
Article 1 
The second programme of ‘Community action in the field of health (2008-13)’ covering the period from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2013 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Programme’) is hereby established.
Article 2 

1. The Programme shall complement, support and add value to the policies of the Member States and contribute to increased solidarity and prosperity in the European Union by protecting and promoting human health and safety and improving public health.
2. The objectives to be pursued through the actions set out in the Annex shall be:
— to improve citizens’ health security,
— to promote health, including the reduction of health inequalities,
— to generate and disseminate health information and knowledge.The actions referred to in the first subparagraph shall, where appropriate, support the prevention of major diseases and contribute to reducing their incidence as well as the morbidity and mortality caused by them.
Article 3 

1. The financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme for the period specified in Article 1 is hereby set at EUR 321 500 000.
2. Annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial framework.
Article 4 

1. Financial contributions by the Community shall not exceed the following levels:
(a) 60 % of costs for an action intended to help achieve an objective forming part of the Programme, except in cases of exceptional utility, where the Community contribution shall not exceed 80 %; and
(b) 60 % of costs for the functioning of a non-governmental body or a specialised network, which is non-profit-making and independent of industry, commercial and business or other conflicting interests, has members in at least half of the Member States, with a balanced geographical coverage, and pursues as its primary goal one or more objectives of the Programme, where such support is necessary to pursue those objectives. In cases of exceptional utility, the Community contribution shall not exceed 80 %.
2. The renewal of financial contributions set out in paragraph 1(b) to non-governmental bodies and specialised networks may be exempted from the principle of gradual decrease.
3. Financial contributions by the Community may, where appropriate given the nature of the objective to be achieved, include joint financing by the Community and one or more Member States or by the Community and the competent authorities of other participating countries. In this case, the Community contribution shall not exceed 50 %, except in cases of exceptional utility, where the Community contribution shall not exceed 70 %. These Community contributions may be awarded to a public body or a non-governmental body, which is non-profit-making and independent of industry, commercial and business or other conflicting interests, and pursues as its primary goal one or more objectives of the Programme, designated through a transparent procedure by the Member State or the competent authority concerned and agreed by the Commission.
4. Financial contributions by the Community may also be given in the form of a lump sum and flat-rate financing where this is suited to the nature of the actions concerned. For such financial contributions, the percentage limits stipulated in paragraphs 1 and 3 shall not apply, although co-financing is still required.
Article 5 

1. The financial allocation of the Programme may also cover expenses pertaining to preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities required directly for the management of the Programme and the realisation of its objectives, in particular studies, meetings, information and publication actions, expenses linked to informatics networks focusing on information exchange, as well as all other technical and administrative assistance expense that the Commission may have recourse to for the management of the Programme.
2. The financial allocation may also cover the technical and administrative assistance expenses necessary to ensure the transition between the Programme and the measures adopted under Decision No 1786/2002/EC. If necessary, appropriations could be entered in the budget beyond 2013 to cover similar expenses, in order to enable the management of actions not yet completed by 31 December 2013.
Article 6 
Actions in pursuit of the aim and objectives set out in Article 2 shall make full use of appropriate available methods of implementation, including in particular:

((a)) direct or indirect implementation by the Commission on a centralised basis; and
((b)) joint management with international organisations, where appropriate.
Article 7 

1. The Commission shall ensure the implementation, in close cooperation with the Member States, of the actions and measures set out in the Programme in accordance with Articles 3 and 8.
2. The Commission and the Member States shall take appropriate action, within their respective areas of competence, to ensure the efficient running of the Programme and to develop mechanisms at Community and Member State level to achieve the objectives of the Programme. They shall ensure that appropriate information is provided about actions supported by the Programme and that appropriate participation is obtained.
3. For the attainment of the objectives of the Programme, the Commission shall, in close cooperation with the Member States:
(a) pursue the comparability of data and information, and the compatibility and interoperability of the systems and networks for exchange of data and information on health; and
(b) ensure the necessary cooperation and communication with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and other relevant EU agencies in order to optimise the use of Community funds.
4. In implementing the Programme, the Commission, together with the Member States, shall ensure compliance with all relevant legal provisions regarding personal data protection and, where appropriate, the introduction of mechanisms to ensure the confidentiality and safety of such data.
Article 8 

