Public health: Programme of Community action 1999-2003 on pollution-related diseases

The recommendation on pollution-related disease was adopted in the Committee. The recommendations, drafted by doctor MEPs, is on common positions of the Council relating to Commission proposals for Community action programmes for the five-year period 1999-2003. This recommendation by Christian CABROL (UFE, F) concerns a programme to combat pollution-related diseases. In its common position, the Council reduced the duration of the programme from five to three years (1999 to 2001) and proposed a budget of ECU 3.9 million. It also deleted a section on respiratory diseases and allergies on the grounds that it was inappropriate, at this stage, to refer to specific illnesses. In its amendments,the committee restored the five-year time frame, for which it proposed a budget of ECU 7 million. It also restored the section deleted by the Council and also called for Community-wide coordinated epidemiological studies. Another amendment urged the promotion of knowledge of behaviour patterns, including ways of life and eating habits that could reduce the health risks caused by pollution.