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

Adopted was the draft recommendation for second reading of. Professor Christian CABROL (F, UPE) on action in the field of public health. Amendments, tabled by the rapporteur to re-establish the financial provisions from 30 mecu (common position) to 35 mecu proposed by the Commission and to strengthen the action provided for by the programme, were unanimously carried. The Council had considerably weakened a text that Parliament had tried to give more substance to in its first reading. Concerned were a programme to harmonize definition and scientific data in health matters, a focus on the groups which urgently need more action from the EU in the field of the promotion of health and studies on the role of nutrition and on the aging population. Other amendments were on sex education, allergies and support to a centre for rational use of medicines. A representative of the Commission told the Committee that only the amendments 1-5, 12 and 16-19 were acceptable, as well as the am. 10 and 11 partially. The rapporteur, however, saw all the amendments adopted.