Common Position (EC) No 34/2001 of 31 July 2001 adopted by the Council, acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, with a view to adopting a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a programme of Community action in the field of public health (2001 to 2006)
Date: 2001-07-31
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU programme, action programme, public health

31.10.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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COMMON POSITION (EC) No 34/2001

adopted by the Council on 31 July 2001

with a view to adopting Decision 2001/.../EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
adopting a programme of Community action in the field of public health (2001 to 2006)

(2001/C 307/04)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

(2)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com-
munity, and in particular Article 152 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
Regions (3),

the Committee of

the

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in
Article 251 of the Treaty (4),

Whereas:

(1)

The Community is committed to promoting and
improving health, preventing disease, and countering
potential threats to health, with a view to reducing
avoidable morbidity and premature mortality and
activity-impairing disability. The Community must
address in a coordinated and coherent way the concerns
of its people about risks to health and their expectations
for a high level of health protection. Therefore, all
health-related activities of the Community must have a
high degree of visibility and transparency and allow
consultation and participation of all stakeholders in a
balanced way, in order to promote better knowledge
and communication flows and thus enable a greater
involvement of individuals in decisions that concern
their health. In this framework, attention should be
given to the right of the Community population to
receive simple, clear and scientifically sound information
about measures to protect health and prevent diseases,
with a view to improving quality of life.

In the context of the public health framework set out in
the Commission communication of 24 November 1993
on the framework for action in the field of public health,
eight action programmes were adopted, namely:

— Decision No 645/96/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 29 March 1996 adopting
a programme of Community action on health
information, education and training
promotion,
within the framework for action in the field of
public health (1996 to 2000) (5),

— Decision No 646/96/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 29 March 1996 adopting an
action plan to combat cancer within the framework
for action in the field of public health (1996 to
2000) (6),

— Decision No 647/96/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 29 March 1996 adopting a
programme of Community action on the preven-
tion of AIDS and certain other communicable
diseases within the framework for action in the
field of public health (1996 to 2000) (7),

— Decision No 102/97/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 16 December 1996 adopting
a programme of Community action on the preven-
tion of drug dependence within the framework for
action in the field of public health (1996 to
2000) (8),

— 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 to 2001) (9),

(5) OJ L 95, 16.4.1996, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Decision

(1) OJ C 337 E, 28.11.2000, p. 122 and OJ C 240 E, 28.8.2001,

No 521/2001/EC (OJ L 79, 17.3.2001, p. 1).

p. 168.

(2) OJ C 116, 20.4.2001, p. 75.
(3) OJ C 144, 16.5.2001, p. 43.
(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 4 April 2001 (not yet
published in the Official Journal), Council Common Position of
31 July 2001 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and
Decision of the European Parliament of ... (not yet published in
the Official Journal).

(6) OJ L 95, 16.4.1996, p. 9. Decision as last amended by Decision

No 521/2001/EC (OJ L 79, 17.3.2001, p. 1).

(7) OJ L 95, 16.4.1996, p. 16. Decision as last amended by Decision

No 521/2001/EC (OJ L 79, 17.3.2001, p. 1).

(8) OJ L 19, 22.1.1997, p. 25. Decision as amended by Decision

No 521/2001/EC (OJ L 79, 17.3.2001, p. 1).

(9) OJ L 193, 22.7.1997, p. 1. Decision as amended by Decision

No 521/2001/EC (OJ L 79, 17.3.2001, p. 1).

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— Decision No 372/1999/EC of the European Parlia-
ment 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) (1),

— Decision No 1295/1999/EC of the European Parlia-
ment and of the Council of 29 April 1999 adopting
a programme of Community action on rare diseases
within the framework for action in the field of
public health (1999 to 2003) (2), and

— Decision No 1296/1999/EC of the European Parlia-
ment and of the Council of 29 April 1999 adopting
a programme of Community action on pollution-
related diseases in the context of the framework for
action in the field of public health (1999 to
2001) (3).

(6)

Furthermore, Decision No 2119/98/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998
on setting up a network for the epidemiological surveil-
lance and control of communicable diseases in the
Community (4) was adopted. Pursuant to that Decision,
the Commission adopted on 22 December 1999
Decision No 2000/57/EC on the early warning and
response system for the prevention and control of
communicable diseases (5).

