Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision adopting a programme of Community action 1999- 2003 on pollution-related diseases in the context of the framework for action in the field of public health
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Brussels, 15. 04. 1998 COM(1998) 231 final 97/0153 (COD) Amended proposal for a EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION adopting a programme of Community action 1999-2003 on pollution-related diseases in the context of the framework for action in the field of public health (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2) of the EC-Treaty) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM The initial proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision adopting a programme of Community action on pollution-related diseases was adopted by the Commission on 4 June 19971. The Economic and Social Committee2 and the Committee of the Regions3 delivered favourable opinions on this initial Commission proposal. In the light of the European Parliament's opinion adopted on 11 March 1998, an amended proposal for a decision is now submitted by the Commission in accordance with Article 189a (2) of the Treaty. incorporates amendments that clarify and broaden the actions covered by the programme. The text The European Parliament has adopted 12 amendments of which 4 are acceptable by the Commission ( n° 7 in toto, n° 3, 9, 10 partially). The amendments which are not acceptable by the Commission can be grouped as follows: (a) (b) (c) amendments that refer to the Amsterdam Treaty, which is not yet ratified (n° 1-2); amendments that broaden the scope of the proposed actions to an unacceptable degree (n° 4, 11, 12 and 13); the amendment on the budget (n° 5). The financial perspectives, as they currently stand, do not allow for the sum proposed by the European Parliament Due to the uncertainty over the future financial perspectives, the Commission cannot accept a financial framework that exceeds for each year of the programme the annual provision set out in its initial proposal for the first year of action, 1999; (d) and an amendment which is not consistent with the corresponding wording used in previous decisions on public health programmes (n° 6). 1 2 3 OJ N°C2I4 16. 7 97, p. 7-10 Opinion delivered on 29 October 1997, OJ N° C 19 21. 1. 98, p. 6-8 Opinion delivered on 20 November 1997, OJ N° C 64 27. 2. 98, p. 91-95 2 Proposal for a EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION adopting a programme of Community action 1999-2003 on pollution-related diseases in the context of the framework for action in the field of public health. INITIAL PROPOSAL AMENDED PROPOSAL 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 Economic and Social Committee, the opinion of to Having regard Committee of the Regions, to the Opinion of the the Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189b of the Treaty, 1. Whereas pollution-related diseases are the growing European Community and raising public concern; importance throughout in 2. Whereas, in accordance with point (o) of Article 3 of the Treaty, Community action shall the attainment of a high level of health protection; include a contribution to action; cooperation between 3. Whereas Article 129 expressly provides for Community competence in this field, by encouraging the Member States and, if necessary, lending promoting their support to their coordination and of policies fostering cooperation programmes, and international with organisations competent in the sphere of public health; whereas Community action should be directed towards the prevention of diseases, and the promotion of health education and information; third countries and 4. Whereas Article 130r of the Treaty states that Community policy on the environment shall contribute to protecting public health; the 5. Whereas the prevention of pollution- related diseases has to include not only measures aimed at sources and concentrations of pollutants and on limiting exposure, but also public health actions directed at the public to enable individuals to reduce exposure and mitigate adverse effects on health and whereas data on health effects and on exposure should be on collected concentrations of air pollutants; in parallel with data its Resolution of 11 6. Whereas in the Council and the November 199P Ministers for Health of the Member States, meeting within the Council, invited the Commission, in close cooperation with the competent authorities of the Member States, to take stock of the knowledge and experience available in the Member States, international the Community organizations regarding the relationship between health and the environment; and 7. Whereas pollution-related diseases have been for identified as a priority area Community action within the framework for action in the field of public health2; 8. Whereas in its Resolution (A4-0311/95) the Medium-Term Social Action on Programme 1995-19973 the Parliament asked the Commission to present, under the proper procedures, the action programme on pollution-related diseases foreseen in the framework communication Commission's on public health; in accordance with 9. Whereas, the principle of subsidiarity, action on matters not under the exclusive competence of the Community, such as action on pollution- related diseases, must be undertaken by the Community only if and in so far as, by reason of its scale or effects, it may be better achieved at Community level; 10. Whereas the proposed measures in the present programme will yield a Community- added value by bringing together activities 1 OJN°C304 23. 11. 91. p. 5 2 COM (9. 1) 559 Final 3 OJ N° C 032 05. 02. 