16. 4. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 95/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) 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 promotion, information, education and training within the framework for action in the field of public health (1996 to 2000) 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 (3), 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 (*) in the light of the joint text approved on 31 January 1996 by the Conciliation Committee, (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 insofar as the Community contributes to it by encouraging cooperation between Member States and, if necessary, by lending support to their action; (') O] No C 252, 9. 9. 1994, p. 3, and O] No C 135, 2. 6. 1995, p. 2. () O] No C 102, 24. 4. 1995, p. 15. () OJ No C 210, 14. 8. 1995, p. 81. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 15 March 1995, (O] No C 89, 10. 4. 1995, p. 72), Council Common Position of 2 June 1995 (O] No C 216, 21. 8. 1995, p. 21) and Decision of the European Parliament of 25 October 1995 (O] No C 308, 20. 11. 1995). Decision of the European Parliament of 15 February 1996 (O] No C 65, 4. 3. 1996) and Council Decision of 16 February 1996. (2) Whereas the actions to be carried out must be undertaken within the framework for action in the tield of public health set out by the Commission and take into account, as the Council requested in its Resolution of 27 May 1993 (), other actions undertaken by the Community in the field of public health or having an impact on public health; (3) Whereas the Council, in its Resolution of 2 June 1994(°) in response to the Commission communication of 24 November 1993 on the framework for action in the field of public health, included health promotion, education and training among the priority areas for action for which the Commission was invited to bring forward proposals for action; (4) Whereas, in their Resolution of 23 November 1988 concerning health education in schools(”), the Council and the Ministers for Education meeting within the Council emphasized that certain eating habits, the uncontrolled use of some chemical substances and medicines, drug abuse, smoking and environmental pollution have a harmful effect on health, also bearing in mind the problems of safety and accident prevention; (5) Whereas, in their Resolution of 3 December 1990 concerning an action programme on nutrition and health (8), the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council underlined that the promotion of a healthy lifestyle as regards nutrition is vitally important to enable people to make the necessary choices for ensuring appropriate nutrition in keeping with individual needs; ) OJ No C 174, 25. 6. 1993, p. 1. ) O] No C 165, 17. 6. 1994, p. 1. ) OJ No C 3, 5. 1. 1989, p. 1. ) OJ No C 329, 31. 12. 1990, p. 1.