Council

included

(3) Other activities in the context of the public health
recommendation
framework
98/463/EC of 29 June 1998 on the suitability of blood
and plasma donors and the screening of donated blood
in the European Community (6) and recommendation
1999/519/EC of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of
exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields
0 Hz to 300 GHz (7).

field of public health (8), and in its resolution of 8 June
1999 (9), the Economic and Social Committee, in its
opinion of 9 September 1998 (10), the Committee of the
in its opinion of 19 November 1998 (11),
Regions,
and the European Parliament,
in its resolution A4-
0082/1999 of 12 March 1999 (12), welcomed the Com-
mission communication of 15 April 1998 and support-
ed the view that actions at Community level should be
set out in one overall programme to run for a period of at
least five years and comprising three general objectives,
namely improving information for the development of
public health, reacting rapidly to health threats and
tackling health determinants through health promotion
and disease prevention, underpinned by intersectoral
action and the use of all appropriate Treaty instruments.

In its Resolution of 29 June 2000 on the follow-up to the
Evora conference on health determinants, the Council
considered that the increasing differences in health status
and health outcomes between and within Member States
called for renewed and coordinated efforts at national
and Community level; welcomed the Commission’s
commitment to submit a proposal for a new public
health programme containing a specific strand of action
aimed at addressing health determinants by means of
health promotion and disease prevention underpinned
by intersectoral policy and agreed that there was a need
to develop the appropriate knowledge base for this and,
therefore, that an efficacious health monitoring system
should be established for this purpose; stressed the
importance of the new Community public health strat-
egy building upon the activities on specific determinants
taken in the existing programmes, especially with respect
to tobacco, nutrition and alcohol and that
it was
important not only to ensure continuity with existing
actions, but also to take forward work on these issues in
a fully coherent and systematic way.

(4)

The public health framework was reviewed in the
Commission communication of 15 April 1998 on the
development of public health policy in the European
Community, which indicated that a new health strategy
and programme were needed in view of the new Treaty
provisions, new challenges and experience so far.

(5)

The Council in its conclusions of 26 November 1998
on the future framework for Community action in the

(7)

The Council reaffirms its conclusions on combating
tobacco consumption of 18 November 1999, in which
it underlined the necessity of developing an overall
strategy, and invited the Commission,
to
strengthen cooperation between health and other policy
areas, with the aim of ensuring a high level of health
protection in these areas.

inter alia,

(1) OJ L 46, 20.2.1999, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 155, 22.6.1999, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 155, 22.6.1999, p. 7. Decision as amended by Decision

No 521/2001/EC (OJ L 79, 17.3.2001, p. 1).

(4) OJ L 268, 3.10.1998, p. 1.
(5) OJ L 21, 26.1.2000, p. 32.
(6) OJ L 203, 21.7.1998, p. 14.
(7) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999, p. 59.

(8) OJ C 390, 15.12.1998, p. 1.
(9) OJ C 200, 15.7.1999, p. 1.
(10) OJ C 407, 28.12.1998, p. 21.
(11) OJ C 51, 22.2.1999, p. 53.
(12) OJ C 175, 21.6.1999, p. 135.

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(8)

The Council on 18 November 1999 agreed unanimously
a resolution on the promotion of mental health.

and on prevention and control actions, mechanisms and
procedures.

(9)

(10)

(11)

According to the WHO World Health Report 2000 the
five major burdens of disease (in disability-adjusted life
years) are: (1) neuropsychiatric disorders, (2) cardiovas-
cular diseases, (3) malignant neoplasms, (4) uninten-
tional
injuries and (5) respiratory diseases. Infectious
diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, and anti-microbial resistance
are also becoming a threat to the health of all people in
Europe. An important task of the programme would be
to identify better the main burdens of disease in
the Community and,
in particular, the main health
determinants.

It is essential to collect, process and analyse data at
Community level in order to obtain objective, reliable,
compatible and comparable information which could be
exchanged and would enable the Commission and the
Member States to improve information to the public
and formulate appropriate strategies, policies and actions
to achieve a high level of human health protection. Data
from the private sector should also be taken into account
for the completeness of the programme.

It is essential that the Commission ensure the effective-
ness and the cohesion of measures and actions of the
programme at both micro- and macro-level as well as
the promotion of cooperation between the Member
States. Any structural arrangements which would be
established under the auspices of the Commission to
this end should collect, monitor and evaluate data, and
develop surveillance methods and a basis for rapid and
coordinated responses to health threats. Such structural
arrangements would consist of a strengthened central
resource and closely involve the relevant institutions
designated by the Member States.

