Forty-ninth Regional Committee for Europe: Florence, 13 - 17 September 1999: environment and health

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION R e g i o n a l O f f i c e f o r E u r o p e C o p e n h a g e n REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR EUROPE Forty-ninth session, Florence, 13 – 17 September 1999 DRAFT RESOLUTION EUR/RC49/Conf.Doc./10 20 July 1999 10179 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH E n v i r o n m e n t a n d H e a l t h The Regional Committee. Emphasizing that high priority should be given to achieving an environment conducive to health for all in the European Region; Welcoming the progress made through the Environment and Health process towards this aim over the past ten years, which has been supported through the work of the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health and the European Environment and Health Committee; and Believing that the Environment and Health process will continue to make major contributions to the health of the people of the European Region in the twenty-first century; 1. THANKS the Governments of France, Italy and the Netherlands for their invaluable assistance to the Environment and Health movement during the 1990s through their support for the European Centre for Environment and Health; 2. THANKS the Government of Germany for its offer to host a third division of the European Centre for Environment and Health in Bonn, with effect from 2001; 3. THANKS the Government of Hungary for its invitation to host the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in 2004, which will serve as a catalyst for actions in the period up to that E U R/RC 4c)/Con f. Doe./10 page 2 4. ENDORSES the decision of the Third Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, held in London in June 1999. to extend the remit of the European Environment and Health Committee and to broaden its membership; 5. REQUESTS the European Environment and Health Committee to monitor, facilitate and promote the actions set out in the Declaration of the Third Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health (the London Declaration), drawing particular attention to the need to: (a) promote the ratification, entry into force and interim implementation of the Protocol on Water and Health to the ECE 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes; (b) promote actions to ensure that the Charter on Transport, Environment and Health is implemented, monitored and reported on. and make preparations for considering further international initiatives in this area; (c) instigate practical steps towards the objectives and actions set out in the London Declaration, for example by establishing task forces or other mechanisms as needed; (d) make full use of existing resources, for example by maximizing the role of the European Centre for Environment and Health, ensuring close coordination with the Environment for Europe process and promoting collaboration with the European Commission, international organizations and other partners; (e) continue strengthening public participation and intersectoral partnerships, as described in the Declaration, in line with the HEAL.TH21 policy framework; 6. URGES Member States to: (a) mobilize their political, technical and financial resources, so as to stimulate the implementation of action as decided in London in partnership within their countries and throughout the Region; (b) share in providing the necessary financial support to the European Centre for Environment and Health, joining the continuing efforts of Italy, the Netherlands and the Regional Office, so as to ensure a platform of scientific and operational support for effective action; HUR/RC 40/C on f. Doc./10 page 3 7. AUTHORIZES the Regional Director to carry out secretariat functions for the Protocol on Water and Health to the ECE 1992 Convention on the Protection and Lise of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, as provided for in Article 17 of the Protocol, and to conclude with the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations a Memorandum of Understanding setting out details of their work-sharing arrangements; 8. REQUESTS the Regional Director to continue to provide leadership to the Environment and Health process in the European Region and to ensure the necessary Regional Office support for it.