Health in the European Union - A Community policy issue
Mr. Padraig Flynn, Commissioner responsible for employment and social affairs, has presented the "Second annual report on the integration of health requirements in EU policies" (COM(96)407). The report shows that health requirements increasingly have a bearing on almost all Community policies. Commenting on the publication of the report, Mr. Flynn stressed that the aim was "to raise awareness on health-related issues and their likely impact, as well as to stimulate efforts directed at ensuring that health becomes a fundamental consideration in the design and implementation of policies". The report provides an overview of the Community's activities in 1995 which have an impact on health. While the first report, published last year, took stock of health dimensions in all area of Community policy, this second report concentrates on key policy areas in which the most important health developments have taken place. These include, among others: research and development, environment and energy, transport, and agriculture, food and fisheries.