(13) To enable such structural arrangements to operate
smoothly and effectively,
it is essential to establish
sustained cooperation with the health authorities of
the Member States, while respecting Member States’
responsibilities.

(14) The Commission should make, as appropriate, further
proposals on the kind of structural arrangements needed
for the implementation of the public health strategy,
especially regarding health monitoring and rapid reac-
tion to health threats.

(15) The overall aim of the public health programme is to
contribute towards the attainment of a high level of
physical and mental health and well-being and greater
equality in health matters throughout the Community,
by directing action towards improving public health,
preventing human diseases and disorders, and obviating
sources of danger to health with a view to combating
morbidity and premature mortality, while taking gender
and age into consideration. To fulfil this aim, actions
should be guided by the need to increase life expectancy
without disability or sickness, promote quality of life
and minimise the economic and social consequences of
ill health, thus reducing health inequalities, while taking
into account the regional approach to health issues.
Priority should be given to health-promoting actions
that address the major burdens of disease.

(12) There is in particular a need to ensure, relying on
competent and relevant expertise, appropriate sustaina-
ble coordination, in the area of health information, of
activities in relation to the following: definition of
information needs, development of indicators, collection
of data and information, comparability issues, exchange
of data and information with and between Member
States, continuing development of databases, analyses,
and wider dissemination of information. Such coordi-
nation should also be ensured in the area of rapid
reaction to health threats, of activities in relation to
epidemiological surveillance, development of surveil-
lance methods, exchange of information on guidelines

(16) The Treaty requires that a high level of human health
protection is ensured in the definition and implemen-
tation of all Community policies and activities. A strong
link is to be established between Community policy in
health-relevant areas and the Community strategy for
public health. Within the public health programme, a
priority task will be to develop criteria and methodologi-
es for evaluating policy proposals and their implemen-
tation.
In developing the measures under the pro-
gramme, and joint strategies and actions with other
relevant Community programmes and actions, it should
be ensured that these other Community policies and
actions incorporate the health aspect, and that they are
underpinned by intersectoral policy.

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(17) Achieving the overall aim, and the general objectives of
the programme requires effective cooperation of the
Member States, their full commitment in the implemen-
tation of Community actions, and the involvement of
institutions, associations, organisations and bodies in
the health field as well as the public at large. To ensure
sustainability and efficient use of existing Community
investment and capacity, established Community and
national networks should be used to pull
together
expertise and experience from Member States on effec-
tive methods for implementation of health promotional
and preventive interventions and on quality criteria.
A dialogue should be ensured with all key partners
committed to improving public health and their expert-
ise should be incorporated in an efficient and transparent
Community knowledge base. Cooperation should be
established with bodies and non-governmental organis-
ations active in the field of health through appropriate
mechanisms, such as health forums.

(18)

in Article 5 of

In accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and
the Treaty,
proportionality set out
Community action on matters which do not fall within
the exclusive competence of the Community, such as
public health, should be undertaken only if and in so far
as, by reason of its scale or effects, its objective can be
better achieved by the Community. The objectives of the
programme cannot be sufficiently achieved by the
Member States because of the complexity, transnational
character and lack of complete control at Member State
level over the factors affecting health, and therefore
the programme should support and complement the
Member States’ actions and measures. The programme
can provide a significant added value to health pro-
motion in the Community through the support of
structures and programmes which enhance the capabili-
ties of individuals,
institutions, associations, organis-
ations and bodies in the health field by facilitating the
exchange of experience and best practices and by
providing a basis for a common analysis of the factors
affecting public health. Also, the programme may have
added value in the event of threats to public health of a
cross-border nature, such as infectious diseases, to the
extent that they prompt joint strategies and actions. The
programme will enable the Community to contribute
towards fulfilling its Treaty obligations in the field of
public health while fully respecting the responsibilities
of the Member States for the organisation and delivery
of health services and health care. This Decision does
not go beyond what is necessary to achieve those
objectives.

(19) The measures under the programme underpin the health
strategy of the Community and will yield Community
added value by responding to needs arising out of
conditions and structures established through Com-
munity action in other fields, by addressing new develop-
ments, new threats and new problems for which the
Community would be in a better position to act
to protect its people, by bringing together activities
undertaken in relative isolation and with limited impact
at national level and by complementing them in order
to achieve positive results for the people of the Com-
munity, and by contributing to the strengthening of
solidarity and cohesion in the Community. The new
health strategy and public health action programme
should provide the opportunity to further develop the
citizens’ dimension of Community health policy.

