Parliament approves Community action on pollution-related illnesses
The European Parliament (EP) meeting in Strasbourg has approved the conciliation agreement on a programme of Community action on pollution-related illnesses. The programme to combat pollution-related diseases covers the three-year period 1999 to 2001. Parliament had negotiated changes to the text to include reference to further European epidemiological cooperation and the continuation of Community research. Council had also been persuaded to agree on the need to improve both the effectiveness of preventive actions and assessment knowledge of pollution-related diseases. In accordance with Parliament's wishes, the text now also highlights the need to provide information to the public and to groups and voluntary organizations, which support those, affected, directly or indirectly, by such diseases. Parliament also got Council to agree to promote (initially via professionals) knowledge of behaviour patterns, ways of life and eating habits that could reduce pollution-induced health risks. The programme will have a budget of 3.9 million euro.