Participation of Central and Eastern European countries in EU health and social policy programmes The European Commission has adopted proposals for Council Decisions concerning the participation of Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania and Romania in several Community programmes in the field of health and social policy. Participation in these public health programmes is o... The European Commission has adopted proposals for Council Decisions concerning the participation of Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania and Romania in several Community programmes in the field of health and social policy. Participation in these public health programmes is of particular importance for these countries, in that it will support them in their efforts to adapt to the health requirements and standards prevailing in the EU Member States, and underpin their efforts to improve the health status of their populations. The programmes involved are the four Community public health programmes - Health Promotion, Combating Cancer, Prevention of Aids and other communicable diseases, Drug Dependence - and the Equal Opportunities programme. Hungary and Romania will participate in all these programmes, while Lithuania will participate in Combating Cancer, Aids Prevention and Equal Opportunities, Bulgaria in Combating Cancer and Aids Prevention, and Estonia in Health Promotion only. Formal Decisions on these countries' participation will be taken by the Association Councils bringing together the Council and the governments of the respective country, and will allow citizens from these countries to participate in these programmes on, essentially, the same terms as citizens of EU Member States. The proposals lay down the main terms and conditions for participation in these programmes, in particular the financial contributions required from these countries, requirements for project partners, monitoring of participation, and coordination meetings. Countries Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania
