- speed up the development and improve the availability of and equal access to global public goods, including effective, affordable and safe pharmaceutical products, reproductive health commodities and innovations, including electronic communications, for strategies to combat diseases and prevent infection, support innovative environmental health measures for disease prevention and support the participation and capacities of institutions and communities in order to allow ethical and efficient implementation of clinical trials and enhance regulatory capacity;

Examples of policy measures taken since 2001 include the funding of genome research to fight antibiotic resistance; the establishment of a joint EU surveillance and early warning networks for communicable diseases; the adoption of a proposal for a new EU regulatory framework for chemicals (REACH); the adoption of the European Environment and Health Action Plan 2004-2010; and the setting up of a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and European Centre on Communicable Diseases (ECDC).

filling the knowledge gap by strengthening research on environment and health and identifying emerging issues:Action 5: Integrate and strengthen European environment and health research; Action 6: Target research on diseases, disorders and exposures; Action 7: Develop methodological systems to analyse interactions between environment and health; Action 8: Ensure that potential hazards on environment and health are identified and addressed.

reviewing policies and improving communication by developing awareness raising, risk communication, training and education to give citizens the information they need to make better health choices, and to make sure that professionals in each field are alert to environment and health interactions:Action 9: Develop public health activities and networking on environmental health determinants through the public health programme; Action 10: Promote training of professionals and improve organisational capacity in environment and health by reviewing and adjusting risk reduction policy; Action 11: Coordinate ongoing risk reduction measures and fo ...[+++]cus on the priority diseases; Action 12: Improve indoor air quality; Action 13: Follow developments regarding electromagnetic fields.

(23) Despite improvements in environmental standards, there is increased likelihood of a link between environmental degradation and certain human illnesses.

(33) The implementation of Article 152 shows that the prevention of disease, and in particular disease related to pollution, whether external or internal, is a Community priority.