(20)

(21)

In order to ensure that actions can address broad health
issues and threats effectively in cooperation with other
Community policies and activities, while avoiding dupli-
cation, the programme should provide for the possibility
of undertaking joint actions with related Community
programmes and actions. A proactive use of other
Community policies, such as Structural Funds and social
policy could influence health determinants in a positive
way.

In general, the measures and actions under the pro-
gramme should take account of the development of new
technologies and IT applications and, in particular, there
should be close coordination with the plans drawn up
and implemented in the field of public health under the
integrated action programme for an electronic Europe (e-
Europe), and other relevant programmes, while avoiding
overlapping, and taking particular care to ensure equal
accessibility to health information.

(22)

In the execution of the programme, full use should
be made of the relevant results generated from the
Community research programmes, which support
research in areas covered by the programme.

(23)

In the implementation of the Community programme
there must be compliance with all the relevant legal
provisions in the field of protection of personal data,
and the establishment of mechanisms to ensure the
confidentiality and security of those data.

(24) The programme should last six years in order to allow
sufficient time to implement measures to achieve its
objectives.

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(25)

that

is essential

It
the Commission should ensure
implementation of the programme in close cooperation
with the Member States. In order to obtain scientific
information and advice to implement the programme,
cooperation with scientists and experts of international
standing is desirable.

(26) Consistency and complementarity should be ensured
between actions to be implemented under the pro-
gramme and those envisaged or implemented under
other policies and activities, in particular in the light of
the requirement to ensure a high level of human health
protection in the definition and implementation of all
Community policies and activities.

of public health between the European Community and
its Member States, on the one hand, and the countries
of the European Free Trade Association participating in
the European Economic Area (EFTA/EEA countries), on
the other. Provision should also be made to open the
programme to participation of the associated central
and east European countries in accordance with the
in
conditions established in the Europe Agreements,
their additional protocols and in the decisions of the
respective Association Councils, of Cyprus, funded by
additional appropriations in accordance with the pro-
cedures to be agreed with that country, as well as of
Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropriations,
in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.

(27) Close cooperation and consultation will be expected
with Community bodies responsible for risk assessment,
monitoring and research in the fields of food and feed
safety, environmental protection and product safety.

(33) The applicant countries should be actively involved in
the development and implementation of the programme
and consideration should be given to a strategic
approach to health in those countries, and especially to
their specific problems.

(28) This Decision lays down, for the entire duration of the
framework constituting the
programme, a financial
prime reference, within the meaning of point 33 of the
Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between
the European Parliament, the Council and the Com-
mission on budgetary discipline and improvement of
the budgetary procedure (1), for the budgetary authority
during the annual budgetary procedure.

(29)

Funding from other Community policies earmarked for
joint actions under the programme is additional to the
financial framework laid down for the programme.

(30)

It is essential that there should be flexibility to allow
redeployment of resources and adaptation of activities
while respecting the need for transparency as well as the
criteria for selecting and ordering priorities according to
magnitude of risk or potential of effect, the outcome of
evaluation, public concerns, availability of interventions
or potential for their development, subsidiarity, added
value and impact on other sectors.

(31) The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council
Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down
the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers
conferred on the Commission (2).

(32) The Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA
Agreement) provides for greater cooperation in the field

(1) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 3.
(2) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

(34) On the accession of new Member States, the Commission
should report on the consequences of these accessions
for the programme.

(35) Cooperation with non-member countries and the com-
international organisations in the sphere of
petent
health, such as the WHO, the Council of Europe and the
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Develop-
ment (OECD), should be fostered, not only in the field
of collecting and analysing data (including indicators)
but also in the field of intersectoral health promotion, in
order to ensure cost effectiveness, avoid overlapping of
activities and programmes and enforce synergy and
interaction, taking particular account of specific arrange-
ments for cooperation such as that between the World
Health Organisation (WHO) and the Commission.

(36)

the
In order to increase the value and impact of
programme there should be regular monitoring and
evaluation, including independent external evaluations,
of the measures taken. It should be possible to adjust or
modify the programme in the light of these evaluations
and of developments that may take place in the general
context of Community action in health and health-
related fields. The European Parliament should be infor-
med of the annual work plans which will be drawn up
by the Commission.

(37) The programme of Community action in the field of
public health builds on the activities and the pro-
grammes under the previous framework, in order to
ensure a smooth transition therefrom, while adapting
and expanding on their actions where justified by the
results of the evaluation. The decisions concerning those
programmes are covered by the new programme and
should therefore be repealed with effect from the date of
entry into force of this Decision,

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HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Establishment of the programme

1.
This Decision establishes a programme of Community
action in the field of public health, hereinafter referred to as
‘the programme’.

