Exchange of letters between the World Health Organisation and the Commission of the European Communities concerning the consolidation and intensification of cooperation - Memorandum concerning the framework and arrangements for cooperation between the World Health Organisation and the Commission of the European Communities
Date: 2001-01-04
Institutions: European Commission, World Health Organization
Subjects: European Commission, World Health Organisation, cooperation policy

4.1.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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between the World Health Organisation and the Commission of the European Communities
concerning the consolidation and intensification of cooperation

EXCHANGE OF LETTERS

(2001/C 1/04)

A. LETTER FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION

Sir,

During the course of last year, a series of discussions were held between the World Health Organisation
and the Commission of the European Communities in which the need was stressed from both sides for the
further development and intensification of their cooperation. My visit to the Commission shortly after my
election as Director-General of the WHO, and again this year, allowed me to emphasise the importance I
attach to fostering the closest possible collaboration of my organisation with the Commission, and served
to identify a number of policy objectives on which to work together, as well as procedures for ensuring
that our cooperation is conducted in an effective and efficient manner.

Our cooperation hitherto has been based on an exchange of letters that took place in 1982 between the
European Communities, represented by Mr I. Richards, then Member of the Commission, and the WHO,
represented by Mr H. Mahler, its Director-General at that time. This exchange of letters confirmed an
earlier exchange between the Commission and the Regional Committee for Europe of the WHO, which
was concluded in 1972. In 1992, a joint statement of intent was concluded between Mr J. Prat, them
Director-General of DG I of the Commission and Mr M. AbdelmoumŁne, Deputy Director-General of the
WHO at that time, with a view to the reinforcement of cooperation between the Commission and the
WHO. Cooperation between the two sides has grown apace since then and produced very satisfactory
results indeed in a number of domains, in particular health research, development and humanitarian aid,
environment, chemical, produce and food safety, communicable disease surveillance, and health
monitoring.

Significant political, social, economic, demographic, environmental and scientific developments have,
letters and also since the joint statement of
however, taken place since the previous exchanges of
intent;
these developments have transformed the way we look and act on health and on diseases,
presented us with new and more complex problems and set a number of challenges which we should
respond to with speed and determination. More recently, the WHO underwent radical restructuring
designed to make it more effective and responsive to its member’s needs; on the other hand,
the
coming into force of the Amsterdam Treaty conferred upon the Community new and wider powers in
the field of health.

The Commission and the WHO have roles and duties, which extend worldwide. Whilst their nature, means
and procedures are different, they have nevertheless common interests in a large number of areas related to
health. Above all they are both committed to striving for a high level of human health protection and
health improvement. From their effective cooperation in this changed and changing world a lot of good
can be derived not only for the Member States of the European Union which are all members of the WHO
but also for the other countries which are represented at the WHO. Member States of the European
Communities and those of the WHO have repeatedly stressed the need for such cooperation and the desire
to avoid any unnecessary duplication in effort while pursuing common objectives.

framework of cooperation, both as

It is for these reasons that I propose that we strengthen and intensify, through a new exchange of letters,
our
regards areas and priorities as well as procedures and
arrangements. This framework is contained in the attached memorandum which sets out the objectives,
priorities, areas of cooperation, as well as procedures, activities and practical arrangements for its
implementation.

I would like to propose that this letter and memorandum, and the letter with your reply, be regarded as
approval by both sides of measures which, without prejudice to any future conclusion of a general
agreement with the European Community, will take the place of the arrangements entered into by the
Commission and the WHO by the previous exchange of letters and the joint statement of intent. These
measures will enter into force on the date of your reply.

Yours truly,

Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND

Director-General of the WHO

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B. LETTER FROM THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Madam,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter concerning the consolidation and intensification of
cooperation between the World Health Organisation and the Commission of the European Communities.

The Commission shares your views on the need to join forces to face up to the rapid changes that are
taking place throughout the world and which present new and formidable challenges to health and the
systems that have been established to protect and improve it. Your efforts to re-cast the WHO structures,
policies and priorities, strengthen the WHO’s leadership role in health, and forge influential partnerships to
meet these challenges are praisewothy and deserve our support.

