Brussels, 15/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - Thursday's Health Council was described as particularly constructive by its president, Magda Alvoet, who especially welcomed the "sound political agreement" on the quality of blood and blood products (see article above). Encouraging voluntary and free blood donations, the text approved "clearly indicates the direction in which we should go and establishes a good balance between the possibilities provided by the Treaty and the determination of the majority to go further", she said. The president also welcomed conclusions on stress and depression, and the recommendation adopted on the cautious use of anti-infectious agents in human medicines, in the knowledge that "some antibiotics are fundamental and that they should not be used here there and everywhere if their effectiveness is to be preserved". The Presidency's conclusions on bioterrorism, approved unanimously, are, in her opinion, a noteworthy move forward as they are the "clear expression of the political will to work together and to get organised to strengthen the Union's ability to respond to threat thanks to more effective cooperation and coordination and by making the best use of existing structures, either for additional tasks or for innovation depending on the specific nature of the problem to be resolved". David Byrne added that the Commission was currently examining existing networks within the Union - Community network for the surveillance of transmissible diseases, an early warning system for food or product-related problems, a network of civil protection - with a view to improving them in close coordination with the networks in place in Member States, thanks to the help of fifteen national health experts from the advisory technical committee which has already met twice. The Commission will present, on 29 November, a communication giving a general and comprehensive overview of the situation, he said. Speaking of the policy debate on tobacco advertising which, according
to Ms Alvoet, "has highlighted the concern of Member States to stick as closely as possible to the rulings of the Court of Justice", and the state of progress of preparations for the next negotiations with a view to a WHO Convention on combating smoking, the Commissioner stressed he had "insisted on the elements essential for a firm Union position, mainly aid to combating tobacco in developing countries and the taxation of tobacco" in order to prevent youngsters from taking up the bad habit. He said in this respect that he was "very disappointed" that the Parliament had voted that same day against harmonisation of tobacco excise, all the more as it was the "Parliament that had called for a proposal and that the Ecofin Council had expressed its unanimous support".