22.7.97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 193/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatrory) DECISION No 1400/97/EC 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 (1997 to 2001) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 129 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty (‘) in the light of the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee on 16 April 1997, (1) Whereas, pursuant to Article 3 (o) of the Treaty, Community action must include a contribution towards the attainment of a high level of health protection; whereas Article 129 of the Treaty expressly provides for Community competence in this field in so far as the Community contributes to it by encouraging cooperation between the Member States and, if necessary, by lending support to their action; (2) Whereas the Council, in its resolution of 27 May 1993 on future action in the field of public health (), considered that improved collection, analysis and distribution of health data, as well as an improve- (') OJ No C 338, 16. 12. 1995, p. 4, and O] No C 214, 24. 7. 1996, p. 6. (» OJ No C 174, 17. 6. 1996, p. 3. () OJ No C 129, 2. 5. 1996, p. 50. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 17 April 1996 (O] No C 141, 13. 5. 1996, p. 94), Council Common Position of 18 June 1996 (O] No C 220, 29. 7. 1996, p. 36) and Decision of the European Parliament of 23 October 1996 (O] No C 347, 18. 11. 1996, p. 73). Decision of the Council of 5 June 1997 and Decision of the European Parliament of 10 June 1997. () OJ No C 174, 25. 6. 1993, p. 1. ment in the quality and comparability of available data, are essential for the preparation of future programmes; (3) Whereas the European Parliament, in its resolution on public health policy after Maastricht (¥), stressed the importance of having sufficient and relevant information as a basis for the development of Community actions in the field of public health; whereas the European Parliament called on the Commission to collect and examine health data from Member States with a view to analysing the effects of public health policies on health status in the Community; (4) Whereas it would be desirable to study the feasibility of establishing a permanent structure for the monit- oring and evaluation of European Community health data and indicators; (5) Whereas the Commission, in its communication of 24 November 1993 on the framework for action in the field of public health, regarded increased coop- eration on standardization and collection of compar- able/compatible data on health, and the promotion of systems of health monitoring and surveillance as a prerequisite for the establishment of a framework for supporting Member States’ policies and programmes; whereas the area of health monitoring, including health data and indicators, has been identified as a priority area for proposals on multiannual Com- munity programmes in the field of public health; (6) Whereas in its resolution of 2 June 1994 on the framework for action in the field of Community health ("), the Council indicated that the collection of health data should be accorded priority and invited the Commission to present relevant proposals; () OJ No C 329, 6. 12. 1993, p. 375. () OJ No C 165, 17. 6. 1994, p. 1.