The Treaty establishing the European Community requires the Community to make a contribution towards
ensuring a high level of health protection. With the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam on 1 May
1999, new powers were conferred upon the European Community to act in areas of direct and indirect
relevance to health. In particular, Article 152 of the EC Treaty stipulates that a high level of health
protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Community policies and activities,
and directs action towards improving public health, preventing human illness and diseases and obviating
sources of danger to human health.

Article 152 reiterates the obligation on the European Community, introduced with the Maastricht Treaty,
to foster cooperation with international organisations competent in the sphere of health. In anticipation of
the entry into force of the Maastricht Treaty, a statement of intent was signed, as you also have pointed
out, by our appointed delegates in 1992. In this statement, the conclusion of a framework arrangement
between the WHO and the Commission was foreseen, as was the establishment of a WHO liaison office in
Brussels.

I am pleased to acknowledge the progress that has been made not only these two points but also on
matters of practical collaboration,
joint work and complementary effort in many areas of policy of
relevance to health, a broad description of which had already been presented in a Commission communi-
cation in May 1993. Since the publication of that document, our cooperation was extended and deepened,
and I seize this opportunity to express my appreciation for the contributions made by the WHO to the
work of the Commission; I noted with satisfaction,
in this context, your intention to strengthen the
Brussels Liaison Office of the WHO, expressed during your visit to the Commission in January of last year.

The Commission welcomes your proposal to proceed with a new exchange of letters aiming at promoting
closer cooperation with your organisation and achieving progress in the shaping of all policies and
measures of concerns to the European Communities and the WHO,
reduce the burden of
avoidable mortality and morbidity, counter risks to health,
improve health and health systems, and
create the conditions for advances in knowledge and technology in the service of health. The Commission
agrees that, in pursuing such goals, both sides should aim at providing the best possible added value to
their Member States, while respecting the different nature, procedures and means of each, undertaking
complementary and coordinated activities and avoiding any unnecessary duplication of effort. The
Commission considers that it should now take practical steps to establish an appropriate framework of
relations with the WHO, which will take the place of those set out in the previous exchange of letters and
the aforementioned statement of intent.

that

I am therefore pleased to inform you, on behalf of the Commission of the European Communities, that I
approve of the measures described in the memorandum and that it, together with your letter of . . . and
this reply shall constitute the instrument governing the relations between the World Health Organisation
and the Commission of the European Communites.

Yours truly,

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

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MEMORANDUM

concerning the framework and arrangements for cooperation between the World Health Organi-
sation and the Commission of the European Communities

A. PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES

B. AREAS OF COOPERATION

the

1. The World Health Organisation and

European
Communities have common interests in health and health-
related fields. They are both committed to promoting and
improving health, reducing avoidable mortality and activity-
impairing disability, preventing disease, and countering
potential
to health. They are both aiming at
making contributions towards ensuring a high level of
health protection and at placing health at the core of the
international development agenda in the fight against
poverty, the protection of environment, the promotion of
social development, and the raising of living and working
conditions.

threats

2. Both the Commission and the World Health Organisation,
in their respective legal context, are devoted to serving the
needs of their Member States and partner countries, helping
the development and maintenance of effective health inter-
ventions, healthy environments, and efficient health systems,
and engaging the various actors and stakeholders in the
health field in forming collaborative and action-oriented
partnerships aiming at delivering relief, containing crises
and outbreaks of disease, and imparting knowledge and
skills. Both draw from the expertise and resources of their
respective Member States to add value to their efforts and
achieve coordination in the design and implementation of
health and health-related policies. Both are dedicated to
forging harmonious
relations and avoiding unnecessary
duplication of effort when pursuing common goals. This
partnership for health recognises the specific comparative
advantages of
the World Health Organisation and the
Commission.

