Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-12-11-Speech-2-286"
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". – I am very grateful to the rapporteur, Mr Trakatellis, the Members of Parliament and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy for their work on this important and ambitious programme.
The second area on which I would like to focus is the programme's budget. The Commission's proposal was for a total budget of EUR 300 million over a period of six years. Amendment No 36 increases this amount to EUR 380 million. The Council's common position proposes a budget of EUR 280 million. The decision on this matter is for the Council and the European Parliament, as the budgetary authority. I would simply say that the Commission is keeping to its original proposal which, in our view, provides a reasonable figure for the implementation of the programme. I cannot, therefore, accept Amendment No 36.
This amendment and the last part of Amendment No 56 also set limits on how we spend the programme budget. Such restrictions undermine the essential principle that the programme must be flexible and able to respond to new concerns and threats to health, as they arise.
Recent events have clearly demonstrated the need to retain such flexibility. Therefore we cannot accept these amendments.
Before I leave the issue of the budget, there is one point I want to make. The Council and Parliament stressed the need to put in place new structural arrangements to ensure effective coordination.
This was not included in the composition of the original proposal in the budget. In view of this, when we put forward our opinion on the amendments adopted, we intend also to present a revised financial sheet for that programme. This would incorporate an increase in the budget line for expenditure on resources, for technical assistance and support which will be required for the structural arrangements.
I wish to turn now to the amendments concerning the scope and structure of the programme. Amendments Nos 7, 13, 25, 30, 44, 46, 50, 52 and part of Amendment No 58 touch on a variety of subjects, such as giving support to regional and national centres of excellence in various fields.
Complementary therapeutic methods – developing guidelines for medicine and healthcare interventions as well as actions to improve diet and eating habits. These amendments cannot be accepted since they cover areas under the responsibility of Member States. Moreover, there are a number of amendments that require specific comments.
Amendments Nos 41 and 59 seek to impose an obligation for the Commission to report annually to Parliament on the implementation of the programme. Parliament will be informed on a regular basis of the development of the programme through both the comitology rules and the evaluation process foreseen in Article 12 of the common position. Therefore, we cannot accept these amendments. Amendment No 42 cannot be accepted since it limits the scope of the health information system by linking it explicitly to the right of patients to receive certain information on their illnesses and treatment. I stress, however, that I favour the concept of the promotion of patient rights and I am following the policy on this, which is included in the health forum and – you will note – is specifically referred to in the legislation at recital 3.
Finally, there is a group of seven amendments that we cannot accept because they take away the flexibility necessary for the implementation of the programme or because they duplicate provisions of the common position. These are Amendments Nos 9, 10, 23, 27, 28, 35 and 43. On the other hand, there are a number of amendments proposing important new actions that will reinforce the broad objectives and aims of the programme. To name just a few, Amendment No 48 and part of No 26 that cover activities to counter health threats, including terrorists acts. Amendment No 47 which covers the development of a vaccination and immunisation strategy.
As these amendments, as well as Amendments Nos 3, 11, 29, 31, 45 and 60 will serve to strengthen the programme and improve its effectiveness, they are all acceptable to the Commission. I should add that applicant countries can join in and that is provided for. Furthermore, I also want to mention the reference made to the extent to which it is necessary to acquire information on diseases and disabilities, as Mr Prodi mentioned.
This programme is important because protecting and improving public health is at the very centre of our citizens' concerns and their expectations. The recent terrorist attacks have underlined the need to strengthen and extend the existing Community preparedness and response mechanisms.
I can, of course, confirm that this particular programme can deal with these issues, particularly under the first strand of the programme dealing with information and data collection.
Let me, in conclusion, Madam President, repeat my appreciation for all the constructive work that the rapporteur and the committee have put in on shaping the future of public health policy in the EU.
For those points where difficulties remain, the Commission is, of course, ready and willing to assist in finding solutions.
Many of the amendments tabled are in line with our broad view of public health and how we should address it at Community level. We can accept 38 of the 60 amendments – 28 in full and a further 10 in part.
I should like to concentrate on a few key areas where some clarification of the Commission's position may be of help.
First, the implementation of the programme. The success of the programme will depend on the availability of resources and expertise. The Commission will do everything it can to ensure the necessary, effective coordination by establishing the appropriate structural arrangements. Putting these in place requires, in our view, a step-by-step approach.
Firstly, the Commission services are engaged in the process of restructuring in order better to reflect the main areas of the programme. Secondly, in order to strengthen the Commission's capacity to coordinate actions, we intend to outsource some administrative and technical assistance.
For the longer term, we are looking at the possibilities to set up an executive agency. However, this will have to await the adoption of the Commission's proposal for a regulation on such agencies which I hope will be adopted in the fairly near future. In the light of this, I can accept Amendment No 8 which calls for the appropriate structural arrangements to ensure the effectiveness and cohesion of measures and actions in the programme and to promote cooperation between the Member States.
However, I am unable to accept Amendments Nos 6, 34 and 57 which impose a deadline on the Commission to carry out this work, and propose the creation of a coordination centre. This constrains the exercise of the Commission's executive powers under the Treaty.
Having said that, I hope that Parliament will accept the Commission's firm commitment to proceed as rapidly as we can on the establishment of the structural arrangements to ensure effective coordination and monitoring."@en1
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