the  Community  framework  programme 
on  statistical!!  information  and  projects  of  common 
interest  under  the  programme  for  the  computerised 
interchange of data between administrations (IDA): 

H OJ No C54/3 of 21.02.1998 

13 

lOd.  (new).  Whereas  Council  Regulation  No  322/97 
which  establishes  the  framework  for  the  production  of 
Community  statistics  and  the  responsibility  of  national 
and  Community  authorities  for 
the  production  of 
Community statistics, describes methods for the collection 
and production of Community statistics; whereas statistics 
on  the  causes  of  death,  including  home  and  leisure 
accidents,  suicides  and  statistics  on  industrial  accidents 
and  road  accidents  are  included  in  the  framework 
programme  from  1998 to  2002  concerning  Community 
statistics: 

10e. (new). Whereas the collection of information  and the 
implementation of measures to prevent intentional  injuries 
should be closely coordinated with measures taken under 
the  DAPHNEll  initiative  to  combat  violence  against 
children, voung people and women; 

11. Whereas, in order to increase the value and impact of 
the programme, a continuous assessment  of the actions 
undertaken should be carried out  with particular regard 
to  their  effectiveness  and  the  achievement  of  the 
objectives set, with a view, where appropriate, to making 
the necessary adjustments; 

11a.  (new).  Whereas  agreement  on  a  modus  Vivendi 
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 reached on 20 December 
1994; 

12.  Whereas  this  Decision  lays  down  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 Commission of 6 March  19955, for the budgetary 
authority during the annual budgetary procedure; 

lays  down  a  financial 
12.  Whereas  this  Decision 
framework  constituting  the  principal  point  of  reference. 
within  the  meaning  of  point  1 of  the  Declaration  of  the 
European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  Commission  of 6 
March  199513-,  for  the  budgetary  authority  during  the 
annual budgetary procedure; 

13. Whereas the Community's financial  perspective is 
valid up until  1999 and will have to be revised for the 
period beyond that date; 

5OJNoC  102 of 4.4.1996, p.  4 

llQJNoC  136 of 01.05.1997 

iiQJNoC  102 of 4.4 1996. p.  4 

14 

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

ORIGINAL PROPOSAL 
OJ No C 202 of 02.07.1997 

Article 1 

Establishment of the programme 

AMENDED 
PROPOSAL 

Article 1 

1.  A  programme  of  Community  action  on  injury 
prevention,  hereinafter 
"this 
is  hereby  adopted  for  the  period  1 
programme", 
January  1999 to 31 December  2003 in  the context of 
the framework  for action in the field of public health. 

referred 

to  as 

2.  The  aim  of  this  programme  is  to  contribute  to 
public  health  activities  which  seek  to  reduce  the 
incidence  of  injury,  by promoting  the  more  effective 
dissemination 
of  prevention 
techniques whose worth is widely accepted by experts, 
and  by  helping 
to  strengthen  public  health  bodies' 
general  capacity  to mount effective  injury  prevention 
activities. 

application 

and 

2.  The  aim  of  the  programme  is  to  contribute  to  public 
health  activities  which  seek  to  reduce  the  incidence  of 
injury,  particularly to children, voung adults, women and 
older  people,  caused  intentionally  or  unintentionally,  or 
through suicide or self-infliction,  bv promoting: 

a) 

the epidemiological monitoring of injuries; 

b) 
the  development,  strengthening,  improvement 
and extension of systems and networks for collecting and 
exchanging information on injury prevention; 

ç) 
the more effective  dissemination  and  application 
of prevention  techniques whose worth  is widely accepted 
by experts; 

d) 
responsible  for  mounting  effective 
activities. 

the  strengthening  of  the  public  health  bodies 
injury  prevention 

15 

3. For the purposes of this Decision: 

"injury"  means intentional or unintentional  injury,  suicide 
and/or  self-inflicted 
injury,  excluding  injury  resulting 
from industrial  and  road  accidents  and  injury  resulting 
from  natural  disasters  falling  within  the  scope  of  civil 
protection: 

"epidemiological  monitoring":  means the  continuous and 
systematic  collection,  analysis, 
and 
dissemination  of medical  data, including  epidemiological 
studies  concerning  the  categories  of  injury  and,  in 
particular,  their  incidence  and  geographical  distribution 
and the analysis of the risk factors  with a view to taking 
appropriate measures to prevent and reduce them. 

interpretation 

this 
3.  The  actions  to  be  implemented  under 
programme and their specific  objectives are set out in 
the Annex. 

4. The actions to be implemented  under  this  programme 
and their specific  objectives  are  set out  in Annexes I and 
II. 

Article 2 

Implementation 

Article 2 

Implementation 

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

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

2.  In  particular,  the  Commission,  in  close  cooperation 
with the Member States, shall be responsible for: 

a)  the  development  and  operation  of  a  Community 
information  system  on  intentional  and  unintentional 
injuries  based  on  the  strengthening,  improvement  and 
extension  of  the  old  Community  information  system  on 
home and leisure accidents, for which Member States will 
collect  and  transmit  information  and  will  be  responsible 
for the reliability of such information; 

b)  the  development  and  operation  of  a  Community 
information  collection  svstem  on  suicides  and  injuries 
resulting from self-inflicted  injury; 

c)  the  cohesion  and  administration  of  the  two  above-
mentioned systems of information  as defined  in Annex II. 

16 

2.  The  Commission  shall  cooperate  with  institutions 
and  organisations  active 
injury 
prevention. 

the  field  of 

in 

3.  The  Commission  shall  cooperate  with  institutions  and 
organisations active in the field of injury  prevention. 

Article 3 

Budget 

Article 3 

Budget 

in 

keeping  with 

1. The financial  framework  for  the  implementation  of 
the  programme  for  the  year  1999  shall  be  ECU  1.3 
million, 
financial 
perspectives.  The  financial  framework  for  the  final 
four  years  of  the  programme  (2000-2003)  shall  be 
determined  in  detail  after  the  establishment  of  the 
future  financial  perspectives. 

current 

1.  The  total  appropriation  for  the  implementation  of  the 
Programme  for the  period  1999-2003  is estimated  at  ECU 
14 million.  This  total  breaks  down  into  appropriations  to 
be authorised  in adopting the budget  for  1999 and  those to 
be covered bv the future  financial  perspectives-

2  The  annual  appropriations  shall  be  established  by 
the  Budgetary  Authority 
the 
current  financial  perspectives. 

in  accordance  with 

Article 4 

Consistency  and  complementarity 

The  Commission  shall  ensure  that  there  is  consistency 
and complementarity  between the  Community  actions to 
be 
those 
implemented 
relevant  Community 
programmes and actions. 

implemented  under  this  programme  and 
other 

under 

Article 5 

Committee 

The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  an 
1. 
advisory  committee,  hereinafter  referred 
to  as  "the 
Committee'', consisting of representatives of the Member 
States and chaired by the Commission representative. 

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 chairperson  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 
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  lias been 
taken into account. 

17 

2. The Committee shall be consulted in particular on: 
a) the criteria and procedures for  selecting and financing 
projects under this programme; 
b) the evaluation procedure. 

regularly 
or  Community 

The Commission's representative shall keep the 
3. 
informed  about:  Commission 
Committee 
proposals 
the 
implementation  of  programmes  in  other  policy  areas 
which are relevant to the achievement of the objectives of 
this programme. 

initiatives 

and 

_^___^_______^_^__^_^__________^___^^___ 
Article 6 

' 

International  cooperation 

In 

the 

course  of 

1. 
this 
programme, cooperation  with  third  countries and  with 
international  organisations  competent  in  the  field  of 
public health  shall be  fostered. 

implementing 

in 

be 

This 

shall 

open 

related 

programme 

to 
2. 
participation  by  the  associated  countries  of  Central 
and Eastern Europe, in accordance with the conditions 
the  Association  Agreements  or 
laid  down 
thereto  concerning 
Additional  Protocols 
participation 
in  Community  programmes.  This 
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 
countries  belonging  to  the  European  Free  Trade 
Association  (EFTA), in accordance with procedures to 
be agreed with those countries. 

