Ref: COM(2005) 0115 final, Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Programme of Community action in the field of Health and Consumer protection 2007-2013
Rapporteur: Antonios Trakatellis (EPP-ED, Greece)
Procedure: Co-decision
Summary: the proposal aims to regroup the existing consumer protection and health Community action programmes and simplify the implementation of the objectives of the European Union in the health and consumer protection area
Link: initial proposal
EMHF: editorial
Updated: 20 March 2006
16 March 2006
The European Parliament (EP) adopted in first lecture Prof. Antonios Trakatellis report. Following the opinion of its Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), the EP has rejected the Commission proposal to merge the health and consumer protection programmes 2007-2013 under the same umbrella.
Gender-wise the EP report is promising as several amendments including the introduction of the Treaty obligation to gender mainstream all actions undertaken by the health programme. The EP also introduced gender as a factor to take into account in strategies and measures that aim to tackle health determinants.
Regarding the allocation of EU funding to projects or organisations, the EP asked for the establishment of criteria of financial transparency for all applicants. To apply for core-funding, more specific criteria will apply: organisations will have to be non-governmental, non-profit making and independent of industry, commercial and business or other conflicting interests. Applicants will have to provide to the Commission full and updated accounts of their membership, internal rules and sources of funding. In any case the exemption of principle of gradual decrease of Community support will apply.
Prof. Trakatellis's report will now go to the Commission which will give an opinion on the EP amendments. The Council is expected to reach a common position on the issue in meetings on 13 March and on 1 June 2006. The second lecture will be planned later this year.
6 April 2005
The Commission adopted a Health and Consumer protection Strategy and a proposal for new Community action programme that was transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council.
The new strategy and proposed programme aim to bring both issues to centre stage and put forward concrete action to meet citizens’ concerns. As such, they aim to bring a stronger focus to citizens’ issues in policy making and to help bring Europe closer to its citizens.
In consolidating two programmes into one, the Commission aims to exploit synergies between health and consumer policies. Bringing the two policies together also generates greater policy coherence, economies of scale and increased visibility.
Concerning health, objectives are:
- Protect citizens against health threats
- Promote policies that lead to a healthier way of life
- Contribute to reducing the incidence of major diseases in the EU
- Contribute to the development of more effective and efficient health systems
- Support the objectives above by providing health information and analysis
As regards health actions, as a response to the open consultation launched in July 2004, the programme reinforces the three strands of the existing Public Health Programme which aim to gather and provide information, to monitor threats and to tackle key health determinants. In addition, the new programme creates three new strands to:
- Deliver an efficient response to health threats
- Help prevent diseases
- Foster co-operation between health systems
Bridging health inequalities, addressing ageing and children's health will be priority themes.
EUR 1,203 million is the total budget proposed for the period of application of the programme: 1 January 2007 – 31 December 2013.