The programme shall be implemented in the period

2.
starting on 1 January (n) and ending on 31 December (n+5).

Article 2

Overall aim and general objectives

The actions

2.
referred to in paragraph 1 shall be
implemented in close cooperation with Member States through
support to the following activities, which may, where appropri-
ate, be combined:

(a)

activities related to the monitoring and rapid reaction
systems

(i)

network activities operated through structures desig-
nated by Member States and other activities of
for the purposes of public
Community interest
infor-
health monitoring and providing national
mation, as well as data at Community level,
in
furtherance of the objectives of the programme;

(ii)

activities to counter health threats and react to
unforeseen events, enable investigations and coordi-
nate response;

1.
The programme, which shall complement national poli-
cies, shall aim to protect human health and improve public
health.

(iii) preparation, establishment and operation of appro-
priate structural arrangements coordinating and
integrating networks for health monitoring and for
rapid reaction to health threats;

2.

The general objectives of the programme shall be:

(b)

activities on health determinants

(a)

(b)

(c)

to improve information and knowledge for the develop-
ment of public health;

to enhance the capability of responding rapidly and in a
coordinated fashion to threats to health;

development and implementation of health promotion
and disease prevention activities involving, as appropriate,
non-governmental organisations, innovative or pilot pro-
institutions and
jects and networks between national
activities;

to promote health and prevent disease through action on
health determinants and across all policies and activities.

(c)

activities related to legislation

3.

The programme shall thereby contribute to:

(i)

preparatory work for Community legislative instru-
ments in the field of public health;

(a)

ensuring a high level of human health protection in the
definition and implementation of all Community policies
and activities, through the promotion of an integrated
and intersectoral health strategy;

(b)

tackling inequalities in health;

(c)

encouraging cooperation between Member States in the
areas covered by Article 152 of the Treaty.

Article 3

Community actions

The general objectives of the programme as set out in
1.
Article 2 shall be pursued by means of the actions, the
operational content of which is described in the Annex.

(ii) health impact assessment of Community legislation;

(iii) coordination of the position of the Community and
its Member States in forums in which health-related
matters are discussed;

(d)

activities related to consultation, knowledge and infor-
mation

(i)

development and dissemination to competent auth-
orities in Member States, to health and other pro-
fessionals and, where appropriate, to other stake-
holders and the general public of health information,
including statistics, reports, reviews,
knowledge,
analysis, and advice on issues of common interest to
the Community and to Member States;

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(ii)

information and consultation on health and health-
related matters at the Community level, involving
all stakeholders such as patients’ organisations,
health professionals, health-care providers,
trade
unions, social partners and NGOs in the field of
public health;

(iii)

sharing of experience and exchange of information
on health-related matters between the Community
and authorities and competent organisations of
Member States;

(iv)

relevant training activities;

(v)

developing and maintaining networks
the
exchange of information on best practice in public
health and the effectiveness of health policies;

for

(vi) obtaining scientific information and advice from

high-level scientists and experts.

Article 4

Joint strategies and actions

the objectives of

To ensure a high level of human health protection in the
definition and implementation of all Community policies
and activities,
the programme may be
implemented as joint strategies and joint actions with relevant
Community programmes and actions, notably in the areas of
consumer protection, social protection, health and safety at
work, employment, research and technological development,
internal market, information society and information tech-
nology, statistics, agriculture, education, transport, industry
and environment, and with actions undertaken by the Joint
Research Centre and relevant Community agencies.

by the programme and that the widest possible participation
is obtained in actions requiring implementation through local
and regional authorities and non-governmental organisations.

4.
The Commission shall, in close cooperation with the
Member States, pursue the comparability of data and infor-
mation and, where possible, the compatibility and interop-
erability of the systems and networks for exchange of data and
information on health.

The Commission, in close cooperation with the Member
5.
States, shall ensure the transition between those actions
developed within the public health programmes adopted by
the Decisions referred to in Article 13 which contribute to
the priorities set out in this programme, and those to be
implemented under this programme.

Article 6

Consistency and complementarity

The Commission shall ensure that there is consistency and
complementarity between the actions to be implemented
under the programme and those implemented under other
Community policies and activities,
including the policies
mentioned in Article 4. In particular, the Commission shall
identify those proposals of particular relevance to the objec-
tives and actions of the programme, and inform the Committee
referred to in Article 9 of how health considerations are taken
into account in these proposals and of their expected health
impact.