18 

Article 7 

Article 7 

Monitoring and evaluation 

Monitoring and evaluation 

In  the  implementation  of  this  Decision,  the  1. 

1. 
Commission  shall  take  the  necessary  measures  to  Commission shall take the necessary measures to ensure 
ensure  the  monitoring  and  continuous  evaluation  of 
the  programme,  taking  account  of  the  general  and  programme, taking account of the general and specific 
specific  objectives  referred  to  in  Article 1 and  in  the  objectives referred to in Article 1  and annexes I and II. 
Annex. 

the monitoring and continuous evaluation of the 

In the implementation of this Decision, the 

2. 
During the third year of this programme, the 
Commission  shall  present an evaluation  report  to the 
European Parliament and to the Council. 

3. 
the 
The  Commission  shall  submit 
European Parliament and the Council a final report on 
completion of this programme. 

to 

4. 
The Commission shall  incorporate into these 
two  reports  information  on  Community  financing  in 
the  various  fields  of  action  and  on  complementarity 
with the other actions referred  to in Article 4, as well 
as  the  results  of  the  evaluations.  It  shall  also  send 
them to the Economic and  Social  Committee and the 
Committee of the Regions. 

19 

ANNEX 

ANNEXl 

SPECIFIC  OBJECTIVES  AND 
ACTIONS 

SPECIFIC  OBJECTIVES  AND  ACTIONS 

I. 
ACCIDENTS  TO  CHILDREN, 
YOUNG  ADULTS  AND  ELDERLY 
PEOPLE1 

INTENTIONAL  OR 

UNINTENTIONAL 
L 
INJURIES,  PARTICULARLY  TO  CHILDREN, 
YOUNG  ADULTS,  WOMEN  AND  ELDERLY 
PEOPLE1 

to  contribute 

Objective: 
to  public 
health  activities  which  aim  at  reducing  the 
incidence  of  injury  from  home,  leisure  and 
school  accidents,  by  promoting  the  more 
effective  dissemination  and  application  of 
prevention 
is 
widely accepted by experts 

techniques  whose  worth 

Objective: 
to  contribute  to  public  health  activities 
which  aim  at  reducing  the  incidence  of  intentional  or 
unintentional 
injuries,  particularly  to  children,  voung 
adults,  women  and  elderly  people, by promoting  the  more 
effective  dissemination  and  application  of  prevention 
techniques whose worth  is widely accepted by experts 

Actions  to be undertaken  in support  of  Objective  I 

(Projects  may  relate  to more  than  one  action:  for  example 
a  project  on  safety  in  sport  might  affect  children,  young 
adults and older people.) 

1. 

Networks: 

- encouraging,  strengthening  and  assisting  the  creation  of 
networks  for  the  prevention  of  injuries  under  Objective  I. 
dedicated  in particular to: 

the  collection,  processing  and  dissemination  of 

- 
information: 

-  the  provision  and  transmission  of  comparable  and 
consistent  data  to  the  Community  information  system 
which  shall  be  based  on  extending  and 
improving 
EHLASS; 

-  the  development  of  new  approaches  or 
methods of tackling common  problems: 

innovative 

- exchanges of materials,  guidelines and  handbooks: 

- the organization  of training  activities 

1  The  Community  action  in  the  field  of  civil  protection  is  excluded  from  this  programme  (cf.  in 
particular  the  proposal  for  a  Council  Decision  establishing  a  Community  action  programme  in  the 
field of civil protection  COM(95)  155 final) 

20 

Campaigns:  supporting 

2. 
the  dissemination  of 
information  about  campaigns,  including  the  development 
of a data  bank  on  the  campaigns  that  have been  carried 
out,  with,  if  possible  assessments  of  their  value,  effects 
and  transferability,  and  organisation  of  competitions  to 
identify  the best  injury  prevention  campaigns;  promoting 
where appropriate  the organisation  of parallel  campaigns 
in a number of Member States; assisting the development 
of basic materials and publicity 

3. 

Data about injuries: 

collection  of  data  and  information  on  injuries 
caused  bv  badlv  designed  products  and  data  and 
information  to  improve  passive  prevention  and  safety  bv 
improving the design of products responsible for  injuries: 

promoting  agreed  approaches  to  coding,  data 
definitions,  better  recording  of  place  of  occurrence,  as 
well as of behavioural  aspects and  chain  of events,  more 
precision in cause of death certification,  the grading of the 
severity of the injury and the establishment of a minimum 
set of data: 

the  use  of  relevant  results  of  the  International 

Collaborative Effort  on Injury  Statistics; 

examination  of  the  coverage  of  existing  data 
collection  systems  and  where  necessary  development  of 
measures to improve such coverage; 

inclusion  of  additional  questions  or  modules  in 

existing Community-wide surveys; 

assistance in identifying the need for surveys: 

promoting  the  creation  of  a  database  of  known 

surveys; 

facilitating 

the 

identification  of  hazardous 

products 

Technical  investigations  of  injury  risk  factors: 
4. 
promoting  collaboration  between 
institutions  with 
specialized  knowledge  and  facilities  able  to  undertake 
the  development  of  an 
such  activities:  supporting 
their  projects,  and 
institutions  and 
inventor)  of 
evaluations of prevention projects and campaigns. 

5. 
Consultation  and cooperation:  support for  formal 
and  informal  meetings at  different  levels of government, 
for conferences and seminars, and for working groups and 
advisory groups. 

21 

II. SUICIDE 

IL SUICIDES AND SELF-INFLICTED  INJURIES 

to  contribute 

to  public 
Objective: 
health  activities  which  aim  at  reducing  the 
incidence of injury- from  deliberate  self-harm, 
by 
effective 
dissemination  and  application  of  prevention 
techniques whose worth is widely accepted by 
experts 

the  more 

promoting 

Objective: 
to  contribute  to  public  health  activities 
which  aim  at  reducing  the  incidence  of  injury-  from 
deliberate  self-harm  and  of  suicides,  by  promoting  the 
more  effective  dissemination 
and  application  of 
prevention techniques whose worth  is widely accepted by 
experts 

(new) 

Actions to be undertaken  in support of Objective  II 

(Projects mav relate to more than one action) 
6. 
Support, encouragement and provision of assistance 
to  set  up  networks  for  the  prevention  of  injuries  under 
Objective II. dedicated in particular to: 

the  collection,  processing  and  dissemination  of 
: 
information  and  experience,  prevention  measures,  use of 
assessment  methods 
the 
effectiveness  of  preventive  measures  and  information 
activities; 

determination 

and 

of 

the  provision  and  transmission  of  comparable 
- 
and  consistent  data  to  the  Community 
information 
system, and research into means of improving the quality. 
compatibility and availability of data; 

- 
the  exchange  of  information  concerning  the 
effectiveness  of  messages  and  campaigns  aimed  at  the 
public at large and at target groups; 

- 
training,  through  the  exchange  of  information 
and expert reports, of health sector personnel and all those 
whose  work  brings  them  into  constant  contact  with 
individuals  and  groups  of  people  who  have  attempted  to 
commit suicide; 

7. 
Exchange  of  experience,  information,  appraisal  of 
access  to  information  services  concerning  the  problems 
and  situations  of  people,  particularly  voung  people, 
exhibiting  suicidal  behaviour, and  studies of  methods  for 
supporting  voung  people  who  have  attempted  to commit 
suicide. 

8.  Development  and  exchange  of  experience 
to 
identify  individuals  who  arc  under  mental  stress  (pain, 
depression,  anxiety),  including  the  use  of  psychological 
help networks. 

9. 
Exchange  of  materials  and  educational  methods 
through  support  for  pilot  schemes,  principally  for  groups 
of voung people with special needs. 