1. The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision relating to the following shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 10(2):
(a) the annual work plan for the implementation of the Programme, setting out:
((i)) priorities and actions to be undertaken, including the allocation of financial resources;
((ii)) criteria for the percentage of Community financial contribution, including criteria for assessing whether or not exceptional utility applies;
((iii)) the arrangements for implementing the joint strategies and actions referred to in Article 9;
(b) selection, award and other criteria for financial contributions to the actions of the Programme in accordance with Article 4.
2. Any other measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 10(3).
Article 9 

1. To ensure a high level of human health protection in the definition and implementation of all Community policies and activities and to promote the mainstreaming of health, the objectives of the Programme may be implemented as joint strategies and joint actions by creating links with relevant Community programmes, actions and funds.
2. The Commission shall ensure the optimal synergy of the Programme with other Community programmes, actions and funds.
Article 10 

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Committee’).
2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at two months.
3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
Article 11 
The Programme shall be open to the participation of:

((a)) the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions established in the EEA Agreement; and
((b)) third countries, in particular countries to which the European Neighbourhood Policy applies, countries that are applying for, are candidates for, or are acceding to, membership of the European Union, and the western Balkan countries included in the stabilisation and association process, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the respective bilateral or multilateral agreements establishing the general principles for their participation in Community programmes.
Article 12 
In the course of implementing the Programme, relations and cooperation with third countries that are not participating in the Programme and relevant international organisations, in particular the WHO, shall be encouraged.
Article 13 

1. The Commission, in close cooperation with the Member States, shall monitor the implementation of the actions of the Programme in the light of its objectives. It shall report yearly to the Committee on all actions and projects funded through the Programme, and shall keep the European Parliament and the Council informed.
2. At the request of the Commission, which shall avoid a disproportionate increase in the administrative burden of the Member States, Member States shall submit any available information on the implementation and impact of the Programme.
3. The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions:
(a) not later than 31 December 2010, an external and independent interim evaluation report on the results obtained in relation to the objectives of the Programme and the qualitative and quantitative aspects of its implementation as well as its consistency and complementarity with other relevant Community programmes, actions and funds. The report shall in particular make it possible to assess the impact of measures on all countries. The report shall contain a summary of the main conclusions, and it shall be accompanied by remarks by the Commission;
(b) not later than 31 December 2011, a communication on the continuation of the Programme;
(c) not later than 31 December 2015, an external and independent ex-post evaluation report covering the implementation and results of the Programme.
4. The Commission shall make the results of actions undertaken pursuant to this Decision publicly available and shall ensure their dissemination.
Article 14 
Decision No 1786/2002/EC shall be repealed with effect from 1 January 2008.
The Commission shall adopt any administrative arrangement necessary to ensure the transition between the measures adopted under Decision No 1786/2002/EC and those implemented under the Programme.
Article 15 
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Done at Strasbourg, 23 October 2007.
For the European Parliament
The President
H.-G. PÖTTERING
For the Council
The President
M. LOBO ANTUNES
ANNEX

1. Improve citizens’ health security.
 1.1. Protect citizens against health threats.
 1.1.1. Develop strategies and mechanisms for preventing, exchanging information on and responding to health threats from communicable and non-communicable diseases and health threats from physical, chemical or biological sources, including deliberate release acts; take action to ensure high-quality diagnostic cooperation between Member States’ laboratories; support the work of existing laboratories carrying out work with relevance to the Community; work on the setting up of a network of Community reference laboratories.
 1.1.2. Support the development of prevention, vaccination and immunisation policies; improve partnerships, networks, tools and reporting systems for immunisation status and adverse events monitoring.
 1.1.3. Develop risk management capacity and procedures; improve preparedness and planning for health emergencies, including preparing for coordinated EU and international responses to health emergencies; develop risk communication and consultation procedures on counter-measures.
 1.1.4. Promote the cooperation and improvement of existing response capacity and assets, including protective equipment, isolation facilities and mobile laboratories to deploy rapidly in emergencies.
 1.1.5. Develop strategies and procedures for drawing up, improving surge capacity of, conducting exercises and tests of, evaluating and revising general contingency and specific health emergency plans and their inter-operability between Member States.
 1.2. Improve citizens’ safety.
 1.2.1. Support and enhance scientific advice and risk assessment by promoting the early identification of risks; analyse their potential impact; exchange information on hazards and exposure; foster integrated and harmonised approaches.
 1.2.2. Help to enhance the safety and quality of organs and substances of human origin, blood, and blood derivatives; promote their availability, traceability and accessibility for medical use while respecting Member States’ responsibilities as set out in Article 152(5) of the Treaty.
 1.2.3. Promote measures to improve patient safety through high-quality and safe healthcare, including in relation to antibiotic resistance and nosocomial infections.

2. Promote health.
 2.1. Foster healthier ways of life and the reduction of health inequalities.
 2.1.1. Promote initiatives to increase healthy life years and promote healthy ageing; support measures to promote and explore the impact of health on productivity and labour participation as a contribution to meeting the Lisbon goals; support measures to study the impact on health of other policies.
 2.1.2. Support initiatives to identify the causes of, address and reduce health inequalities within and between Member States, including those related to gender differences, in order to contribute to prosperity and cohesion; promote investment in health in cooperation with other Community policies and funds; improve solidarity between national health systems by supporting cooperation on issues of cross-border care and patient and health professional mobility.
 2.2. Promote healthier ways of life and reduce major diseases and injuries by tackling health determinants.
 2.2.1. Address health determinants to promote and improve physical and mental health, creating supportive environments for healthy lifestyles and preventing disease; take action on key factors such as nutrition and physical activity and sexual health, and on addiction-related determinants such as tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs and pharmaceuticals used improperly, focusing on key settings such as education and the workplace, and across the life cycle.
 2.2.2. Promote action on the prevention of major diseases of particular significance in view of the overall burden of diseases in the Community, and on rare diseases, where Community action by tackling their determinants can provide significant added value to national efforts.
 2.2.3. Address the health effects of wider environmental determinants, including indoor air quality, exposure to toxic chemicals where not addressed by other Community initiatives, and socio-economic determinants.
 2.2.4. Promote actions to help reduce accidents and injuries.

3. Generate and disseminate health information and knowledge.
 3.1. Exchange knowledge and best practice.
 3.1.1. Exchange knowledge and best practice on health issues within the scope of the Programme.
 3.1.2. Support cooperation to enhance the application of best practice within Member States, including, where appropriate, supporting European reference networks.
 3.2. Collect, analyse and disseminate health information.
 3.2.1. Develop further a sustainable health monitoring system with mechanisms for collection of comparable data and information, with appropriate indicators; ensure appropriate coordination of and follow-up to Community initiatives regarding registries on cancer, based, inter alia, on the data collected when implementing the Council Recommendation of 2 December 2003 on cancer screening; collect data on health status and policies; develop, with the Community Statistical Programme, the statistical element of this system.
 3.2.2. Develop mechanisms for analysis and dissemination, including Community health reports, the Health Portal and conferences; provide information to citizens, stakeholders and policy makers, develop consultation mechanisms and participatory processes; establish regular reports on health status in the European Union based on all data and indicators and including a qualitative and quantitative analysis.
 3.2.3. Provide analysis and technical assistance in support of the development or implementation of policies or legislation related to the scope of the Programme.

The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission:

— share the view that the second programme of Community action in the field of health (2008-13) must be provided with financial means that allow fully for its implementation;
— recall Article 37 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary discipline and sound financial management stating that the budgetary authority and the Commission undertake not to depart by more than 5 % from the budget unless new, objective, long-term circumstances arise for which specific reasons are given. Any increase resulting from such variation must remain within the existing ceiling of the heading concerned;
— assure their willingness to evaluate in a sound manner the specific needs and circumstances of the health programme in the annual budget procedure.

1. On 24 May 2006, the Commission issued an amended proposal for a second programme of Community action in the field of health (2007-13). In Article 7, the reference amount of the programme was proposed to be set at EUR 365,6 million for the period starting in 2007 and ending in 2013.

2. Because of delays in the legislative procedure, on 23 March 2007 the Commission informed the Budget Authority that the start of the new public health programme will have to be postponed to budget year 2008. As a consequence, the envelope of the new public health programme 2008-13 would need to be adjusted to the level of EUR 321,5 million.

3. An amount of EUR 44,1 million will be used in the 2007 budget year under the present public health programme in order to ensure maximum continuity concerning public health actions. Therefore, the total envelope for public health actions financed from the programmes over the period 2007-13 sums up to EUR 365,6 million.
