23.6.2006

Official Journal of the European Union

C 147/1

Council conclusions on promotion of healthy lifestyles and prevention of Type 2 diabetes

(2006/C 147/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

1.	NOTES that the citizens of the European Union attach great importance to the highest possible levels of human health and consider it to be an essential prerequisite to a high quality of life;

2.	NOTES further that EU action needs to address major causes of death and premature death and major causes of reduced quality of life for the citizens of the European Union.

RECALLS THAT:

—

Article 152 of the EC Treaty provides that Community action is to complement national policies and be directed towards improving public health, preventing human illness and diseases, and obviating sources of danger to human health. Community action in the field of public health shall respect the responsibilities of the Member States for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care;

—	On 29 June 2000, the Council adopted a Resolution on action on health determinants (1);

—	On 14 December 2000, the Council adopted a Resolution on Health and Nutrition (2);

—	On 2 December 2002, the Council adopted Conclusions on Obesity (3);

—	On 2 December 2003, the Council adopted Conclusions on Healthy Lifestyles (4).

RECALLS ALSO THAT:

—	On 2 June 2004, the Council took note of information from the Irish Presidency on the potential for a European strategy for diabetes (5);

—	On 15 March 2005, the European Commission launched the EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health;

—	On 8 December 2005, the European Commission adopted a Green Paper on Promoting healthy diets and physical activity: a European dimension for the prevention of overweight, obesity and chronic diseases, which addresses the determinants underlying the onset of Type 2 diabetes;

—	On 3 April 2006, the European Parliament adopted a Written Declaration on diabetes (6).

NOTES the conclusions of the Austrian Presidency Conference ‘Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes’ held on 15-16 February 2006 in Vienna, Austria, with the participation of experts from Member States, acceding States and candidate countries, including health professionals and representatives of diabetes associations and patient groups, that are reflected in the Annex.

6.	EMPHASISES that diabetes is one of the major causes of death and premature death as well as of reduced quality of life for the citizens of the European Union.

STATES that health determinants have an impact on diabetes and that, apart from family history and increasing age, the main risk factors of Type 2 diabetes are excess body weight, a sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use and/or high blood pressure, which can be influenced by taking action in respect of the underlying factors. Other contributory factors include gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy), impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glycaemia.

8.	RECOGNISES that Type 2 diabetes and its complications (cardiovascular, renal, ocular and foot-related) are frequently diagnosed too late and the complications are frequently detected only at the time of diagnosis.

9.	STATES that preventive measures, early detection and diagnosis and effective management of the disease can result in reduced mortality from diabetes and increasing life expectancy and quality of life of European populations.

10.

IS CONCERNED by the negative consequences for health, and the incidence of diabetes in particular, of the increase in overweight and obesity among the population of all ages in the European Union, especially among children and young people. The impact of Type 2 diabetes on women in their early reproductive years is of particular concern.

11.	STATES that urgent targeted action on diabetes and the underlying health determinants is needed to address the growing incidence and prevalence of disease as well as the rise in the direct and indirect costs thereof.

12.	RECOGNISES that it is possible to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes and to reduce associated complications by addressing the underlying health determinants, particularly poor diet and physical inactivity, even in early childhood.

13.	RECOGNISES that preventing diabetes has a direct positive benefit on other non-communicable diseases, e.g. cardiovascular diseases, which are also major health risks for the citizens of the European Union, and on burdens for health systems and economies.

14.	ACKNOWLEDGES the need for diabetes monitoring and surveillance, including the exchange of information on diabetes mortality, morbidity and risk factor data, and for a greater understanding of lifestyles, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in populations across the EU.

15.	ACKNOWLEDGES that further research in Europe on the health determinants for combating the risk factors for diabetes could make a positive contribution to addressing the disease in the future.

16.	RECOGNISES that, in order to address and reduce suffering from diabetes, a long-term approach incorporating actions aimed at the healthy population as well as at individuals at high risk or living with diabetes is necessary.

17.

ACKNOWLEDGES that health promotion requires an integrated approach and needs to be comprehensive, transparent, multi-sectoral, multidisciplinary, participatory and based on the best available research and evidence. In particular, disease prevention needs to target people throughout the life cycle, especially those who are most at risk of diabetes, taking account of social, cultural, gender-related and age differences. Efforts should be made to address appropriate evaluation, including monitoring and surveillance of actions and programmes.

18.	WELCOMES that the Commission has set up the Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health.

19.	ACKNOWLEDGES the important role that civil society can play in preventing diabetes and its consequences.

20.