22 

I IH. INJURY PREVENTION CAPACITY  I ITL INJURY PREVENTION CAPACITY 

to 

contribute 

Objective: 
to  contribute  to  the  strengthening  of 
strengthening  of  public  health  bodies'  public  health  bodies'  capacity  to  mount  effective  injury 
capacity  to  mount  effective  injury  prevention  prevention activities 
activities 

the  Objective: 

to 

The following action will support objective III: 

10. 
Activities to increase the use which public health 
bodies can  make  of  other  Community  policies  for  injury 
prevention: raising awareness of Community programmes 
and the conditions for participation in them, helping to set 
up  consortia  across  national  boundaries  and  helping 
groups  with  a  particular  interest  to  discover  the  most 
useful interlocutors in Community institutions 

Actions to be undertaken in support of 
these Objectives 

Amended and moved to point I 

(Actions may relate to more than one 
Objective:  for  example a project  on  safety  in 
sport might affect  children, young adults and 
older people.) 

Networks: encouraging and assisting  Amended and moved to point I 
1. 
the  creation  of  networks,  dedicated 
in 
particular to: development of new approaches 
or  innovative  methods  of  tackling  common 
problems,  exchanges  of  materials,  guidelines 
and  handbooks,  organisation  of 
training 
activities. 

23 

Campaigns: supporting the dissemination  of  Moved to point I 

Data about injuries:  in conjunction  with 

2. 
information  about campaigns, including the 
development  of a data bank on the campaigns that 
have been  carried  out, with, if possible  assessments 
of their value, effects  and transferability,  and 
organisation  of competitions to identify  the best 
injury  prevention  campaigns; promoting  where 
appropriate the organisation  of parallel  campaigns in 
a number of Member States; assisting the 
development  of basic materials and  publicity. 
3. 
EHLASS promoting agreed approaches to coding, 
data definitions,  better recording of place of 
occurrence, as well as of behavioural  aspects and 
chain of events, more precision  in cause of death 
certification,  the use of relevant severity  scales and 
minimum  data sets; supporting the application  of 
relevant results of the International  Collaborative 
Effort  on Injury  Statistics; examination  of the 
coverage of existing data collection  system  and 
where necessary  development  of measures to 
improve such coverage  inclusion of additional 
questions or modules in existing  Community-wide 
surveys; assistance  in identifying  the need  for 
surveys; promoting the creation  of a database of 
known  surveys. 
4. 
factors: promoting collaboration  between  institutions 
with specialized  knowledge and facilities  able to 
undertake such activities; supporting the 
development  of an inventory  of institutions and their 
projects, and evaluations of prevention  projects and 
campaigns.. 
5. 
Consultation  and cooperation: support  for 
formal  and informal  meetings at different  levels of 
government,  for conferences  and seminars, and  for 
working groups and advisory  groups. 

Technical  investigations  of injury  risk 

Activities to increase the use which  public 

in addition, the following actions will support 
objective III: 
6. 
health bodies can make of other Community  policies 
for  injury  prevention: raising awareness of 
Community  programmes and the conditions  for 
participation  in them, helping to set up consortia 
across national  boundaries and helping groups with a 
particular  interest to discover the most  useful 
interlocutors  in Community  institutions. 

Amended  and moved to point I 

Moved to point I 

Moved to point I 

Amended and moved to point III 

24 

ANNEX  II 

(New) 

A- 

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION 
SYSTEMS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 2(2)  OF THE 
DECISION 

1. 
INJURIES 

INTENTIONAL OR  UNINTENTIONAL 

The objective of the Community information 

1-1 
system on intentional and unintentional  injuries, 
hereinafter  referred to as "the system", shall be to collect 
information on unintentional injuries, particularly those 
resulting from home and leisure accidents, and intentional 
injuries, with a view to: 

- promoting the prevention of such injuries. 

-  promoting  improvements  in  the  safety  of  consumer 
products and informing and educating consumers so as to 
ensure  safer  use  of  products,  both  at  national  and 
Community level. 

-  helping  to  establish  health  indicators,  as  mentioned  in 
the  programme  of  Community  action  on  health 
monitoring within the framework  for action in the field of 
public health. 

promoting  exchanges  of  experience  and  expertise  on 
intentional  injuries  resulting  from  violence  to  children. 
adolescents and women. 

1-2 
The system shall not apply to industrial accidents 
and  occupational  diseases,  nor  to  road,  rail,  sea  or  air 
traffic  accidents,  nor  to  injuries  resulting  from  natural 
disasters  covered  bv  activities  in  the  field  of  civil 
protection. 

25 

The 

telematic  network  EUPHIN  (European 
1-3 
Union  Public  Health  Information  Network),  developed 
under  the  projects  of  common  interest  within  the 
programme 
interchange  of  data  between 
administrations  (IDA)  will  provide  the  technological 
support for the system. 

the 

for 

1-4 
hospitals. 

The  data  shall  be  collected  in  particular  from 

1-5 
Particular attention will be paid to the  following 
criteria:  representativeness  of  hospitals,  anv  surveys  that 
mav have been carried out, and size of samples. 

The data must contain at least the following  information: 

- the place where the injury occurred. 
- the date of the injury. 
- the place of treatment. 
- the activity of the victim at the time of the injury. 
- the type of injury. 
- the type of product involved in the accident, 
- the age of the victim. 
- the sex of the victim. 
- the type of lesion. 
- the parts of the bodv injured. 
- the duration and type of treatment. 
- a brief description of the occurrence of the injury  and its 
causes. 

In  addition,  the  other  variables  recorded  during  special 
examinations  in  relation  to unintentional  and  intentional 
injuries will be examined. 

The  information  must  be  codified,  using  an  approach 
based on the common criteria of the coding manual of the 
earlier  Community  system  of  information  on  home  and 
leisure accidents (EHLASS); 

26 

1-6 
States shall be as  follows 

The distribution  of hospitals  among  the Member 

Member  States 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Greece 
France 
Ireland 
Italy 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Portugal 
Finland 
Sweden 
United  Kingdom 
Germany 
Spain 
Luxembourg 

Numb er of  hospitals 
4 
5 
4 
8 
2 
7 
7 
4 
6 
3 
4 
11 
12 
7 
2 
86 

TOTAL 

As far as possible,  the hospitals selected  must be 
representative  in terms of geograph 
distribution  and of urban and  rural 

lical and  demographic 
areas. 

A survev  shall  be  carried 

out  in  the  third  year of 
1-7 
the  programme  to  make  the  data  more  representative  in 
the Member States. 

In  the  course  of  collecting  and  forwarding 
1-8 
information, all details which would enable the identity of 
the  victim  to  be  deduced  must  be  removed  so  that  the 
identity of the victim  remains confidential.  This  does not 
preclude  the  existence  of  means  for  identifying  certain 
types of  injuries  in  order  to  seek  additional  information 
from  the victims,  on condition  that  thev  have voluntarily 
given their agreement through their hospital or doctor. 

1-9 
The arrangements for access to the system bv the 
/arious European  organisations  and  associations  shall be 
examined. 

27 

2- 
SUICIDES 

SELF-INFLICTED INJURIES AND 

2-1 
The  objective  of  the  Community  svstem  for  the 
collection  of  information  on  self-inflicted  injuries  and 
suicides, hereinafter  referred  to as "the  system",  shall be 
to collect information  on such injuries, with a view to: 

- promoting their prevention. 

- helping to establish  health  indicators  relating  to mental 
health,  as  mentioned  in  the  programme  of  Community 
action  on  health  monitoring  within  the  framework  for 
action in the field of public health. 

-  promoting  exchanges  of  experience  and  expertise  on 
suicides,  suicidal  behaviour  and  self-inflicted 
injuries, 
particularly among young persons and the elderly. 

2-2 
The  system's  technology  shall  be  based  on  the 
telematic  architecture  of the  telematic  network  EUPHIN 
developed  under  the  projects  of  common  interest  within 
the  programme  for  the  interchange  of  data  between 
administrations (IDA). 

The  collection  and  forwarding  of  information 
2-3 
and  the  arrangements  for  access  to  the  svstem  will  be 
examined  taking  into  account  the  results  of  activities 
carried out in this field in other national  and Community 
programmes and actions. 

