ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL : HEALTH CONCERNS MUST BE INTEGRATED INTO ALL POLICIES.

• Position: Brief article

Environment and health concerns must be integrated into all of the European Union's strategic policies, plans and programmes and the European Environment and Health Action Plan 2004-2010 must be pursued. Those are the main recommendations set out in the conclusions adopted by the EU's health ministers on 20 December.

The ministers stress the need for awareness initiatives and early action, the benefits of preventive and precautionary measures, and the need for adequate resources. Research programmes must be pursued and their funding increased in order to provide more effective prevention and response to hazards and risks, scientifically sound planning and decision support. The ministers also call for the strengthening of partnerships between the different sectors concerned, at all levels.

The Council invites the European Commission to pursue the introduction of an environment and health information system to identify hazards, set planning priorities and measure progress and changes in...