Health: Community action programme 2008-2013

On 10 July 2007, the European Parliament adopted a compromise package which had been agreed with the Council in view of reaching a second reading agreement. Ways were found to respond to the concerns of the Parliament regarding the text of the Programme, by making modifications to the text, while reflecting the spirit of the Commission modified proposal.

The Commission accepts all amendments. The conclusion of the compromise package has been facilitated by a trilateral declaration which quotes the rules of budgetary flexibility for EU programmes under the Inter-Institutional Agreement (Article 37) in favour of the health programme.

In the trilateral declaration, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission:

- share the view that the 2nd Programme of Community action in the field of Health (2007-2013) must be provided with financial means that allow fully for its implementation;

- recall Article 37 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary discipline and sound financial management6 stating that the budgetary authority and the Commission undertake not to depart by more than 5 % from the budget unless new, objective, long term circumstances arise for which specific reasons are given. Any increase resulting from such variation must remain within the existing ceiling of the heading concerned;

- assure their willingness to evaluate in a sound manner the specific needs and circumstances of the Health Programme in the annual budget procedure.