INVITES the Member States to consider, within the context of the adoption or review of national public health strategies and their efforts to focus on health determinants and promotion of healthy lifestyles, and with regard to available resources:

—	Collection, registration, monitoring and reporting at national level of comprehensive diabetes epidemiological and economic data as well as data on the underlying factors;

—

Development and implementation of framework plans, as appropriate, addressing diabetes and/or its determinants, of evidence-based disease prevention, screening and management founded on best practices and comprising an evaluation system with measurable targets to track health outcomes and cost-effectiveness, taking into account Member States' organisation and delivery of their respective health services, ethical, legal, cultural and other relevant issues and available resources;

—	Development of evidence-based, sustainable and cost-effective public awareness and primary prevention measures that are accessible and affordable to meet the needs of those most at risk of developing diabetes as well as the population as a whole;

—	Development of affordable and accessible secondary prevention measures based on national evidence-based guidelines and aimed at detecting and preventing the development of diabetes complications;

—	Adoption of a holistic, multi-sectoral, multidisciplinary management approach to people with diabetes including an emphasis on prevention, involving primary, secondary and community care, social services and education services;

—	Further development of comprehensive diabetes training for healthcare professionals.

21.

INVITES the European Commission to support, as appropriate, Member States in their efforts to prevent diabetes, and to promote a healthy lifestyle by:

—

Identifying diabetes as a public health challenge in Europe and encouraging networking and the exchange of information between Member States with a view to promoting best practices, to enhancing the co-ordination of health promotion and prevention policies and programmes for the whole population and high-risk groups and to reducing inequalities and optimising healthcare resources;

—	Facilitating and supporting European diabetes research in basic and clinical science and ensuring the wide dissemination of the results of this research across Europe;

—	Examining and strengthening the comparability of diabetes epidemiological evidence by considering the establishment of standardised outputs for monitoring, surveillance and reporting of diabetes mortality, morbidity and risk factor data across Member States;

—

Reporting on Member States' actions in order to emphasise health determinants, promote healthy lifestyles, national diabetes plans and prevention measures, on the basis of information provided by Member States, assessing the extent to which the proposed measures are working effectively, and considering the need for further action;

—

Continuing the work on the development of a comprehensive approach to health determinants at European level, including a coherent and comprehensive nutrition and physical activity policy, and addressing the impact on public health of the promotion, marketing and presentation, in particular to children, of energy dense foods and sugar-sweetened drinks;

—	Building on the work of the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health and encouraging the development and implementation of national diabetes prevention programmes and measures;

—	Taking the health determinants and risk factors of diabetes into account across EU policies.

22.	INVITES the Commission to continue to cooperate with the relevant international and inter-governmental organisations, in particular the World Health Organisation and the OECD, to ensure effective coordination of activities.

(1) OJ C 218 of 31.7.2000, p 8.

(2) OJ C 20 of 23.1.2001, p. 1.

(3) OJ C 11 of 17.1.2003, p. 3.

(4) OJ C 22 of 27.1.2004, p. 1.

(5) Doc. 9808/04740153

(6) Written declaration 1/2006

ANNEX

Summary of the conclusions of the Austrian Presidency conference ‘Prevention of Type 2 diabetes’ held on 15-16 February 2006 in Vienna, Austria

Each of the working groups agreed on a set of recommendations described in this chapter. There are various overlaps between the results of the groups which have not been removed as they underline the importance of specific recommendations. In our concluding remarks we would like to highlight some aspects again as they do not only refer to a specific topic, but have a wider scope:

It is important to differentiate between different types of prevention of diabetes and its complications according to the target groups and the objectives of the intervention:

—	Prevention of Type 2 diabetes at general population level, focusing on the promotion of healthy lifestyles and on the creation of environments that make healthy choices easy and socially preferred;

—	Identification of individuals at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and implementation of evidence-based measures in order to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes;

—	Early detection of as yet undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes in order to ensure timely, professional care and self-care to control and to reduce/prevent complications;

—

Provision of comprehensive, high quality, multidisciplinary, multifactorial and multisectoral diabetes care programmes in order to reduce/prevent complications in persons with diagnosed Type 2 diabetes and ensure good quality of life, equal opportunities and access to care for people with diabetes. With regard to reducing diabetes morbidity and mortality these aspects are equally important and need to be addressed simultaneously and systematically.

2.	Socio-economically disadvantaged groups, persons with lower education and minority groups, including women in their reproductive years, need particular attention, acknowledging the fact that they are more often affected by Type 2 diabetes and with regard to bridging inequalities in health.

The combined impact of diabetes and its complications on the individual patient, health services and the economy needs to be recognised and addressed. The EU and the member states need to raise public and professional awareness of the negative effects of Type 2 diabetes. Targeted and systematic awareness programmes need to be developed.