Article 7

Funding

Article 5

Implementation of the programme

1.
The financial framework for the implementation of the
programme for the period specified in Article 1 is hereby set
at EUR 280 million.

1.
The Commission shall ensure the implementation, in
close cooperation with the Member States, of the actions set
out in the programme,
in accordance with the provisions
of Article 9 and ensuring its harmonious and balanced
development.

2.
In order to assist implementation, the Commission shall
ensure, through appropriate structural arrangements closely
associating the Member States, the coordination and inte-
gration of networks for health monitoring and rapid reaction
to health threats.

3.
The Commission and Member States shall take appropri-
ate action, within their respective areas of competence, to
ensure the efficient running of the programme and to develop
mechanisms at Community and Member State level to achieve
the objectives of the programme. They shall ensure that
appropriate information is provided about actions supported

the

Expenditure on technical and administrative assistance related
to
under
arrangements
Article 3(2)(a)(iii), and activities arising therefrom, shall be met
from the overall budget of the programme.

structural

referred

to

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

Article 8

Implementation measures

1.
The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Decision relating to the matters referred to below shall be
adopted in accordance with the management procedure
referred to in Article 9(2):

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(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

the annual plan of work for the implementation of the
programme, setting out priorities and actions to be
undertaken, including allocation of resources;

the arrangements, criteria and procedures for selecting
and financing the actions of the programme;

the arrangements for implementing the joint strategies
and actions referred to in Article 4;

the arrangements for evaluating the programme referred
to in Article 12;

the arrangements for the preparation of any structural
arrangements for the coordination of health monitoring
and rapid reaction to health threats;

the arrangements for transmitting, exchanging and disse-
minating information and for rapid reaction on health
threats under the programme, without prejudice to the
implementation measures carried out under Decision
No 2119/98/EC.

2.
The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Decision relating to all other matters shall be adopted in
accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in
Article 9(3).

(b)

the associated countries of central and east Europe, in
accordance with the conditions laid down in the Europe
in their Additional Protocols and in the
Agreements,
Decisions of the respective Association Councils;

(c) Cyprus, funded by additional appropriations in accord-
ance with the procedures to be agreed with that country;

(d) Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropriations in

accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.

Article 11

International cooperation

In the course of implementing the programme, cooperation
with non-member countries and with international organis-
ations competent in the sphere of public health, in particular
the World Health Organisation as well as the Council of
Europe and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development, shall be encouraged in accordance with the
procedure laid down in Article 9(3). In particular, the health
information system and the capacity to respond to health
threats should be, where appropriate and possible, coordinated
with the activities of the World Health Organisation.

Article 9

Committee

Article 12

Monitoring, evaluation and dissemination of results

1.

The Commission shall be assisted by a committee.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4
and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to
the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

1.
The Commission, in close cooperation with the Member
States, shall regularly monitor, where appropriate with the
help of experts, the implementation of the actions of the
programme in the light of the objectives.
It shall report
annually to the Committee.

The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC
shall be set at two months.

2.
At the request of the Commission, Member States shall
submit information on the implementation and the impact of
this programme.

3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3
and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to
the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

4.

The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

Article 10

Participation of the EFTA/EEA countries, the associated
central and east European countries, Cyprus, Malta and
Turkey

The programme shall be open to the participation of:

By ... (*) the Commission shall have an external assess-
3.
the
ment conducted by independent qualified experts of
implementation and achievements during the four first years
of the programme. It shall also assess the impact achieved on
health and the efficiency of the use of resources, as well as
the consistency and complementarity with other relevant
programmes, actions and initiatives implemented under other
Community policies and activities. The Commission shall
communicate the conclusions thereof, accompanied by its
comments,
the Council, the
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of
the Regions. The Commission shall also submit to those
institutions and bodies a final report on the implementation
of the programme by ... (**).

to the European Parliament,

(a)

the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the con-
ditions established in the EEA Agreement;

(*) The end of the fifth year of the programme.
(**) The end of the year which follows the end the programme.

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The Commission shall make the results of actions

4.
undertaken and the evaluation reports publicly available.

Article 14

Entry into force

Article 13

Repeal

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication
in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

The following Decisions are hereby repealed:

Done at ...

