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

In adopting the recommendation for second reading by Mr Christian CABROL (UPE, F), the European Parliament amended the common position of the Council, reinstating most of the amendments adopted at first reading, particularly: -the financial framework: the Council had limited this to ECU 3.9 million for the period 1999-2001 (rather than 1999-2003); Parliament called for the amount to be increased to 7 million for the same period; -the scope of the programme: the programme was to cover pollution-related diseases and allergies in order to improve knowledge and understanding of health risks; an annex was to be inserted indicating the actions to be supported in this context (information campaigns to prevent these diseases, health education, etc.); -specific measures: coordinated epidemiological studies to be carried out throughout the territory of the EU to improve knowledge of the specific impact of certain pollutants, support for measures to improve public understanding of pollution-related health risks, promotion of behaviour patterns, ways of life and eating habits that could reduce the health risks caused by various types of pollution. Parliament also stressed the forward-looking nature of the programme: on the basis of a final report evaluating the programme, the Commission was to submit to the Council and the European Parliament any appropriate proposals for combating pollution-related diseases.