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Health: Community action programme 2008-2013

2005/0042A(COD)

This paper focuses on the implementation of the health programme in 2008. It aims to inform the European Parliament and the Council of all actions and projects funded under the programme in 2008.

To recall, the programme is the key instrument in support of strategic objectives as adopted in the White Paper, "Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013". It is structured in three parts:

1. improve the safety of citizens,

2. promote health,

3. produce and disseminate information and knowledge on health.

Its purpose is to complement and support Member States' policies, add value and contribute to strengthening the solidarity and prosperity in the European Union by protecting and promoting the health and safety of people and improving public health in general.

2008 was the first year of implementation of this programme (2nd Community Action Programme in the field of health covering the period 2008-2013).

The Commission shall manage and implement, in close cooperation with Member States through a wide range of projects, conferences, operating grants, service contracts and joint actions on the basis of annual priorities for action defined in the annual work plan 2008. These actions were subject to a tendering procedure launched by the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers (EAHC) on 29 February 29 2008.

In 2008, the programme also saw the participation of the EFTA countries who are members of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).

Overview of the 2008 budget: the total budget allocated to the programme for the period 2008-2013 is EUR 321.5 million. For 2008, the budget totals EUR 47 830 000.

The wide range of financing mechanisms proposed by the second Health Programme has been exploited and implemented in 2008. Following the call for proposals, the EAHC received a total of 225 proposals. Of these:

  • 154 were for action grants,
  • 43 conferences,
  • 26 applications for operating grants,
  • two joint actions.

A total of 65 proposals were eventually funded.

Grant applications represented EUR 114 005 000 compared to an indicative budget available for EUR 28.541 million. The total volume of proposals for conferences amounted to EUR 1.065 million (budget available from EUR 70000 EUR) to EUR 3.771 million for operating subsidies (available budget of EUR 2.3 million) and EUR 6.214 million for joint actions (available budget of EUR 2.3 million).

The Commission’s working document sets out in detail these actions.