4.	There is a need for an EU strategy including an EU Council Recommendation on diabetes prevention, early detection and management and a permanent EU forum for the exchange and dissemination of best practice by networking.

In order to have a sound basis for policy planning and evaluation, the occurrence of Type 2 diabetes and its risk factors as well as the immediate and long term outcomes of improved programmes of care need to be systematically monitored and reported both in the member states and at EU level using a valid methodology and comparative data.

6.	Standards of prevention and care need to be developed at EU level to be reflected by national guidelines. Patient care needs to be monitored according to these guidelines.

The timely implementation of the national diabetes plans should be a priority. These plans should include prevention and early detection programmes. Special focus should be given to lifestyle interventions since they have shown to be effective and, if broadly implemented, can have a health impact on future generations.

8.	There is a need to develop new techniques for client centred education and empowerment as well as for appropriate training of health care professionals. The effectiveness of educational programmes should be subjected to research.

9.	Effective diabetes prevention requires multidisciplinary cooperation. The collaboration between general practitioners, diabetologists, diabetes specialist nurses, nutrition experts, exercise experts and other health care providers needs to be improved.

10.

There is also a need for multisectoral cooperation as the creation of healthy environments requires action in different policy fields. Both at national and at EU level, relevant policies outside the health sector should be systematically assessed for their health consequences, with a particular view to their consequences for preventive efforts.

11.

Additional research on diabetes is required both in the member states and at EU level. The EU and the member states should facilitate and support research in basic, clinical and social sciences and humanities on all aspects of prevention of diabetes and its complications with increased funding. The results of EU funded research should be made easily accessible to the public, relevant health professionals and the national authorities of the member states.

23.6.2006

Official Journal of the European Union

C 147/5

Euro exchange rates (1)

22 June 2006

(2006/C 147/02)

1 euro=

	Currency	Exchange rate
USD	US dollar	1,2582
JPY	Japanese yen	145,48
DKK	Danish krone	7,4558
GBP	Pound sterling	0,68735
SEK	Swedish krona	9,2349
CHF	Swiss franc	1,5636
ISK	Iceland króna	94,62
NOK	Norwegian krone	7,9710
BGN	Bulgarian lev	1,9558
CYP	Cyprus pound	0,5750
CZK	Czech koruna	28,525
EEK	Estonian kroon	15,6466
HUF	Hungarian forint	279,03
LTL	Lithuanian litas	3,4528
LVL	Latvian lats	0,6960
MTL	Maltese lira	0,4293
PLN	Polish zloty	4,0975
RON	Romanian leu	3,5923
SIT	Slovenian tolar	239,66
SKK	Slovak koruna	38,272
TRY	Turkish lira	2,1263
AUD	Australian dollar	1,7112
CAD	Canadian dollar	1,4023
HKD	Hong Kong dollar	9,7712
NZD	New Zealand dollar	2,0578
SGD	Singapore dollar	2,0040
KRW	South Korean won	1 201,83
ZAR	South African rand	9,3025
CNY	Chinese yuan renminbi	10,0625
HRK	Croatian kuna	7,2680
IDR	Indonesian rupiah	11 773,61
MYR	Malaysian ringgit	4,601
PHP	Philippine peso	66,949
RUB	Russian rouble	34,0350
THB	Thai baht	48,355

(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

23.6.2006

Official Journal of the European Union

C 147/6

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4229 — APHL/L&R/Netcare/General Healthcare Group)

(2006/C 147/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 19 June 2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the private equity investment advisor Apax Partners Holdings Limited (‘APHL’, UK) and Network Healthcare Holdings Limited (‘Netcare’, South-Africa) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control over the General Healthcare Group Limited (‘GHG’, UK) by way of a modification to the partnership rights in the holding partnership Hold LLP established for the purpose of implementing the concentration.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—	for the undertaking APHL: provider of investment management and investment advisory services to private equity funds;

—	for the undertaking Netcare: provider of various healthcare services;

—	for the undertaking GHG: provider of independent health care services throughout the UK.

3.	On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax ((32-2) 2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4229 — APHL/L&R/Netcare/General Healthcare Group, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition,

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

23.6.2006

Official Journal of the European Union

C 147/7

Notice of the impending expiry of certain anti-dumping measures

(2006/C 147/04)

As provided for in Article 11(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 (1) on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community, the Commission gives notice that, unless a review is initiated in accordance with the following procedure, the anti-dumping measures mentioned below will expire on the date mentioned in the table below.

2. Procedure

Community producers may lodge a written request for a review. This request must contain sufficient evidence that the expiry of the measures would be likely to result in a continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury.