647/96/EC, Decision No

Decision No 645/96/EC, Decision No 646/96/EC, Decision
No
102/97/EC, Decision
No 1400/97/EC, Decision No 372/1999/EC, Decision
No 1295/1999/EC, Decision No 1296/1999/EC.

For the European Parliament

The President

For the Council

The President

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ANNEX

ACTIONS AND SUPPORT MEASURES

1.

To improve health information and knowledge for the development of public health by:

1.1. developing and operating a sustainable health monitoring system to establish comparable quantitative
and qualitative indicators at Community level on the basis of existing work and of accomplished results,
and to collect, analyse and disseminate comparable and compatible age- and gender-specific information
on human health at Community level concerning health status, health policies and health determinants,
including demography and socioeconomic situations, personal and biological factors, health behaviours
such as substance abuse, nutrition, physical activity, sexual behaviour, and living, working and
environmental conditions, paying special attention to inequalities in health;

1.2. developing an information system for the early detection of health threats, including both communicable

and non-communicable diseases;

1.3.

improving the system for the transfer and sharing of information and health data including public access;

1.4. developing and using mechanisms for analysis, advice, reporting, information and consultation with

Member States and stakeholders on health issues relevant at Community level;

1.5.

improving analysis and knowledge of the impact of health policy developments and of other Community
policies and activities, such as the internal market as it affects health systems, in contributing to a high
level of human health protection, including developing criteria and methodologies for assessing policies
for their impact on health and developing other links between public health and other policies;

1.6.

reviewing, analysing, and supporting the exchange of experiences on, health technologies, including new
information technologies;

1.7.

supporting the exchange of information and experiences on good practice.

The existing data and the information provided by the system is to be easily accessible to the Community,
relevant users in Member States and, as appropriate, international organisations.

The statistical element of the system will be developed, in collaboration with Member States, using as necessary
the Community statistical programme to promote synergy and avoid duplication.

2.

To enhance the capability of responding rapidly and in a coordinated fashion to threats to health by:

2.1. enhancing the capacity to tackle communicable diseases by supporting the further implementation of
Decision No 2119/98/EC on the Community network on the epidemiological surveillance and control of
communicable diseases;

2.2.

supporting the networks’ operation in particular in relation to common investigations,
continuous assessment and quality assurance;

training,

2.3. developing strategies and mechanisms for preventing, exchanging information on and responding to

non-communicable disease threats, including gender specific health threats and rare diseases;

2.4. enhancing the safety and quality of organs and substances of human origin, including blood, blood
components and blood precursors by developing high standards of quality and safety for the collection,
processing, storage and distribution and use of these substances;

2.5.

implementing vigilance networks for human products, such as blood, blood components and blood
precursors;

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2.6. promoting strategies and measures concerning the protection of human health from possible adverse

effects from environmental agents such as ionising and non-ionising radiation and noise.

3.

To promote health and prevent disease through action on health determinants across all Community policies
and activities by:

3.1. preparing and implementing strategies and measures on lifestyle related health determinants, such as
nutrition, tobacco, alcohol, drugs and other substances and on mental health, including measures to take
in all Community policies and age-and gender-specific strategies;

3.2. analysing the situation and developing, if necessary, strategies on socioeconomic health determinants, for

instance in order to identify and combat health inequalities;

3.3. analysing the situation and developing strategies on health determinants related to the environment;

3.4. analysing the situation and exchange information on genetic determinants and the use of genetic

screening;

3.5. developing methods to evaluate quality and efficiency of health promotion strategies and measures.

4.

Support measures

4.1. Community assistance may be provided to support the activities referred to in Article 3, paragraph 2(a).

4.2.

In carrying out the programme, the Commission may require additional resources, including recourse to
experts, for instance for the monitoring system, the evaluation of the programme or the preparation of
new legislation. It may also require experts to work for the Community structural arrangements for the
coordination and integration of networks for health monitoring and for rapid reaction to health threats.
The report referred to in Article 12(1) shall be accompanied, if need be, by any proposal regarding
adjustment of the requirements.

4.3. The Commission may also undertake information, publication and dissemination of actions. It may also

undertake evaluation studies and organise seminars, colloquia or other meetings of experts.

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STATEMENT OF THE COUNCIL’S REASONS

I.

INTRODUCTION

1. On 15 June 2000 the Commission forwarded to the Council a proposal for a Decision of the
European Parliament and of the Council adopting a programme of Community action in the
field of public health (2001 to 2006) (1).

2.

3.

