Council Resolution of 8 June 1999 on the future Community action in the field of public health
15. 7. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 200/1 I (Information) COUNCIL COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 8 June 1999 on the future Community action in the field of public health (1999/C 200/01) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 1. RECALLING the Commission’s communication of 15 April 1998 on the development of public health policy in the European Community which was intended to stimulate a broad discussion at Community and national levels; 8. EMPHASISES that a high level of human health protection is increasingly important in view of the health challenges the Member States and the European Union will face in the forthcoming millennium; 2. RECALLING its Conclusions of 26 November 1998 on the future framework for Community action in the field of public health (1) in which general principles were estab- lished; 3. TAKING NOTE of the Resolution on 10 March 1999 of the European Parliament on the communication from the Commission on the development of health policy in the European Community; 4. TAKING NOTE of the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee of 9 September 1998 and of the Committee of the Regions of 19 November 1998 on the communication from the Commission on the development of public health policy in the European Community; 5. TAKING NOTE of the results of the Conference on the new public health policy of the European Union held at Potsdam on 27 to 29 January 1999 as a positive the contribution to the debate on the development of future Community action in the field of public health; 6. STRESSES that the future Community action - directed improving public health, preventing human towards illness and diseases and obviating sources of danger to human health - must address in a coordinated an coherent way the concerns of the Community’s citizens about risks to their health and their expectations for a high level of health; 7. CONSIDERS it necessary that all health-related activities in the Community have a high degree of visibility and trans- parency, in order to promote a better knowledge and thus enable a larger involvement of citizens; (1) OJ C 390, 15. 12. 1998, p. 1. 9. CONSIDERS that key challenges include emerging and re-emerging threats to health; major health scourges; genetic, behavioural and environmental determinants of health; growing health inequalities; quality assurance; demographic changes and the impact of ageing; social, economic and political factors; the advances in research and the application and proliferation of new technologies, in particular biotechnology; 10. UNDERLINES that the Community should be properly this requires both these challenges; equipped to meet as three specifically within the developing, indicated in the Council’s Conclusions of 26 November 1998, added Community value, as well as appropriate scientific and administrative structures; action and measures appropriate strands of 11. STRESSES the importance that the new programme will the cooperation encourage and, between Member States on appropriate issues on the key challenges and in other fields where they wish to cooperate insofar as the public health objectives of the Treaty allow; if necessary, support 12. CONSIDERS that over the long term, the effectiveness of Community public health action will depend to a very large degree on the availability of adequate Community resources to meet priorities and the engagement of relevant authorities in the Member States on a continuing basis; 13. UNDERLINES that existing Community networks should be evaluated as to whether they are suitable to meet the key challenges; C 200/2 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 15. 7. 1999 14. REITERATES that the development of measures in all three strands as indicated in the Council’s Conclusions of 26 the needs November 1998, arising from the future enlargement of the European Union and the work of international organisations competent in the sphere of health; should take into account balance between the impact of the internal market and the unchanged responsibilities of Member States the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care; for 15. UNDERLINES that, in order to strengthen the scientific basis, research must have an essential role in underpinning the Community’s future public health action. Public health- related research at Community level, to be relevant for Community public health, has to respond to the specific research needs and issues identified by the public health sector whose access to research programmes should be facilitated; in order cooperation and working methods 17. CONSIDERS IT APPROPRIATE that, following the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam on 1 May 1999, internal organisation, at Community level should be reviewed with a view to achieving a better coordination of health-related issues so as to ensure a high level of human health protection in the definition and implementation of all Community policies and activities; 16. UNDERLINES the need to establish procedures through which the Community and the Member States can monitor the impact of Community policies and activities, especially those relating to the internal market, on public health and health care, in order to facilitate an adequate 18. INVITES the Commission, as a matter of urgency and in order to ensure continuity in the light of the expiration of existing programmes, to make a proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and the Council on a programme of action in the field of public health, in time for the next Council meeting devoted to health questions. COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 28 June 1999 on measures to address the year 2000 computer problem (1999/C 200/02) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Commission communication of 25 February 1998 entitled The year 2000 computer problemí; Having regard to the Presidency Conclusion of the Cardiff European Council of 15 and 16 June 1998 which recognised that problems associated with information technology and other electronic systems arising from the year 2000 could have serious cross-border effects, as well as the need for to share best practice in addressing the Member States problem and national the of programmes to raise awareness and prescribe action to minimise possible disruption; establishing importance Having regard to the Presidency Conclusions of the Vienna European Council of 11 and 12 December 1998 which urged Member States to implement timely plans for the protection of their own infrastructure and to continue to raise awareness across all sectors, focusing in particular on the public sector and small and medium-sized enterprises, and to examine closely the implications of supply-chain failures outside the European Union, to draw up contingency plans to address this, and to exchange information with their counterparts in other Member States; the problem of RECOGNISING that: - the problem is global in nature; Having regard to the Commission report to the Vienna European Council of 11 and 12 December 1998 on How the EU is tackling the year 2000 computer problemí; - year 2000 compliance can only be ensured by the suppliers and users of computer-based systems and technical systems with embedded electronics;