Public health: Community action programme on health promotion, information, education and training 1996-2000

Pointing out that today one person in five dies prematurely, in other words before the age of 65, as a result of circulatory problems, a heart attack, an accident or suicide, Commissioner Flynn reiterated that the programme in question sought to improve health and the quality of health protection. The Commission could take over 10 of Parliament’s 22 amendments - Amendments Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 16, 17, 18 and 19 - as they complemented the common position. Amendments Nos 10, 11, 20 and 21 could be taken over in part. Amendments Nos 20 and 21 had to be rejected as the reference to sex education was superfluous in a general programme that covered many elements of health promotion, including sex education. Similarly, the other 6 amendments had to be rejected: Amendments Nos 8, 9, 13, 14 (on the prevention of allergies, which was already included in another programme on the prevention of the effects of pollution) and 15 (on the use of medicines and self-medication, which were already included in Annex 6).