3. The World Health Organisation has a unique role in
advocating health and advising on the full range of health
issues, and at providing technical expertise in the field of
health. The role of the Commission in health is laid down in
the Treaties of the European Communities and is governed
by specified conditions on competence and responsibilities
with regard to the scope and nature of its activities. Coop-
eration between the two bodies must respect the differences
in institutional and operational arrangements governing
their action. Each has
that
strengths and advantages
should be brought
to bear upon their cooperation in
order to make their actions in the field of health comple-
mentary and mutually reinforcing. Whilst each has its own
priorities and programme of work, they can nevertheless
action in
joint work and coordination of
promote
technical
practical
activities,
and
arrangements
exchanges of
information and sharing of experience.

and ad hoc

and make

routine

field

for

field of health, while

1. Generating, collecting, processing and disseminating auth-
oritative information and data for use by national adminis-
trations, professionals and other parties with an interest in
the
respecting data protection
requirements,
in order to provide a sound basis for the
monitoring of health and health determinants, the design
the undertaking and
of effecitve policies and measures,
evaluation of implementing activities, and the timely intro-
duction of corrective action.

2. Developing methodologies and tools for health monitoring
and disease surveillance, analysing and targeting for action
specific health and health-related problems, assessing and
prioritising health interventions, and aiding health system
development.

3. Strengthening

communicable

disease

surveillance

and

improving responses.

4. Exchanging information and sharing experience on the
evaluation of health effects of agents in the environment
and on the setting and scientific and technical review of
health and health-related criteria and guidelines aiming at
a high-level of health protection in order to strengthen and
maintain health risk reduction policies.

5. Promoting health related research and technological devel-
opment, taking stock of its results, and developing advice on
applications in the health and health-related fields.

6. Mobilising and coordinating where appropriate resources for
health interventions in collaboration with recognised actors
in this field and cooperating in emergencies such as those
resulting from natural catastrophes.

7. Seconding staff for the purpose of mutual information and

provision of expertise.

C. PRIORITIES

1.

Without prejudice to other issues that may acquire more
importance or require immediate attention and action,
and subject
joint periodic reviews,
priorities for cooperation shall include:

to the results of

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1.1.

the development of health indicators and the collection
and dissemination of data on health statuts and health
policies
evidence-based
approaches;

promoting

systems,

and

2.5.

conduct of analysis;

2.6.

financing of projects;

1.2.

linking communicable disease surveillance and health
monitoring networks;

2.7.

participating in committees and working groups in
conformity with rules applicable to such participation;

1.3.

1.4.

the development of methodologies and standards for
analysis and reporting, and the provision of advice on
for
and plans
in particular, malaria,
HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis, emerging diseases and anti-
microbial resistance threats;

responses

to,

the development of sound policies and efficient systems
geared towards sustainable health development including
the effective tackling of
the alleviation of poverty,
prioritised health scourges
the
combining of efforts to help developing and market-
transition countries;

threats

and

and

2.8.

joint undertaking of work with appropriate assignment
of tasks between the two parties;

2.9.

provision of expertise by the secondment of staff.

D. PROCEDURES

The World Health Organisation and the Commission of the
European Communities agree to establish and undertake the
following procedures for the conduct of
their cooperation
activities:

1.5.

criteria and guidelines in particular on sefety and health
protection against physical, chemical, and biological
agents;

1. As regards relations between, on the one hand,

the
Commission of the European Communities and on the
other,
the World Health Assembly and the Executive
Board of the World Health Organisation:

1.6.

health
priorities;

research

and

technological

development

1.7.

2.

adoption

tobacco consumption through the
the reduction of
negotiation,
a
and
framework convention on tobacco control and the
information and dissemination of good
exchange of
practices on smoking abatement.

implementation

of

these
The activities to be pursued in the context of
priorities
the meetings
described in D and may take the form set out below:

agreed upon at

shall be

2.1.

exchanging of information, documentation and sharing
of experience and enhancing cooperation on:

2.1.1. elaboration of criteria and guidelines; and

2.1.2. drawing up instruments and other documents of legis-

lative relevance;

2.2.

setting-up of databases and facilitating access and use;

2.3.

providing advice and technical support on health and
health-related matters;

2.4.

elaboration of reports;

1.1.