In  the  course  of  collecting  and  forwarding 
2-4 
information, all details which would enable the identity of 
the  victim  to  be  deduced  must  be  removed  so  that  the 
identity of the victim  remains confidential.  This  does not 
preclude the existence of means for identifying  injuries in 
order to seek additional  information  from  the victims, on 
condition that thev have voluntarily given their agreement 
through their hospital or doctor. 

28 

The arrangements for access to the svstem bv the 
2-5 
various European  organisations  and associations  shall be 
examined. 

B - FINANCIAL SUPPORT 

I - UNINTENTIONAL AND INTENTIONAL 
INJURIES 

II 
Community  financial  support  for  the  hospitals 
participating in the collection of data will be allocated at a 
standard rate representing 50% of the actual costs, up to a 
ceiling of ECU 14 000 per hospital. 

2 - SELF-INFLICTED  INJURIES AND SUICIDES 

2-1  Community  financial  support  shall  be  fixed  at  a 
maximum amount of ECU 500 000 per year. 

29 

FINANCIAL STA TEMENT 

FINANCIAL ST A TEMENT 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

1 

TITLE OF OPERATION 

Proposal  for  a  European  Parliament  and 
Council  Decision  adopting  a  programme  of 
Community  action  on  injury  prevention  in 
the context of the framework  for action in the 
field  of public health 

2 

BUDGET HEADING INVOLVED 

B3- 

B3-4304 

3 

LEGAL BASIS 

Article  3(o)  and  Article  129  of  the  Treaty 
establishing the European Community. 

1 

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION 

4.1 

General objective 
To  contribute  to  achieving  the  objectives 

laid down by the Treaty: 

under  Article  3  (0),  the  Community  is 
required to make a contribution to the attainment of 
a high level of health protection: 

Article  129  requires  the  Community  to 
contribute  towards  ensuring  a  high-level  of  human 
health  protection,  in  particular  by  encouraging 
cooperation  between  the  Member  States,  and  if 
necessary lending support to their action, promoting 
coordination  of their policies and  programmes, and 
fostering  cooperation  with  third  countries  and  the 
competent  international  organisations  in  the sphere 
of  public  health.  Community  action  is  directed 
towards  the  prevention  of  diseases,  in  particular 
major  health  scourges,  by  promoting  research  into 
their causes and their transmission, as well as health 
information and education. 

30 

The general objective of the action programme is to 
contribute  to  public  health  activities  which  aim  at 
reducing the incidence of injury  from  home, leisure 
and school accidents and from  deliberate  self-harm, 
by promoting  the  more effective  dissemination  and 
application of prevention techniques whose worth is 
widely  accepted  by  experts,  and  by  contributing  to 
the  strengthening  of  public  health  bodies'  general 
injury  prevention 
capacity 
activities. 

to  mount  effective 

to  ensure 

self-inflicted 

The general objective of the action programme is 
- 
the  collection  of  data  on 
occurrences  of  intentional  and  unintentional  injuries. 
two 
suicides  and 
established  Community networks for  the collection of 
information  on.  firstly,  the  acquis  communautaire 
under the previous Community  svstem for  monitoring 
leisure  accidents  and, 
injuries  from  home  and 
information-highway 
secondly,  on 
technology 

injuries  using 

the  use  of 

reduce 

to contribute to public  health  activities  which  aim 
and 
injuries  and 

the 
incidence  of 
injuries,  self-inflicted 

- 
to 
unintentional 
suicides bv promoting 

intentional 

a) 
the development, consolidation,  improvement 
and  extension  of  networks  and  systems  for  the 
collection  and  exchange  of  information  on  injury-
prevention 

b)  more  effective  dissemination  and  application  of 
prevention techniques whose worth  is widely accepted 
bv experts 

c)  bv  contributing  to  the  strengthening  of  public 
health  bodies'  general  capacity  to  mount  effective 
injury prevention activities 

The  method for  achieving this objective  consists of 
undertaking actions which: 

The  method  for  achieving  this  objective  consists  of 
undertaking actions which: 

strengthen  and  develop  two  Community  systems 
for  the  collection  of  information  on  intentional  and 
unintentional 
self-inflicted 
injuries,  suicides  and 
injuries using modem information  technology; 

-  encourage  and  assist  the  creation  of  networks of 

those active in injury- prevention: 

-  encourage  and  assist  the  creation  of  networks  of 
those active in injury- prevention; 

-  disseminate  information  about  injury  prevention 

campaigns; 

-  disseminate  information  about  injury-  prevention 
campaigns; 

-  improve  the  available  data  about  accidents  by 

means of surveys and otherwise; 

- improve the available data about accidents by means 
of surveys and otherwise: 

-  promote  better  technical  investigations  of  injury 
risk  factors  through  greater  collaboration  between 
expert centres; 

- promote better technical  investigations  of injury- risk 
factors  through  greater  collaboration  between  expert 
centres: 

foster  consultation  and  cooperation  where 

- 
appropriate between Member States, and 

31 

foster 

- 
appropriate between Member States, and 

consultation 

and 

cooperation  where 

-  help  public  health  bodies  to  make  better  use  of 
other  Community  policies  to  assist  with  injury 
prevention. 

- help public health bodies to make better  use of other 
Community policies to assist with injury prevention. 

4.2  Period  covered  and 
renewal or extension 

arrangements 

for 

5 years: 01.01.1999 to 31.12.2003 

Report on implementation  to be transmitted to 
the  Council  and  European  Parliament  during 
the third year of the programme 

to 

Report 
the  Council  and  European 
Parliament after  completion  of the programme 
together with the results of evaluations. 

5 
OR REVENUE 

CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE 

Non-compulsory expenditure 

Differentiated  appropriations 

6 
REVENUE 

TYPE 

OF  EXPENDITURE 

OR 

Subsidy for joint financing with other sources 
in  the  public  and/or  private  sector  (not 
exceeding  a  certain  percentage  of  the  total 
cost of the proposed projects). 

The level of funding  granted  depends on the 
scope of the measure to be financed and  on 
the extent to which the action  programme is 
reflected  in  the  various  activities  planned. 
Such funding will not exceed 70% of the total 
budget  earmarked  for  the  proposed  projects 
except  in  the  case  of  networks  and  work 
ordered and of direct use to the Commission, 
where the subsidy mav amount to 100%. 

32 

7 

FINANCIAL IMPACT 

7 

FINANCIAL IMPACT 

7.1 
operation (definition of unit costs) 

Method  of  calculating  the  total  cost  of 

7.1 
operation (definition of unit costs) 

Method  of  calculating  the  total  cost  of 

and 

common  objectives 
the 

The  method  of  calculation  is  the  result of 
experience acquired  in previous activities  related to 
public  health  activities.  This  encompasses  the 
various types of Community action listed in Table 4 
of  Commission  Communication  (93)  559  final  of 
24 November  1994,  and  represents  10  years  of 
know-how in financing cooperative  efforts  with the 
Member  States  and  NGO's  of  collection,  analysis 
and  dissemination  of  information,  setting  up  of 
networks, survey of the quality of campaigns such as 
European  weeks, establishment  of  mechanisms  and 
procedures  of  consultation  and  cooperation  for 
for  policy 
setting 
coordination 
and 
development  of  strategies  at  the  Community  level. 
The  specific  cost  estimates  are  based  on  the 
assumption 
to  be 
undertaken  under  this  programme  will  require  100 
percent  funding  while the other half will require 50 
percent  funding  and  that  the  activities  to  be 
undertaken  will  involve  most  or all  of  the Member 
States.  An  amount  of  ECU  1.3  million  is  deemed 
necessary  for  the  implementation  of these activities 
for  the  year  1999.  The  new  budget  framework  for 
the final four  years  will  be  established  in  the year 
2000  taking  into  account  the  future  Community's 
financial  perspectives.  The  annual  allocations  will 
be decided in accordance with the normal budgetary 
procedures. 

and 
formulation 

that  half  of 

the  activities 

for 

7.1.1 Reduction in accidents 

Networks 

In  1999 the running of three networks per year has 
been scheduled  at  an  average cost  of ECU 200 000 
per year. 

