Public health: action plan to combat cancer 1996-2000

The rapporteur pointed out that Amendment No 11 sought to re-establish the budget initially set at ECU 64 million, reduced by the Council paradoxically at the same time as it agreed to fund tobacco growing with annual funds corresponding to the 5-year budget for the ‘Europe against cancer’ programme. Commissioner Flynn agreed with the criticism concerning the reduction in the budget and stated that the Commission could take over 11 of the 19 amendments: Amendments Nos 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 18 and 19. The other 8 amendments were rejected for various reasons: for example, Amendments Nos 13 and 14 were not taken over because they set out the typical tasks of the management committee, as envisaged by the Council in its common position; Amendment No 15 provided for consultation of Parliament beyond that envisaged by the ‘modus vivendi’ with the Council; similarly, Amendments Nos 16 and 17 had already been rejected by the Council after Parliament’s first reading, due to the method and the content of the political action, which was not suitable for the programme in question.