the Commission will be invited to attend meetings of the
World Health Assembly,
the Executive Board, and the
Regional Committees, and to participate in their delib-
erations in accordance with their
respective Rules of
Procedure and practices applicable to observers;

1.2. the Commission will be provided with the reports of the
the Executive Board, and the
the
the World Health Organisation
and the

World Health Assembly,
Regional Committees, and with the reports
Director-General of
submits
Executive Board;

to the World Health Assembly

that

1.3. the Commission may submit memoranda to the Director-
General, who shall determine the need and scope of their
circulation;

1.4. the Director-General of the World Health Organisation
may, after consultations with the Commission of
the
the
attention of
European Communities, draw the
competent governing body of the World Health Organi-
sation to the question of participation of the Commission
on the work of that body in specific cases, such as, for
example, the negotiation of international agreements, and
on the status of the European Communities under such
agreements;

1.5. each party will invite the other to participate in the work
of committees and working groups, with respect to items
on their agenda in which the World Health Organisation
and the Commission have
in
conformity with their rules applicable to such partici-
pation.

common interest,

a

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2. As regards relations between, on the one hand,

the
Director-General of the World Health Organisation and
on the other, the Commision:

2.1. the Director-General of at the World Health Organisation
and the Member of the Commission responsible for Public
Health will consult each other whenever necessary on
questions of mutual interest. This consultation should as
far as possible aim at achieving coordination and the
widest possible application of relevant instruments and
other documents adopted by either party;

2.2. the Director-General of the World Health Organisation
the Commission responsible for
and the Member of
Public Health, accompanied by high-level officials from
both sides, will participate, as a general rule once a
year,
in an exchange of views and review of relevant
activities and current and future plans of work, in order
to take stock of the state of and further enhance coop-
eration between the Commission and the World Health
Organisation;

2.3. the Director-Gemeral of the World Health Organisation
the Commission responsible for
and the Member of
Public Health will take suitable measures to ensure close
liaison and cooperation between officials of
the two
parties. For
shall be
this purpose, a senior official
appointed by each party to follow the progress of coop-
eration and act as a point of contact and coordination in
this respect.

3.

Complementary and practical arrangements

3.1. Meetings shall be held, as a general rule once a year, on
the one hand between the Director responsible for Public
Health in the Directorate-General
for Health and
the Commission accompanied
Consumer Protection of
by senior officials from services concerned with matters
covered by this memorandum and the Commission liaison
official and, on the other hand, with Regional Directors, in
particular,
the Regional Director for Europe, Heads of
the World Health
clusters, and the liaison official of
Organisation. These should review progress of work in

the priority areas of cooperation, exchange of information
on and examine future collaborative projects and identify
meetings and events calling for a cooperative effort and
coordination,
to the meeting
mentioned in D.2.2.

and prepare

reports

3.2. Regular and ad hoc meetings may be held between
officials of
the two parties with notification to, and
participation as
liaison officials,
in particular
covering practical matters of cooperation,
the implementation of projects and the participation in
committees, groups and working parties and the prep-
aration of documents.

far as possible, of

4.

Financial cooperation

4.1. Cooperation between the Commission and the World
Health Organisation may take the form of financing by
the two sides of projects undertaken by third parties or
financial assistance by the Commission to activities
undertaken by the World Health Organisation. Progress
on projects in the context of financial cooperation will
be reviewed at the meetings referred to in D.2.2 and D.3.

financing or

4.2. Financial assistance by the Commission to activities
undertaken by the World Health Organisation shall be
in accordance with the (cid:145)Agreement between the United
Nations and the European Community on the principles
applying to the
co-financing by the
Community of programmes and projects administered
by the United Nations(cid:146) which entered into force on 9
August 1999, and the Verification Clause Agreement
between the European Community and the United
Nations, which entered into force on 1 January 1995,
both as may be modified or clarified by agreement
between the Commission and the World Health Organi-
sation, in particular in the light of modifications or clarifi-
cations to the Agreements between the Community and
the United Nations.

Such activities receiving financial assistance from the
specific project
Commission shall be the subject of
agreements.