Dissemination of information 

Being  a  new  action  estimated  cost  has  been 
calculated  from  the  experience  of  other  already 
existing  programmes  in public  health  (cancer. Aids 
and 
health 
promotion) and its cost (ECU  100 000 per year). 

communicable 

diseases, 

drugs, 

33 

The  method  of  calculation  is  the  result  of 
experience  acquired  in  previous  activities  related  to 
public health activities. This encompasses the various 
types  of  Community  action  listed  in  Table  4  of 
Commission  Communication 
(93)  559  final  of 
24 November  1994, and represents  10 years of know-
how in financing cooperative efforts  with the Member 
States  and  NGO's  of  collection,  analysis  and 
dissemination  of information,  setting  up  of networks, 
survey of the  quality  of campaigns  such  as European 
weeks,  establishment  of  mechanisms  and  procedures 
of  consultation  and  cooperation  for  setting  common 
objectives  and  for  policy  coordination  and  for  the 
formulation  and  development  of  strategies  at  the 
Community  level.  The  specific  cost  estimates  are 
based on the assumption that half of the activities to be 
undertaken  under  this  programme  will  require  100 
percent  funding  while  the  other  half  will  require  50 
percent  funding  and 
to  be 
that 
undertaken  will  involve  most  or  all  of  the  Member 
States.  An  amount  of  ECU  14  million  is  deemed 
neccssan- for the implementation  of these activities on 
the basis of five-vearlv funding  of ECU 6.5 million for 
injury  prevention  and  ECU  7.5  million  for  data 
collection. This latter amount  comes from  the  transfer 
of  funding  allocated  to  the  EHLASS  within  the 
general framework  for  Community activities in  favour 
of consumers (COM(97) 684 final of 28.01.98). 

the  activities 

7.1.1 Community  data 
referred  to in Annex II 

collection 

systems  as 

• 

intentional and unintentional  injuries 

-  Funding  allocated  to  Member  States  for  the 
collection, processing and use of data, with a ceiling of 
ECU  14 000  per  hospital.  The  cost  is  based  on  a 
uniform  rate for  the  86 hospitals  accounting  for 50% 
of actual costs. 

i.e.  an  estimated  annual  cost  of  ECU  1  200 000 

for the years n to n+4. 

The  survey  of  the  representativeness  of  data 
: 
provided  for  in the third year of the programme  (year 
n+2) will  require estimated  total  funding  of not  more 
than ECU 500 000 and will be the subject of a call for 
tenders. 

•  suicide and self-inflicted  injuries 

z 
Being  a  new  action,  the  annual  cost  of  this 
Community data collection  system has been estimated 
on the basis of experience gained in other Community 
programmes.  Cost:  ECU  500 000  per  vear  for  the 
years n to n+4. 

(new) 

7.1.2.  Suicide 

7.1.2 Specific operations as referred to in Annex I 

Networks 

In  1999,  the  running  of  one  network  per 
year has been scheduled at an average cost of ECU 
200 000 per year. 

Dissemination of network 

Total cost for  this  Chapter  7.1.2: ECU  1 050 000 per 
year  for  the  years  n.  n+1.  n+3  and  n+4.  and  ECU 
550 000 for the vear n+2. 

Being a new action estimated cost has been 
calculated  from  the  experience  of  other  already-
existing  programmes  in public  health  (cancer. Aids 
and 
health 
drugs, 
promotion) and its cost (100 000 per year). 

communicable 

diseases, 

Improving data about suicide 

Being  a  new  action,  the  estimated  cost of 
ECU  200 000  has  been  calculated  from 
the 
experiences  of  EUROSTAT  and,  the  EHLASS 
svstem on home and leisure accidents. 

7.1.2.1 Intentional and unintentional  injuries 

Total  cost  of ECU  600 000  per  vear  for  the  years  n. 
n+1..n+3 and n+4. and ECU 300 000 for the vear n+2. 

a)  Unintentional injuries:  (networks, dissemination of 
information  and data methodology): ECU 400 000 per 
vear for the vears n. n+1, n+3 and n+4 

Estimated  cost  based  on  experience  of  other 
programmes  in  the  field  of  public  health,  and  the 
regards 
experience  of  Eurostat.  particularly  as 
Community  networks  (ECU  80 000  to  200 000  per 
vear) and  dissemination  of  information  (ECU  40 000 
to 100 000 per vear) 

b)  Intentional  injuries  (networks  and  dissemination 
of information): ECU 200 000 per vear for the vears n. 
n+1, n+3 and n+4 

34 

Being a new action, estimated cost has been calculated 
on the basis of that of unintentional  injuries 

for 

funding 

of 
c)  Community 
representativeness  of  data  for  the  year  n+2  indicates 
that the sum allocated under point 7.1.2.1 for the vear 
n+2 will be ECU 300 000. to be shared out as actions 
develop. 

survey 

the 

7.1.2.2. Suicide and self-inflicted  injuries 

Maximum costs of ECU 450 000 per vear for the years 
n. n+1. n+3 et n+4 and ECU 250 000 for the vear n+2. 

a)  (networks  and  dissemination  of information):  this 
estimated  cost  is  based  on  experience  gained  from 
various public-health programmes, and on the number 
of Member  States  involved  (ECU  80  to  200 000  per 
vear per network). 

for 

funding 

survey  of 
b)  Community 
representativeness  of data  for  the  vear  n+2  indicates 
that the sum allocated under point 7.1.2.2 for  the vear 
n+2 will be ECU 250 000. to be shared out as actions 
develop. 

the 

7.1.3. Prevention capacity 

7.1.2.3 Prevention capacity 

Support  to  at  least  two  country  events  per  year  at 
ECU 50 000 (with  special  relevance  in  1999) when 
launching the programme. 

(ECU  50 000  per  vear)  funding  for  at  least  one 
national event per vear for the vears n to n+4 

35 

ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL 
OJC 202 of 02.07.1997 

7.2 

Itemised  breakdown  of cost (in ECU  million) 

OBJECTIVE 

ACTION  AREA 

YEAR 

Contribute to reduc 
tion in accidents to 
children, young 
adults and elderly 
people 

Contribute to 
reduction in the 
incidence of suicide 

Contribute to 
strengthening  injury 
prevention  capacity 

and 

assisting 

networks; 
encouraging 
disseminating  information  about  campaigns;  improving  data 
about  accidents;  technical  investigations  of  injury  risk  factors; 
consultation and  cooperation; 

creation 

the 

of 

of 

the 

and 

and 

creation 

assisting 

encouraging 
networks; 
disseminating  information  about  campaigns;  improving  data 
about  accidents;  technical  investigations  of  injury  risk  factors; 
consultation and  cooperation; 
encouraging 
networks; 
assisting 
disseminating  information  about  campaigns;  improving  data 
about  accidents;  technical  investigations  of  injury  risk  factors; 
consultation  and  cooperation; 
activities  to increase  the  use  which  public  health  bodies  make  of 
other Community  policies to assist  with  injury  prevention 
Total 

creation 

the 

of 

1999 

2000 

2001 

2002 
2003 
Indicative  programming 

Total 

0.7 
0.4 

0.1 

0.1 

1.3 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

j)in 

pm 

pin 

pm 

0.7 
0.4 

0.1 

0.1 

1.3 

36 

OBJECTIVE 

A)  Annex 1 

A M E N D ED  P R O P O S AL 

7.2 

Itemised  breakdown  of  cost  (in  ECU  million) 