Should the Commission decide to review the measures concerned, importers, exporters, representatives of the exporting country and Community producers will then be provided with the opportunity to amplify, rebut or comment on the matters set out in the review request.

3. Time limit

Community producers may submit a written request for a review on the above basis, to reach the European Commission, Directorate-General for Trade (Division B-1), J-79 5/16, B-1049 Brussels (2) at any time from the date of the publication of the present notice but no later than three months before the date mentioned in the table below.

This notice is published in accordance with Article 11(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995.

Product	Country(ies) of origin or exportation	Measures	Reference	Date of expiry
Zinc oxides	People's Republic of China	Anti-dumping duty	Council Regulation (EC) No 408/2002 (OJ L 62, 5.3.2002, p. 7) extended to imports consigned from Vietnam, whether declared as originating in Vietnam or not by Council Regulation (EC) No 1623/2003 (OJ L 232, 18.9.2003, p. 1) and extended to imports of zinc oxides mixed with silica originating in the People's Republic of China by Council Regulation (EC) No 1623/2003 (OJ L 232, 18.9.2003, p. 1)	6.3.2007

(1) OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 2117/2005 (OJ L 340, 23.12.2005, p. 17).

(2) Telefax : (32-2) 295 65 05.

23.6.2006

Official Journal of the European Union

C 147/8

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4243 — International Automotive Components/Lear Corporation (European Interior Business))

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2006/C 147/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 14 June 2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which International Automotive Components Group LLC, (‘IAC’, USA, controlled by WL Ross & Co), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of Lear Corporation's European Interior System Division (‘LEI’, part of the Lear Group, USA ), by way of purchase of assets.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—	IAC: automotive interior components and systems;

—	LEI: automotive interior components and systems.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax ((32-2) 2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4243 — International Automotive Components/Lear Corporation (European Interior Business), to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition,

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004 p. 1.

(2) OJ C 56, 5.3.2005 p. 32.

23.6.2006

Official Journal of the European Union

C 147/9

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4252 — SCA Forest/Jämtlamell Industri)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2006/C 147/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 14 June 2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 and following a referral pursuant to Article 4(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking SCA Forest Products AB (‘SCA Forest’, Sweden) belonging to the group Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA (publ) (‘SCA’, Sweden) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Jämtlamell Industri AB (‘Jämtlamell’, Sweden) by way of purchase of assets.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—	for SCA Forest: production and sale of publication papers, pulp, sawn timber and forest based biofuel;

—	for SCA: production and sale of forest products, and personal care, tissue and packaging products;

—	for Jämtlamell: production and sale of sawn timber and forest based biofuel.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax ((32-2) 2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4252 — SCA Forest/Jämtlamell Industri, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition,

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

(2) OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

23.6.2006

Official Journal of the European Union

C 147/10

CALL FOR PROPOSALS SUB 01-2006

(2006/C 147/07)

The Commission is planning to grant subsidies totalling the indicative amount of EUR 250 000 for the organisation of various conferences to promote energy and transport policy and, in particular, the policy priorities fixed in the 2006 Work Programme.

The specific topics selected for 2006 are as follows:

—	safety and security in energy and transport;

—	development of transport markets (trends, competition, constraints, economic aspects).

Information on this call for proposal is available on the DG TREN website at the following address:

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/grants/proposal_fr.htm

23.6.2006

Official Journal of the European Union

C 147/11

CALL FOR PROPOSALS PIL-2006

(2006/C 147/08)

The Commission intends to award grants to promote pilot projects on secure rest places along the trans-European road network as announced in the DG TREN work programme for 2006. Information on this call for proposals is available on the following Internet address:

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/grants/proposal_en.htm

		ISSN 1725-2423
Official Journal of the European Union		C 147

English edition	Information and Notices	Volume 49 23 June 2006

Notice No	Contents	page
	I Information
	Council
2006/C 147/1	Council conclusions on promotion of healthy lifestyles and prevention of Type 2 diabetes	1

	Commission
2006/C 147/2	Euro exchange rates	5

2006/C 147/3	Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.4229 — APHL/L&R/Netcare/General Healthcare Group) ( 1 )	6

2006/C 147/4	Notice of the impending expiry of certain anti-dumping measures	7

2006/C 147/5	Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.4243 — International Automotive Components/Lear Corporation (European Interior Business)) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( 1 )	8

2006/C 147/6	Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.4252 — SCA Forest/Jämtlamell Industri) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( 1 )	9

	III Notices
	Commission
2006/C 147/7	Call for proposals SUB 01-2006	10

2006/C 147/8	Call for proposals PIL-2006	11