Decision No 372/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 February 1999 adopting a programme of Community action on injury prevention in the framework for action in the field of public health (1999 to 2003)
Date: 1999-02-08
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: accident in the home, disease prevention, health policy, international cooperation, public health, trauma

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(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

DECISION No 372/1999/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF
THE COUNCIL

of 8 February 1999

adopting a programme of Community action on injury prevention in the frame-
work for action in the field of public health (1999 to 2003)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL
OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular the first indent of Article
129(4) thereof,

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

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

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

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in
Article 189b of the Treaty (4),

(3) Whereas,

in accordance with Article 3(o) of the
Treaty, Community action includes a contribution
to the attainment of a high level of health protec-
tion;

(4) Whereas, in its communication of 24 November
1993 on the framework for action in the field of
public health, the Commission identified inten-
tional and unintentional injuries and accidents as a
priority area for action in the public health field;

(5) Whereas the large number of injuries caused each
year in Europe has incalculable repercussions not
only for the individuals concerned but also in
social and economic terms;

(1) Whereas,

throughout

the Community,

injuries
must be considered as one of the major health
scourges referred to in Article 129 of the Treaty;
whereas they are a cause of substantial public
concern;

(2) Whereas Article 129 of

the Treaty expressly
provides for Community competence in this field
in so far as the Community contributes towards
ensuring a high level of human health protection
by encouraging cooperation between the Member
States and, if necessary, by lending support to their
action by 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;

(1) OJ C 202, 2. 7. 1997, p. 20, and
OJ C 154, 19. 5. 1998, p.14.

(2) OJ C 19, 21. 1. 1998, p. 1.
(3) OJ C 379, 15. 12. 1997, p. 44.
(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 11 March 1998 (OJ C
104, 6. 4. 1998, p. 119), Council Common Position of 23
November 1998 (OJ C 404, 23. 12. 1998, p. 21) and Decision
of the European Parliament of 16 December 1998 (not yet
published in the Official Journal). Council Decision of 25
January 1999.

(6) Whereas prevention, and the consequent reduction,
of injuries should be a priority in the context of
Community action in the field of public health,
particularly in view of
and
economic benefit to be derived from a Community
measure, the cost-benefit ratio of which is also
exceptionally favourable;

the great

social

(7) Whereas in areas which do not

fall within its
exclusive competence, such as action on injury
prevention, the Community takes action, in accord-
ance with the principle of subsidiarity, only if and
in so far as the objective of the proposed action
can, by reason of its scale or effects, be better
achieved by the Community;

(8) Whereas Community action on injury prevention
will yield added value by bringing together activ-
ities already undertaken in relative isolation at
national level and by enabling them to comple-
ment one another, with significant results for the
Community as a whole;

(9) Whereas an action programme should be under-

taken to help reduce the incidence of injuries;

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(10) Whereas the activities carried out in the framework
of the Community system of information on home
and leisure accidents (EHLASS), which was intro-
duced by Decision No 3092/94/EC of the Euro-
pean Parliament and of the Council (1) and expired
at
the end of 1997, produced positive results;
whereas they should therefore be continued;

(11) Whereas one of the essential preconditions for the
implementation of this programme is the establish-
ment of a Community injury data-collection and
information system; whereas this system should be
based on strengthening and improving on the
achievements of the former EHLASS system;

(12) Whereas the implementation of the Community
data collection and information exchange system
necessarily presupposes compliance with legal
provisions concerning the protection of individuals
with regard to the processing of personal data and
the introduction of arrangements to guarantee the
confidentiality and security of such data; whereas in
this connection the European Parliament and the
Council adopted Directive 95/46/EC of 24 October
1995 on the protection of individuals with regard
to the processing of personal data and on the free
movement of such data (2);

(13) Whereas it is of paramount importance for the
injuries and for determining
epidemiology of
Community health indicators as referred to in
Decision No 1400/97/EC of the European Parlia-
ment 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 (1997-2001) (3); whereas data
is collected and information exchanged on the
basis of comparable and consistent data on injuries;

(14) Whereas, by providing support for acquiring better
knowledge
and wider
and understanding of,
dissemination of information about, injury preven-
tion, ensuring improved comparability of informa-
tion in this field and developing actions comple-
mentary to existing Community programmes and
actions, while avoiding unnecessary duplication,
this programme will contribute to the achievement
of the Community objectives set out in Article 129
of the Treaty;