YEAR 

n 
1999 

n+l 
2000 

n+2 
2001 

n+4 
n+3 
2002 
2003 
Indicative  programming 

Total 

intentional  and unintentional  injuries 

Reducing the incidence of 
• 
Reducing the incidence of 
• 

suicides and self-inflicted  injuries 
strengthening  injury  prevention  capacity 

actions  1 to 5 

0.6 

0.6 

0.3 

0.6 

0.6 

actions 6 to 9 
action  10 

0.45 

0.45 

0.25 

0.45 

0.45 

0.05 

0.05 

0.05 

0.05 

0.05 

B)  Annex 11 

•  Community  system  for  the  collection  of  data  on  intentional 

and  unintentional  injuries 
survey of representativeness of data 

• 
•  Community  system  for  the  collection  of  data  on  suicides  and 

sjglf:inflicted  injuries 

Total 

1.2 

1.2 

1.2 

1.2 

1.2 

0.5 

2.8 

0.5 

0.5 

0.,5 

0.5 

0.5 

2.8 

2.8 

2.8 

2.8 

37 

2.7 

2.05 

0.25 

6.0 

0.5 
2.5 

14 

ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL 
O JC  202 of 02.07.1997 

7.3 

Indicative schedule of appropriations  (in ECU  million) 

1999 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 

TOTAL 

Commitment  appropriations 

1.3 

Payment  appropriations 

-

1999 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 

Subsequent  years 

0.78 

0.52 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1.3 

-

0.78 

0.52 

-

-

TOTAL 

1.3 

pin 

pm 

pin 

pm 

1.3 

38 

AMENDED  PROPOSAL 

7.3 

Indicative schedule of appropriations  (in 

ECU  million) 

1999 

Commitment  approporiations 

2J3 

Payment  appropriations 

-

1999 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 

Subsequent  years 

TOTAL 

1.96 

0.,84 

; 

-

-

-

M 

2000 

2.8-

z 

z 

1.96 

0.84-

z 

z 

z 

IA 

2002 

2.8-

z 

z 

z 

z 

1.6-

0.4-

z 

2M 

2003 

2J 

-

-

z 

z 

-

1.96-

0.84-

M 

TOTAL 

li 

-

1.96 

M 

M 

2.8-

2.8-

0.84-

H 

2001 

2.8-

-

z 

z 

1.96-

0.84-

-

z 

2J 

39 

8 

FRAUD PREVENTION MEASURES: 
RESULTS OF MEASURES TAKEN 

The grant application forms will require information 
on the identity and nature of potential beneficiaries so 
that their reliability can be assessed in advance. 
Fraud prevention measures (checks, intermediate 
reports, final report) are included in the agreements or 
contracts between the Commission and beneficiaries. 
The Commission will check reports and ensure that 
work has been properly carried out before 
intermediate and final payments are made. 
In addition, spot checks are carried out by the 
Commission to verify how funds have been used. 
Checks have already been carried out in other public 
health budget lines in relation to the financial years 
1991 to 1995 and have shown their effectiveness. 

9  ELEMENTS OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS 

ANALYSIS 

9.1  Specific and quantifiable objectives 

9.1 

Specific and quantifiable objectives 

The general objective of the action programme is to 
contribute towards ensuring a high level of health 
protection against injury by promoting the more 
effective  dissemination and application of prevention 
techniques whose worth is widely accepted by experts, 
and by helping to strengthen public health bodies' 
general capacity to mount effective  injury7 prevention 
activities. 

The general objective of the action programme is to: 

-  collect information on the incidence and 

occurrence of intentional and unintentional 
injuries, suicides and self-inflicted  injuries through 
two Community information collection systems 
based on (i) Communitv-level data collected under 
the old Community system of information on 
home and leisure accidents and (ii) use of 
information superhighway technologies; 

-  contribute to public health activities aimed at 
reducing the frequency  of intentional and 
unintentional injuries, self-inflicted  injuries and 
suicides, bv promoting: 

a)  the development, strengthening, improvement 
and extension of the networks and systems for 
collecting and exchanging information on injury 
prevention: 

b)  more effective  dissemination and application of 
prevention techniques whose worth is widely 
accepted bv experts. 

c) bv helping to strengthen public health bodies' 
general capacity to mount effective  injury prevention 
activities. 

40 

The  indicators  showing  whether  or  not  targets  are 
achieved  in  this  field  will  include  measures  of  the 
following  kinds.  These  will  be  refined  further  in 
collaboration  with  the  new  programme  on  health 
monitoring,  whose  tasks  include  the  development  of 
indicators for  Community  public  health  policies. The 
method  for  achieving  this  objective  consists  of 
undertaking actions which: 

The  indicators  showing  whether  or  not  targets  are 
achieved  in  this  field  will  include  measures  of  the 
following  kinds.  These  will  be  refined  further  in 
collaboration  with  the  new  programme  on  health 
monitoring, whose tasks include the development of 
health  indicators  particularly  for  mental  health, 
home accidents,  leisure  and  product  safety  in  order 
to  evaluate  national  and  Community  policies.  The 
information 
Community  system 
including home and leisure accidents shall serve as a 
key 
indicator  for  consumer  protection  policy-
covering  products  and  services.  The  method  for 
achieving  this  objective  consists  of  undertaking 
actions which: 

for  collecting 

encourage  and  assist  the  creation  of  networks  of 
those active in injury prevention; 

-  encourage  and  assist  the  creation  of  networks of 

those active in injury prevention; 

measure how active the  networks are (membership, 
production 
bulletins, 
conferences, WWW discussion groups...); 

information 

e.g. 

of 

-  measure 

how 

active 

are 
(membership,  production  of  e.g. 
information 
bulletins,  conferences,  WWW  discussion  groups, 
etc.); 

networks 

the 

disseminate  information  about  injury  prevention 
campaigns  (e.g.  surveys  of  number  and  quality  of 
publications assisted by the programme); 

-  disseminate  information  about  injury  prevention 
campaigns  (e.g. surveys of number  and  quality of 
publications assisted by the programme); 

improve the available data about accidents by means 
of  surveys  and  otherwise  (e.g.  what  new  measures 
are brought into use and in what countries); 

-  improve  the  available  data  about  intentional  and 
unintentional  injuries,  suicide  and  self-inflicted 
injuries,  by  means  of  surveys  and  otherwise  (e.g. 
what  new  measures  are  brought  into  use  and  in 
what countries); 

promote better technical investigations of injury risk 
factors through greater collaboration between expert 
centres (number and quality of such reports assisted 
by the programme); 

-  promote  better  technical  investigations  of  injury 
risk factors  through  greater  collaboration  between 
expert centres (number and quality of such reports 
assisted by the programme); 

consultation 

foster 
cooperation  where 
and 
appropriate between Member  States,  (description of 
cases of such consultation etc.) and 

-  foster 

consultation  and 

cooperation  where 
appropriate between Member States (description of 
cases of such consultation etc.) and 

help public health bodies to make better use of other 
Community policies to assist with  injury  prevention 
(numbers and description). 

-  help  public  health  bodies  to  make  better  use  of 
other  Community  policies  to  assist  with  injury 
prevention (numbers and description). 

41 

(new) 

The estimate of the socio-economic cost of home and 
leisure  accidents  in  the  evaluation  report  of  the 
previous EHLASS system for  '86-'97 shall serve as a 
reference 
the 
Community action programme. 

in  quantifying 

impact  of 

the 

Target Population 

Target Population 

1.  Competent  public  authorities  of  the  Member 
States,  at  national,  regional  and  local  level  and 
the 
international  organisations 
competent 
spheres of public health and injury prevention; 

in 

1.  Competent  public  authorities  of  the  Member 
States,  at  national,  regional  and  local  level  and 
competent  international  organisations  in  the 
spheres  of public  health,  injury  prevention  and 
consumer policy. 

2.  Health  professionals,  health  epidemiological 
services,  health 
associations, 
specialists  in  the  prevention  of  different  kinds of 
injury, academic institutions etc.: 

and  medical 

2.  Health  professionals,  health  epidemiological 
services,  health  and  medical  associations, 
specialists in the prevention of different  kinds of 
injury, 
European 
associations for consumer protection, etc.; 

institutions, 

academic 

3.  NGO's  and  other  bodies  interested  in  health 
matters  and  injury  prevention,  and  the  public  in 
general. 

3.  NGO's  and  other  bodies  interested  in  health 
matters and  injury- prevention,  and  the public in 
general. 

9.2. 

