Programme of Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008)

The Programme of Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008) was prepared with a view to contributing to the achievement of a high level of health protection in Europe. To this end, it focuses on health information, the Community’s capacity to react to health threats, and the prevention of diseases and illness.

ACT

Decision 1786/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2002 adopting a programme of Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008).

Repealed by Decision No 1350/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 establishing a second programme of Community action in the field of health (2008-13) [Official Journal L 301 of 20.11.2007].

SUMMARY

This action programme is a comprehensive programme which replaces eight existing actions in the field of health. These programmes concerned health promotion, cancer, AIDS and certain communicable diseases, drug addiction, health surveillance and pollution-related diseases, injury prevention and rare diseases.

The programme forms an essential part of the European Community’s health strategy, focusing on the following objectives and general measures:

• improving information and knowledge with a view to promoting public health and health systemsActions: development of a comprehensive system for collecting, analysing and evaluating data and knowledge in order to inform, advise and disseminate information at all levels of society, including the general public, authorities and health professionals;
• boosting the ability to respond rapidly and coherently to health threats such as the cross-border menace of HIV, new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and pollution-related diseases;Actions: developing, strengthening and assisting the capacity, operation and inter-linking of surveillance, early-warning and rapid-reaction mechanisms;
• addressing health determinantsActions: wide-ranging health-promotion activities accompanied by measures and specific instruments to reduce and eliminate risks.key priorities: to reduce the high number of premature deaths and illnesses caused by major diseases such as cancer, and to tackle mental illness. Consequently, emphasis will be placed on key factors associated with lifestyle, socio-economic situation and the environment, such as smoking, drinking, drug addiction, nutrition and stress.

In addition to the above measures, an annual work programme comprising specific objectives and activities is to be drawn up, along with health indicators. Provision will be made also for linking up with other Community programmes and activities.

Having regard to the principle of subsidiarity and the restrictions placed on the Community in health matters, the active cooperation and wholehearted commitment of all the Member States will be essential to the smooth running of the programme and to achieving its objectives.

Funding

A budget of EUR 312 million has been allocated to the programme for the period 2003-2008.

Countries entitled to participate

The programme is open to the participation of:

• the EFTA/EEA countries, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the EEA Agreement;
• the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Europe Agreements, in their Protocols and in the decisions of the respective Association Councils;
• Cyprus, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with the procedures to be agreed with that country;
• Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.

International cooperation

Cooperation with third countries and with international organisations working in the sphere of public health, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), will also be encouraged.

Evaluation

It is anticipated that the programme will be subjected to dual evaluation: evaluation based on the indicators and results contained in the annual work programmes, and evaluation carried out by external independent experts half-way through the programme, i.e. in the third and final years of the programme, and after its completion. The results will be made publicly available. It is also expected that the Commission will present a report to the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions at the mid-term point, i.e. in the third year, and a final report.

Extension of existing programmes

A Commission proposal [COM(2000) 448 final – Not published in the Official Journal] grants a limited extension to existing programmes which are due to end before the new programme is launched, in order to avoid any interruption in key areas.

Executive agency

On1 January 2005, the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers became the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers. It assists the Commission in the implementation of the second Public Health Programme 2008-2013, the Consumer Programme for 2007-2013 and the implementation of food safety training measures.

The agency is based in Luxembourg.

RELATED ACTS

COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMME 2008 – 13

Decision No 1350/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 establishing a second programme of Community action in the field of health (2008-2013) [Official Journal L 301 of 20.11.2007].

REPORTS

Commission report of 23 July 2008 – Implementation of the Public Health Programme 2007 [COM(2008)482 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Commission report of 17 April 2008 – Implementation of the Public Health Programme 2006 [COM(2008)198 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Report from the Commission of 23 November 2006: Implementation of the Public Health Programme in 2005 [COM(2006) 711 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

In 2005, some fifty or so projects were considered suitable for funding under the European Public Health Programme. In terms of the main public health activities conducted in 2005, the report focuses on:

• health information: the publication of a Green Paper on mental health, further work on the establishment of a comprehensive European health and environment information system, research on the potential health effects of third generation mobile phones, the promotion of eHealth services, progress made in developing health indicators;
• health threats: the adoption of action plans on EU preparedness planning for public health threats and influenza pandemics;
• health determinants: the Green Paper on promoting healthy diets and physical activity, the funding of important projects concerning alcohol, progress made in the field of public health genetics through networking and information exchange.

Report from the Commission of 24 October 2005 – Projects of the Public health programme committed in 2003-2004 [COM(2005) 511 final – Not published in the Official Journal]. The report highlights the significant results obtained in the first two years of the programme, which solicited vivid interest among those in the field of health in Europe. The programme received many applications, and in total some 150 projects were funded under the 2003 and 2004 budgets.

EXECUTIVE AGENCY

Commission Decision No 544/2008/EC of 20 June 2008 amending Decision 2004/858/EC in order to transform the “Executive Agency for the Public Health Programme” into the “Executive Agency for Health and Consumers” [Official Journal L 173 of 3.07.2008].

The Commission ensures the overall management of the adopted programmes and measures. The Executive Agency is responsible for their implementation and gathers the information required to assess them.

EUROPEAN PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGY

White paper - Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013 [COM(2007) 630 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Communication from the Commission of 16 May 2000 to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the health strategy of the European Community [COM(2000) 285 final – not published in the Official Journal] This communication sets out the Community’s broad health strategy, i.e. how it is working to achieve a coherent and effective approach to health issues across all the different policy areas. The action programme 2003-2008 is a key element in this strategy.

See also

Additional information is available on the European Commission’s website on Public Health.

Last updated: 05.08.2008