(15) Whereas, in general, Community action on injury
prevention should take into account the applica-
tions of telematics in the health sector; whereas, in
particular,
this programme
should be closely coordinated with projects of

implementation of

common interest under the programme for the
telematic interchange of data between administra-
tions (IDA);

(16) Whereas cooperation with international organ-
isations competent in the field of public health and
with third countries should be fostered;

(17) Whereas this programme should be of five-year
duration in order to allow sufficient time to achieve
the objectives set;

(18) Whereas, in order to increase the value and impact
of this programme, a continuous evaluation of the
actions undertaken should be carried out, with
particular
regard to their effectiveness and the
achievement of the objectives set;

(19) Whereas it should be possible to adjust or modify
this programme in the light of its evaluation and of
any developments that may take place in the
general context of Community action in the field
of public health;

(20) Whereas it

is important

the Commission
should ensure implementation of this programme
in close cooperation with the Member States;

that

(21) Whereas a modus vivendi (4) 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;

(22) Whereas this Decision lays down, for the entire
duration of this programme, a financial framework
constituting the principal point of reference, within
the meaning of point 1 of the Declaration of the
European Parliament,
the
Commission of 6 March 1995 (5), for the budgetary
authority during the annual budgetary procedure,

the Council

and

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Objective of the programme

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

(1) OJ L 331, 21. 12. 1994, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 281, 23. 11. 1995, p. 31.
(3) OJ L 193, 22. 7. 1997, p. 1.

(4) OJ C 102, 4. 4. 1996, p. 1.
(5) OJ C 102, 4. 4. 1996, p. 4.

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The aim of this programme shall be to contribute to
2.
public health activities which seek to reduce the inci-
dence of injuries, particularly injuries caused by home and
leisure accidents, by promoting:

(a) the epidemiological monitoring of injuries by means
of a Community system for the collection of data and
the exchange of information on injuries based on
strengthening and improving on the achievements of
the former EHLASS system;

(b) information exchanges on the use of those data to
contribute to the definition of priorities and better
prevention strategies.

3.
The Community system referred to in paragraph 2(a)
and the specific action referred to in paragraph 2(b) to be
implemented under this programme are set out in the
Annex.

Article 2

Implementation

1.
The Commission shall ensure, in close cooperation
the
the
with Member
Community system and the specific action set out in the
Annex, in accordance with Article 5.

implementation of

States,

Article 5

Committee

1.
The Commission shall be assisted by a committee
composed of the representatives of the Member States and
chaired by the representative of the Commission.

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

(a) the committee’s rules of procedure;

(b) an annual work programme indicating the priorities

for action;

(c) the

arrangements, procedures

and specifications
regarding content and finance necessary to ensure the
implementation of the Community system set out in
Part A of the Annex, including those relating to the
participation of the countries referred to in Article
6(2);

(d) the arrangements, criteria and procedures for selecting
and financing projects for the implementation of the
specific action set out
the Annex,
including those involving cooperation with inter-
in the sphere of
national organisations competent
public health and participation of
the countries
referred to in Article 6(2);

in Part B of

The Commission shall cooperate with institutions
2.
and organisations active in the field of injury prevention.

(e) follow-up and evaluation procedure;

Article 3

Consistency and complementarity

The Commission shall ensure that there is consistency
and complementarity between the Community system
and the specific action to be implemented under this
programme and the actions implemented under other
Community programmes, actions and initiatives, particu-
larly in the field of
industrial accidents, road safety,
product safety and civil protection.

Article 4

Financing

1.
The financial framework for the implementation of
this programme for the period referred to in Article 1 is
hereby set at EUR 14 million.

(f) the procedures for coordination with programmes and
initiatives which are of direct relevance to achieve-
ment of the aim of this programme;

(g) the arrangements for cooperating with the institutions

and organisations referred to in Article 2(2).

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

The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply
immediately. However,
in
accordance with the opinion of the committee, they shall
be communicated by the Commission to the Council
forthwith. In that event:

these measures are not

if

— the Commission shall defer application of the meas-
ures which it has decided for a period of two months
from the date of such communication,

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

— the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a
different decision within the time limit referred to in
the first indent.

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In addition,

the
3.
committee on any other matter concerning the imple-
mentation of this programme.

the Commission may consult

The representative of the Commission shall submit to the
the measures to be taken. The
committee a draft of
committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a
time limit which the chairman may lay down according
to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote.