Grounds for the operation 

9.2. 

Grounds for the operation 

In initiating action under Article  129, the Community 
has  to  address  itself  to  preventing  diseases  and 
protecting  health.  The  Commission's  communication 
on  the  framework  for  action  in  the  field  of  public 
health  (COM(93)  559  final  of  23.11.93)  sets  out 
criteria  on  which  to  determine  priority  areas  for 
Community  programmes.  In  accordance  with  these 
criteria, 
1993"framework"  Communication 
evaluated the different  options for addressing diseases, 
in  particular  major  scourges  and  their  underlying 
causes,  by  various  types  of  community  actions  and 
retained  on  the  basis  of  criteria  listed  in  that 
communication, eight priority areas of which accident 
prevention was one. 

the 

the 
initiating  action  under  Article  129, 
In 
Community  has  to  address  itself  to  preventing 
diseases  and  protecting  health.  The  Commission's 
communication  on  the  framework  for  action  in  the 
field  of  public  health  (COM(93)  559  final  of 
24.11.93)  sets  out  criteria  on  which  to  determine 
priority  areas  for  Community  programmes.  In 
accordance with these criteria, the  1993"framework" 
Communication  evaluated  the  different  options  for 
addressing diseases, in particular major scourges and 
their  underlying  causes,  by  various 
types  of 
community  actions  and  retained  on  the  basis  of 
criteria  listed  in  that  communication,  eight  priority 
areas of which injury prevention was one. 

42 

(new) 

a 

general 

framework 

In its Communication COM(97) 684 final of 28 January 
1998  establishing 
for 
Community  activities  in  favour  of  consumers  from 
1999  to  2003.  the  Commission  identified  in  particular 
consumer  safety  and  health  as  an  area for  undertaking 
Community actions aimed at achieving the objectives of 
Article  129a  of  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European 
Community.  In  this  context  measures  in  respect  of 
consumer  products  entailing  risks  for  consumers 
constitute a basic activity requiring  prolongation  of the 
"EHLASS"  system  in  the  coming  years,  taking  into 
account the assessment of its operation. 

introduced 

Decision  No 3092/94/EC of the European  Parliament 
the  Community 
and  of  the  Council 
system of information  on  home  and  leisure  accidents 
for  '94-'97.  The  recent  report  evaluating  the  operation 
of and data collected bv the EHLASS system from  1986 
to  1997  presented  to  the  "consumers"  Council  of 
3 November  1997  showed  the  system's  usefulness  but 
also its weak  points. The Member  States evaluated  the 
system  positively  and  wished  to  see it  continued,  with 
improvements  where  appropriate.  The  merit  of  the 
Commission's  proposal  is  that  bv  means  of  this 
programme it merges all the tools and actions necessary 
for  strengthening,  extending,  utilising  and  harnessing 
the data from the previous system, in particular bv using 
the telematic network technology provided for under die 
IDA programme, and that it also furnishes  the elements 
necessary  to  establish  health 
indicators  for  home 
accidents,  leisure,  mental  health  and  product  safety  as 
provided  for  in Decision  N°  1400/97  of  the  European 
Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  30  June  1997 
adopting  a  programme  of  Community  action  on 
health  monitoring within  the framework  for  action  in 
the field  of public health. 

43 

brings 

together 

proposal 

supports, 

and 
This 
complements the existing national  measures,  mainly bv 
ensuring  that  data  will  be  collected  in  all  Member 
States.  The  systems  also 
involve  coordination  of 
activities  and  ensure  that  the  results  are  in  the  same 
format  so that one Member  State's  results can be used 
by other  Community  members  and  bv  the  Community 
itself.  Collection  of  data,  especiallv  from  the  casualty 
departments  of  selected  hospitals  in  Member  States. 
should  provide  direct 
the  main 
intentional and unintentional injuries, on the basis of the 
methods  approved  in  Member  States.  What  is  more, 
such data will be collected on an on-going basis. 

information  on 

It  is  crucial  to  have  good  knowledge  of  data  on  such 
injuries  so  as  to  formulate  prevention  actions  and 
policies. In addition, the aim of this measure relating to 
the  Community  information  collection  system  ties  in 
with  Directive  92/59/EEC  on  general  product  safety. 
for  which  such  collection  of  data  should  provide 
valuable indicators on product safety problems. 

The  present  proposal  targets  a  small  number  of  key 
areas  within  this  broad  field,  selected  on  the  basis  of 
ex ante evaluation  that  they are an  important  cause of 
avoidable  injury  and  death,  are  not  already  addressed 
by  action  at  Community  level,  present  opportunities 
for  cost-effective 
intervention,  and  would  deliver 
Community  added  value  by  bringing  together  and 
complementing  work  done  at  national  and  sub-
national  level.  This  would  be  substantially  more 
effective 
inter 
governmental  cooperation  without  a  Community 
contribution:  in  this  field  the  input  envisaged  for  the 
Community  and  the  Commission  by  Article  129 
provides a clear common framework  of rules, avoiding 
open-ended and  time-consuming  negotiation,  allowing 
more rapid progress on a firmer footing. 

leaving  such  questions 

than 

to 

44 

The  target  areas  selected  are  home  and  leisure 
accidents to children, young adults and elderly people, 
and accidents to children while at school, and also the 
topic  of  suicide  and  lesser  forms  of  deliberate  self-
harm (sometimes called parasiticide). This selection of 
fields  has been amply justified  by ex ante  evaluation 
using  the  criteria just  mentioned  and  tackles  all  the 
classes  of  injury  which  are  the  most  substantial 
sources of death,  disability  and  ill-health,  apart  from 
occupational  injury  and  road  traffic  accidents, which 
are already addressed by other Community activities. 

injuries, 

suicide  and 

The  target  areas  selected  are  home  and  leisure 
accidents  to  children,  young  adults  and  elderly 
people,  and  accidents  to  children  while  at  school, 
intentional 
self-inflicted 
injuries.  This  selection  of  fields  has  been  amply 
justified  by ex ante evaluation using the criteria just 
mentioned and tackles all the classes of injury which 
are the  most  substantial  sources  of death,  disability 
and  ill-health,  apart  from  occupational  injury  and 
road  traffic  accidents,  which  are  already  addressed 
by other Community activities. 

As  regards 
allocation of funds,  the following will apply: 

intervention  methods  and 

the 

the 

As  regards  the 
allocation of funds, the following will apply: 

intervention  methods  and 

the 

-  specific  application of the principle of subsidiarity 
when  identifying  measures  to  be  undertaken  and 
co-financed; 

-  specific 

application  of 

the  principle  of 
subsidiarity  when  identifying  measures  to  be 
undertaken and co-financed; 

identification  and  selection  of  projects  for  co-
financing in the fields of injury prevention; 

through 

in  particular 

the  concept  of  added  Community  value  which 
will  be  realised 
the 
collection  of  information  on  intentional  and 
unintentional  injuries,  suicides and  self-inflicted 
injuries bv means of two Community systems for 
collecting  information  using  the  information 
superhighway  technology,  the  coordination  of 
national  measures, 
the  dissemination  of 
information  and  experiences,  the  establishment 
of  priorities,  the  development  of  networking  as 
appropriate,  selection  of  European  projects  and 
the motivation and mobilisation of all involved.. 

- 

- 

- 

- 

identification  and  selection  of  projects  for  co-
financing in the fields of injury prevention; 

of 

national  measures, 

the concept of added Community value, which will 
continue  to  be  realised  in  particular  through  the 
coordination 
the 
dissemination  of information  and experiences, the 
establishment  of  priorities,  the  development  of 
networking  as  appropriate,  selection  of European 
projects and the motivation and mobilisation of all 
involved. 