The European Parliament delivered its opinion on 4 April 2001 (2). The Economic and Social
Committee delivered its Opinion on the proposal on 29 November 2000 (3), and the Committee
of the Regions did likewise on 13 December 20004 (4).

Following delivery of these opinions, on 5 June 2001 the Commission forwarded an amended
proposal to the Council (5).

4. On 31 July 2001, the Council agreed its Common Position in accordance with Article 251(2)

of the Treaty.

II. OBJECTIVES

The Decision, which is based on Article 152 of the Treaty, establishes a six-year programme of
Community action in the field of public health. The focus of the programme will be on improving
health information and knowledge, enhancing the capability to respond rapidly to health threats,
and addressing health determinants. The programme will replace eight currently existing Community
action programmes in the field of public health and will complement national policies.

III. ANALYSIS OF THE COMMON POSITION (6)

A.

AMENDED COMMISSION PROPOSAL

The Council’s Common Position is broadly in line with the Commission’s amended proposal.
The Council shares in principle the Commission’s response to some key concerns of Parliament,
in particular as regards the stress on the development of an integrated approach and the need
to maximise the Community added value, including coordination and integration of networks
for health monitoring and rapid reaction to health threats. In addition, the Council supports
the idea of a mixed advisory and management committee, although, like Parliament, it allocates
more measures to the management procedure than the Commission.

The Council adopted, either wholly, partly, or retaining only the substance, 66 amendments
proposed by the European Parliament which were taken up in the Commission proposal.

NB: The changes in structure [particularly as regards Articles 2 and 3 and the Annex (see
section C)) make it difficult in several cases to establish a precise correspondence between
Parliament’s amendments,
the Commission’s amended proposal and the Council’s
Common Position.

(1) OJ C 337 E, 28.11.2000, p. 122.
(2) 7573/01 CODEC 304 SAN 36.
(3) OJ C 116, 20.4.2001, p. 75.
(4) OJ C 144, 16.5.2001, p. 43.
(5) OJ C 240 E, 28.8.2001, p. 168.
(6) The numbering of the recitals, Articles and Annex follows that adopted in the Common Position.

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B.

AMENDMENTS ACCEPTED BY THE COMMISSION BUT NOT TAKEN UP IN THE COMMON POSITION

— amendment 3

the Council feels that the principle stated in this amendment, although clearly to be
endorsed, does not have a proper place in this context,

— amendment 14

the Council believes that the references to training in the operative Articles (notably
3(2)(iv) and Annex 2(2)) should suffice,

— amendments 22, 55, 61, 79, 80, 82 and 107

the Council notes that quality standards and guidelines and patients’ rights are areas of
Member State competence. However, the right of the population to receive adequate
information is stated in recital 1, in a form very similar to amendment 79,

— amendment 29

while acknowledging the experience to be acquired from different charters in the field of
public health, the Council does not believe that such charters, which are of a very specific
nature, require particular mention in the text of the Decision,

— amendment 39

the Council believes that the practical nature of the health action programme is already
made sufficiently clear throughout the text of the Decision,

— amendment 75

while acknowledging the roles played by the international organisations, the Council
believes that specific mention in the text of the Decision would better be reserved to those
organisations which have more direct relevance for public health, such as the World
Health Organisation, the Council of Europe and the OECD,

— amendment 81

the Council believes that the action proposed is too detailed. It draws attention to recital
21 which sets out the general principles under which the e-Europe programme should be
implemented,

— amendments 51, 56, 87 and 101

the Council fully acknowledges the importance of certain categories of disease and
treatment, but believes that specific references thereto detract from the comprehensive
and horizontal nature of the health action programme,

— amendment 103

the Council believes that all the arrangements for financing the actions of the programme
should be decided in accordance with the management procedure.

C.

PRINCIPAL CHANGES INTRODUCED BY THE COUNCIL

The Council introduced the following further changes.

Restructuring and shortening

The Council carried out a relatively extensive restructuring of the text of the Decision. To
enhance the focus of the operative Articles 2 and 3 on the objectives and actions of the action
programme, the Council has transferred some of the more detailed and prescriptive elements
to the Annex. The Council has also simplified the structure and content of the Annex so that
the actions which are of most importance can be more clearly identified.

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Financial framework

The Commission proposes a financial framework for the implementation of the programme of
EUR 300 million. The Parliament proposed EUR 380 million (amendment 109). The Council’s
Common Position contains a financial framework of EUR 280 million. The Council believes
that this amount would best reflect the current level of funding for the already existing health
programmes, and the economies of scale which a single health action programme is likely to
generate.