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

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

The representative of the Commission shall keep

4.
the committee regularly informed of:

— financial assistance granted under this programme
(amount, duration, breakdown and beneficiaries),
— Commission proposals or Community initiatives and
the implementation of programmes in other fields
which are of direct relevance to achievement of the
objective of this programme, so as to ensure consist-
ency and complementarity as referred to in Article 3.

Article 6

International cooperation

1.
Subject to Article 228 of the Treaty, in the course of
implementing this programme, cooperation with third
countries and with international organisations competent
in the sphere of public health shall be encouraged and
implemented as regards the specific action covered by
Part B of the Annex in accordance with the procedure
laid down in Article 5.

2.
This programme shall be open to participation by
the associated countries of central and eastern Europe, in
accordance with the conditions laid down in the Associa-
tion Agreements or Additional Protocols relating thereto
concerning 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 of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA),
under procedures to be agreed with those two countries.

Article 7

Monitoring and evaluation

In the

implementation of

1.
the
Commission shall take the measures necessary to ensure
the monitoring and continuous
this
programme, taking account of the aim set out in Article
1.

this Decision,

evaluation of

two

into

these

reports

2.
The Commission shall submit an interim report to
the European Parliament and to the Council during the
third year of operation of this programme and a final
report upon completion of this programme. It shall in-
information on
corporate
Community financing within the framework of
this
programme and on consistency and complementarity
with the programmes, actions and initiatives referred to in
Article 3, as well as the results of the evaluation referred
to in paragraph 1 of this Article. Those reports shall also
be submitted to the Economic and Social Committee and
the Committee of the Regions. The interim report should
also take account of developments occurring within the
framework for Community action in the field of public
health.

3. On the basis of the interim report referred to in
paragraph 2, the Commission may, if necessary, make
appropriate proposals for modifications or adjustments to
this programme.

Done at Brussels, 8 February 1999.

For the European
Parliament

The President

For the Council

The President

J. M. GIL-ROBLES

O. LAFONTAINE

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ANNEX

THE COMMUNITY SYSTEM AND THE SPECIFIC ACTION TO BE IMPLEMENTED TO
ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVE REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 1(2)

A. COMMUNITY INJURY DATA-COLLECTION AND INFORMATION-EXCHANGE SYSTEM

1. The objective of the Community data collection and information exchange system on injuries,
hereinafter referred to as ‘the system', will be to collect information on injuries, particularly those
resulting from home and leisure accidents.

2. The system will be implemented by recourse principally to telematic means and in particular to the
telematic network Euphin (European Union Public Health Information Network), developed under the
projects of common interest within the programme for the telematic interchange of data between
administrations (IDA).

3. The system will be developed on the basis of the experience acquired with, and the assessment made

of, the earlier EHLASS system.

4. The data will be collected, in accordance with the collection systems submitted for that purpose by the
Member States, from hospitals and/or other appropriate establishments and services, and by means of
surveys. The collection and transmission of data to the information system will be carried out under
the responsibility of the Member States, which shall seek to ensure the reliability of sources.

5. Special attention must be given to:

— the methodology of the collection of data for the purposes of comparability and compatibility,
— the criteria for the representativity of data,
— guaranteeing the quality of data.

6. The data must be codified, using an approach based on the common criteria of the coding manual of

the earlier EHLASS system.

7. The arrangements for access to the system by the various organisations and associations will be

established within the framework of the implementation of this programme.

B. SPECIFIC ACTION ON EPIDEMIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF INJURIES AND EXCHANGES

OF INFORMATION

The objective of this specific action is to encourage, strengthen and support the creation of Community
networks concerning the epidemiology of injuries and exchanges of information devoted in particular to
the following functions:

— promoting concerted approaches to all technical and methodological aspects, in particular codes and

definitions and the collection of data,

— making comparable and compatible data available to the system and communicating them to it,
if necessary, studying
— examining the coverage provided by existing data-collection systems and,
measures intended to improve that coverage; contributing to the identification of survey requirements,

— promoting the creation of a database that includes the results of the surveys,
— carrying out the collection, processing and dissemination of information,
— facilitating the identification of dangerous products,
— developing new approaches to and innovative methods of dealing with problems,
— analysing risk factors and prevention strategies.