European Commission

Citation

(2003), "European Commission", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 16 No. 7. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2003.06216gab.004

European Commission

European Commission

European environment and health strategyKeywords: European Commission, EU, Strategy, Environment, Health, SCALE

In June the European Commission launched a new strategy on Environment and Health with the overall aim of reducing diseases caused by environmental factors in Europe. In order to achieve this goal a better understanding and identification of health problems related to environmental degradation are needed in order to allow the prevention of new health threats linked to environmental pollution. Special emphasis will be given to the most vulnerable groups in society, in particular children.

Margot Wallström, Commissioner for the Environment, said:

"A healthy environment is not a privilege but a basic human right. The reality, however, is quite different. Many European citizens, and specially children, suffer from illnesses caused by environmental pollution. Children are at the very heart of sustainable development. Therefore we must aim for their 'best achievable health', as required by the UN Convention on Children's Rights. What is good for our children is good for the present and future of our society as a whole."

The new strategy intends to strengthen EU capacity for policy making in this area. It has been designed jointly by the Commissioners responsible for the Environment, Public Health and Research, stressing the importance of bridging the traditional gap between the environment and health.

The strategy, known as SCALE, has five key elements:

1. 1.

   Science, to broaden the perspective on the often very complex link between environment and health.

2. 2.

   Children, since they are particularly vulnerable to environmental hazards. The Commission will be working with the WHO and the EU Member States to establish indicators and bio-monitoring systems that will aid better understanding of where, how and why children are affected.

3. 3.

   Awareness of the environmental-health problems and how they can be solved.

4. 4.

   Legislation to complement national and international initiatives. It will be reviewed to reflect the special situation and needs of children.

5. 5.

   Evaluation of all activities under the strategy to establish how effective they are in reducing environmental-related health problems.

The EU strategy will be implemented in cycles, the first of which, 2004-2010, will focus on four health effects: childhood respiratory diseases, asthmaand allergies; neurodevelopmentdisorders; childhood cancer; andendocrine-disrupting effects.

The detailed actions of the strategy will be prepared based on extensive consultations with experts and stakeholders from the environment, health and research fields in all parts of the enlarged Europe. A first stakeholder meeting to launch the consultations took place in July. Working groups covering the priority health effects and monitoring activities were set up and will participate in three regional conferences during autumn 2003. The work will emanate in an Action Plan for the period 2004-2010, which the Commission will adopt in spring 2004. The Action Plan will be presented prior to the Inter-Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in Budapest in June 2004, focusing particularly on children's health and environment.

Further information: the document "European environment and health strategy" can be downloaded from the Commission's Web site at http://europa.eu.int/