91999E0554

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0554/99

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(12 March 1999)

Subject: Public health and the urban environment

Has the Commission given any thought to the need to create an EU-wide network of city health departments for the purpose of exchanging best practice on the social and urban aspects of health policy?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(12 April 1999)

The Commission does indeed pursue a broad approach to health policy, involving social and urban aspects. Under the current set of public health programmes developed in the context of the Commission's 1993 framework for action in the field of public health(1), the Commission is already providing support to a number of city networks, including a European network for public health in capital cities and regions.

Within the framework of the European sustainable cities & towns campaign, the Commission is also supporting activities by the World health organisation (WHO) healthy cities project, a long-term international development project that aims to place health high on the agenda of decision-makers in the cities of Europe. Approximately 1 100 cities and towns are linked with 26 national and several regional and thematic healthy cities networks in Europe. Activities include the preparation and dissemination of case studies and the development of multi-city action plans.

One of the main priorities of the Commission's new public health policy outlined by the Commission's communication on the development of public health policy in the Community(2) will be to create a comprehensive health information system, covering developments in health status and health systems. This will link the relevant authorities in the Member States and enable them to exchange information on best practice in many areas of health policy. Whilst it would be up to the Member States to designate the relevant partners for the various parts of the system, it is expected, nevertheless, that regions and cities will be closely associated and involved in this effort.

Finally, the Commission database on good practice in urban management and sustainability(3), which includes health as a topic area, provides a useful vehicle for disseminating case studies focusing on the social and urban aspects of health policy.

(1) COM(93) 559 final.

(2) COM(98) 230 final.

(3) http://europa.eu.int/comm/urban/.