45 

and 

Two  methods  will  be  employed  to  implement  the 
programme.  One is to support  projects  carried  out in 
Member  States  and  at  the  Community  level.  The 
selection  of  priority  projects  is  based  largely  on 
and 
general 
implementation  of  the  measures  themselves  depends 
on the quality and effectiveness  of projects  submitted 
to the competent department  during the course of the 
year.  The  other  is  to  undertake  specific  activities 
necessary to achieve the objectives of the programme, 
which will be fully financed by the programme.. 

intermediate 

objectives, 

Three  methods  will  be  employed  to  implement  the 
programme. 

that 

The first  is to collect  data in  particular  (i)  from  the 
casualty departments of selected hospitals in Member 
States,  making  sure 
the  hospitals  are 
representative  in  terms  of  geographical  distribution 
and taking account of urban and rural areas, and (ii) 
from  a  survey  so  as  to  fine-tune  the  representative 
nature of the data. The second is to support  projects 
carried out in Member States and at the Community 
level.  The  selection  of  priority  projects  is  based 
largely  on  general  and  intermediate  objectives,  and 
implementation of the measures themselves depends 
on the quality and effectiveness  of projects submitted 
to the competent department during the course of the 
year.  The  third  is  to  undertake  specific  activities 
necessary 
the 
programme,  which  will  be  fully  financed  by  the 
programme. 

the  objectives  of 

to  achieve 

The selection criteria for projects are as follows: 

-  Compatibility  with  the  objectives  and  conformity 
with at least one of the established objectives: 

- Examination of the "added Community value" of the 
projects (transnational participation, development of 
in  other  Member  States, 
a  model  applicable 
information usable in other Member States, etc.); 

-  Presumed effectiveness  and value; 

-  Clarity and justification of requirements; 

- Relevance of selected methodology; 

-  Organizational competence and experience; 

-  Suitability of budget for objectives; 

-  Support for projects from national partners; 

-  Objective assessment; 

-  Opinion of the advisory committee involved. 

46 

The budget proposed of  1.3  mecu for  the first year of 
this  programme,  matches  that  proposed  at  the  same 
time  for  the  programmes  on  rare  diseases  and  on 
pollution-related  diseases.  This  reflects  the  equal 
priority  attached  to  each  field  in  the  Commission's 
1993  Communication,  an  evaluation  which  remains 
valid today. The amount proposed  represents the bare 
minimum required to start the programme. 

The budget proposed of ECU  14 million for  the  five 
years corresponds to the absolute minimum  required 
to  run 
information  collection 
systems  referred  to  in  Annex  II  and  the  specific 
actions mentioned in Annex I. 

the  Community 

9.3  Monitoring and evaluation of the operation 

9.3.1  Monitoring of the operation 

Monitoring  at  the  Community  level  is  to  be 
carried  out by the  Commission,  which  will  submit  a 
report  half-way  through  the  implementation  of  the 
programme, and a final  report after  its completion to 
the  Council,  the European  Parliament,  the Economic 
and  Social  Committee,  and  the  Committee  of  the 
Regions,  drawing  from  national  reports  as  well  as 
evaluations of the actions under the programme and of 
individuals projects. 

9.3.2  Evaluation 

Evaluation will be by means of: 

-  An  evaluation  of  the  main  measures  and  of 
subsidised projects involving, where necessary, the 
participation of independent experts; 

-  An evaluation report during the third year; 

-  An overall  report on the quality  and  effectiveness 
of projects  implemented  under  the  action  plan,  to be 
submitted by the Commission to the other Community 
institutions after completion of the programme. 

Performance indicators selected for this evaluation: 

-  Evaluation  of  projects  by  Commission  officials 
and/or those cooperating with them 

47 

Analysis  of  intermediate  reports  on  measures 
scheduled  and  financed,  allowing  a  shifting  of 
emphasis where possible; 

. 

Impact studies by external bodies; 

Relevance  of 

the  methodology  used  by 

organizers; 

Suitability of the budget for the objectives; 

Skills and experience of bodies: 

Dissemination of results. 

Evaluation procedures and intervals: 

Drawing up of intermediate and final reports on 
the various measures undertaken in the  field; 

Development  of  a  "standard"  evaluation  form 
for  the  measure, to be forwarded  by the  beneficiaries 
with  their  final  reports,  and  checking  of  these 
documents by officials  either at the Commission or in 
the  field. 

10 

ADMINISTRATIVE 
(PART A OF THE BUDGET) 

EXPENDITURE 

Actual  mobilisation  of  the  necessary  administrative 
resources  will  be  conditioned  by  the  Commission's 
annual decision on the allocation of resources, having 
regard  in  particular  to  additional  staff  and  funds 
provided by the budgetary authority. 

48 

ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL 
OJC202 of 02.07.1997 

10.1 

Impact on the number of employees 

Types of employees 

Staff carrying out  action 

Source of employee 

Duration 

Permanent  employees 

Temporary  employees 

from  within  DG or service 

Supplementary  staff 

Officials  or 
temporary  agents 

A 

B 

C 

Other  resources 

Total 

1 

1 

1 

3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

1 

1 

3 

49 

AMENDED PROPOSAL 

10.1 

Impact on the number of employees 

Types of employees 

Staff carrying out action 

Source of employee 

Duration 

Permanent employees 

Temporary employees 

from within DG or service 

Supplementary staff 

or 
Officials 
temporary agents 

A 

B 

C 

Other resources 

Total 

2J> 

1 

4 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

2 

1 

4 

50 

10.2  Financial impact of supplementary  staff 

10.2 

Financial  impact of supplementary  staff 

No supplementary staff are envisaged. 

4 x ECU 108 000 = ECU 432 000 

Calculation of costs for staff 

Through using the existing resources earmarked for 
managing the action (calculation based on Titles Al, 
A2. A4. A5 and A7). 

I 

, 

ORIGINAL PROPOSAL 
OJC202 of 02.07.1997 

" 

] 

10.3 

Increase in other running costs arising from  the action 

Budget line 

Amounts 

Method of calculation 

Meetings A2510 

ECU 104 250 

2 meetings of advisory- committee/year, 

1 representative per Member State = 

2 meetings/year x 15 reps, x ECU 695/rep. x 5 years = 

ECU 104 250 

51 

The  resources  necessary  to  cover  the  expenditure 
below  for  the  5-year  period  will  be  obtained  by 
redeployment of existing financial  resources and the 
use of supplementary resources will not be required. 
a)  Personnel  expenses  (Title  Al,  A2  and  A5) 
3 x 100 000 ecus x 5 years = 1  500 000 ecus 

b)  Operational expenses 

resources  and 

The resources necessary- to cover  the expenditure below 
for  the  5-year period  will  be  obtained  by  redeployment 
of  existing  financial 
the  use  of 
supplementary resources will not be required. 
A-7031 
Obligatory committee meetings 3 meetings x 15 
Member State representatives x ECU 650 x 5 years = 
ECU 146 250 

ECU 146 250 

Expenses for meetings (A-250) 
2  meetings/year  x  15  experts  x  825  ecus/expert  x 
5 years = 123 750 ecus 

Expenses for travel (A-130) 
24 missions/year Brussels-Luxembourg x 
200 ecus/mission x 5 years = 24 000 ecus 
60 missions/year to Member States x 1 000 
ecus/mission x 5 years = 300 000 ecus 

A-703Ô 
Expenses for meetings ECU 169 425 
3 meetings x 15 experts x ECU 753 x 5 vears 

A-701 
Expenses for travel ECU 436 000 
36 missions/vear Brussels-Luxembourg x 
ECU 200/mission x 5 vears = ECU 36.000 
80 missions/vear to Member States x 
ECU 1 000/mission x 5 years = ECU 400 000 

c) Total: 

1 947 750 ecus 

Total of item 10.3 = ECU 751.657. 

52 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(98) 229  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

05  15  16  01 

Catalogue  number  :  CB-CO-98-243-EN-C 

ISBN 92-78-33197-X 

Office  for Official  Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985 Luxembourg Lo 

53