96. p. 15-24 already undertaken in relative isolation at national level and by complementing one another with significant results for the Community as a whole, by contributing to the strengthening of solidarity and cohesion in the Community and by leading, where the need is recognised, to the establishment of best practice norms and standards. cooperation with 11. Whereas the international organisations competent in the field of public health and with third countries should be fostered; better knowledge 12. Whereas, by providing support for acquiring and understanding of, and wider dissemination of information about, pollution-related diseases, their association with pollutants improved and their prevention, ensuring these comparability of subjects actions complementary to existing Community programmes and actions, while avoiding the programme unnecessary duplication, will contribute to the achievement of the Community objectives set out in Article 129; information on developing and by Commission 13. Whereas a "modus vivendi" between the European Parliament, the Council and the the implementing measures for acts adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty was concluded on 20 December 1994; concerning framework constituting 14. Whereas this decision lays down, a financial the principal point of reference, within the meaning of point 1 of the Declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 March 1995, for the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary procedure; financial 15. Whereas the Community's perspective is valid up until 1999 and will have to be revised for the period beyond that date; 16. Whereas the financial framework for the last four years of the programme (2000- 2003) the financial establishment perspectives; shall be determined after the future of 17. Whereas, in order to increase the value and impact of the programme, a continuous the actions undertaken assessment of should be carried out, with particular regard to their effectiveness and the achievement of the objectives set and, with a view where appropriate, the necessary adjustments; to making 18. Whereas this programme should be of allow five-year duration sufficient be for implemented to achieve the objectives set; in order actions time to to HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS Article I Establishment of the programme are diseases which 1. A programme of Community action against caused, provoked or aggravated by environmental to as "this pollution, hereinafter referred programme", the for period 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2003 in the context of the framework for action in the field of public health. is hereby adopted is this programme to 2. The aim of contribute towards ensuring a high level of health protection against pollution-related diseases by improving knowledge and understanding about health risks associated with them and how to address them, in particular with regard to asthma and other respiratory diseases, and to allergies. 3. The actions to be implemented under this programme and their specific objectives are set out in the Annex under the headings: 1. Actions information diseases on on improvement of pollution-related 1. Actions on information on diseases and their definition improvement of pollution-related Risk perception 2. management with pollution-related diseases and respect risk to 3. allergies Respiratory diseases and Article 2 liiiplmimlntioii The Commission I. ensure implementation, in close cooperation with the Member States, of the actions set out in the Annex. shall 2. The Commission shall cooperate with institutions and organisations active in the field of pollution-related diseases. Article 3 Budget for financial framework the 1. The implementation of the programme for the year 1999 shall be ECU 1. 3 Million, in keeping with current financial perspectives. The financial framework for the final four years of the programme (2000-2003) shall the be determined financial establishment of perspectives. in detail future after the 2. The annual appropriations shall be established by the Budgetary Authority in accordance with the financial perspectives. Article 4 Consistency and complementarity The Commission shall ensure that there is consistency and complementarity between the Community actions to be implemented those programme under this implemented relevant under Community programmes and actions. other and Article 5 Committee 1. In implementing this action plan, the Commission shall be assisted by an advisory committee, hereinafter referred to as "the Committee", consisting of representatives of the Member States and chaired by the Commission representative 2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures in particular: taken concerning, to be (a) the criteria, and procedures for selecting and financing projects under this programme; (b) the evaluation procedure. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft, within a time limit which the chairperson may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote. The opinion shall be recorded the minutes; in addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its position recorded in the minutes. in The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall inform the Committee on the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account. the Committee 3. The representative of the Commission shall keep regularly informed about Commission proposals or Community the initiatives implementation of programmes in other to the policy areas which are relevant achievement of this programme. the objectives of and Article 6 International cooperation 1. In the course of implementing this programme, third international countries organisations competent in the field of public health shall be fostered. cooperation with with and 2. This programme shall be open to participation by the associated countries of Central Europe (CEC), in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Association Agreements Protocols or Additional related thereto concerning participation in Community programmes. This programme shall be open to participation by Cyprus and Malta additional appropriations in accordance with the same the EFTA rules as countries, in accordance with procedures to be agreed with those countries. those applied basis the on of to Article 7 Monitoring and evaluation 1. In the implementation of this Decision the Commission shall take the necessary measures to ensure the monitoring and continuous evaluation of the programme, taking account of the general and specific objectives referred to in Article 1 and in the Annex. 2. In the third year of operation of this programme, the Commission shall present to the European Parliament and the Council an evaluation report. 3. The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a final report on completion of this programme. two reports information 4. The Commission shall incorporate into these on Community financing in the various fields of action and on complementarity with the other actions referred to in Article 4, as well as the results of the evaluations. The reports shall also be submitted to the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. ANNEX SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS ACTIONS ON IMPROVEMENT 1- I. ACTIONS ON IMPROVEMENT OF INFORMATION ON POLLUTION- OF INFORMATION ON POLLUTION- RELATED DISEASES AND THEIR RELATED DISEASES DEFINITION Objective: to contribute towards a the role of better understanding of the causation and in pollutants aggravation of diseases the European Community and of the basis and effectiveness of preventive actions. in for their factors specific relation priorities pollutants Establishing the identification of those diseases in which are thought to play a role; comparing their prevalence and/or incidence to data on and environmental the in the European different parts of Community; examining the data quality and identifying where data are lacking; analysing and reviewing data currently available on the toxicology of these pollutants, and identifying in knowledge^ particularly wjth_ regard to 1 o ng- term effects and possible synergies between pollutants; comparing these data, of collection, definitions and criteria used, as well as the way in which the information is used in analyses, in determining the actions taken and in informing the public. including methods gaps for specific relation priorities pollutants Establishing the identification of those diseases in which are thought to play a role; comparing their prevalence and/or incidence to their and data on factors environmental the in different parts of the European Community; examining the data quality and identifying where data are lacking; analysing and reviewing data currently available on the toxicology of these pollutants, and identifying in knowledge; gaps including these data, comparing methods of collections, definitions and criteria used, as well as the way in which the information is used in analyses, in determining the actions taken and in informing the public. improve to of data used the Contributing comparability in preventive actions by the support of on exchanges pollution-related diseases and their including prevention, cost-benefit analysis of the effectiveness of actions. information of 10 II. RISK PERCEPTION AND RISK MANAGEMENT WITH RESPECT TO POLLUTION- RELATED DISEASES Objective: the and increase level of to knowledge under standing about pollution- related health risks and their perception, assessment and management. aimed actions Supporting 3. at achieving better public understanding of risks, their assessment and management; promoting work on the public perceptions of health pollution-related throughout the Community. risks to aimed Supporting at actions achieving better public under standing of risks, their assessment and management; promoting actions on of the public perception pollution-related risks to health, and they can be on that influenced and lifestyle. behaviour the way by Promoting actions and exchanges of information on the methods of increasing the level of knowledge of the general public and opinion- formers about the assessment of pollution-related risks to health Promoting actions and exchanges of information on the methods of increasing the level of knowledge of the general public and specific groups about the impact of different policies on pollution and health, and the assessment of pollution-related risks to health. III. RESPIRATORY DISEASES AND ALLERGIES Objective: to support activities aimed at preventing and reducing the numbers of these diseases. Contributing to the provision of information to the general public and to specific groups, on these diseases and the agents that play a role the development of ways to reinforce information campaigns; and supporting them; link in 11 contributing to the efforts of self- help or support groups active in the field of respiratory diseases and allergies. 6. Contributing to the comparison of various education and training initiatives used to combat these diseases, with a view to promoting best practice; reviewing the effectiveness of the preventive measures undertaken, including cost/benefit analyses. 12 ISSN 0254-1475 COM(98) 231 final DOCUMENTS EN 05 15 14 01 Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-244-EN-C ISBN 92-78-32997-5 Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg /3