Brussels, 01/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in College on Wednesday, the Commission will adopt its Communication announced a long time ago on the use of the precautionary principle in the Union's decision-making process. The paper, prepared by the services of Commissioners Byrne (health and consumer protection), Liikanen (business) and Wallstrom (environment) is intended to describe the way the Commission will implement this principle in future (enshrined in the treaty but never yet defined) in the Community decision-making process for the management of potential risks threatening human, animal and plant health when there are reasonable reasons worthy of concern and based on an assessment of the possible risks - concerns impossible to ignore in the lack of sufficient or conclusive scientific data. By potential risk, the Commission means any risk that would be incompatible with the high level of health and environmental protection enshrined in the treaty. According to the Commission, the guidelines set out in the document must serve as tool for Community decision-makers when qualifying measures that may be taken in application of the precautionary principle, according to as preventive, coherent approach based on a cost/benefit analysis In the broader sense, including social and environmental concerns.
Announced by the President Prodi to the European Parliament on 5 October, this communication was not designed by the Commission as starting point for a public consultation but as a descriptive document that could serve as support for implementing the precautionary principle, in the current state of reflection, without ruling out later developments. As such, it will be handed to the Council, Parliament and Economic and Social Committee, as well as the Committee of the Regions for information, published in the Official Journal and reviewed at regular intervals.