Division 3.1 Issues of strategic importance

In line with the actions referred to in Article 2(2) of the Programme Decision, and the commitment in the EU Health Strategy^f1 to work across sectors in improving health, high preference will be given to actions that have significant European added value in terms of the following areas:

• Contribution to

  • improving the health of European citizens, as measured where possible by appropriate indictors, including the Healthy Life Years^f2 indicator;

  • reducing health inequalities in and between EU Member States and regions;

  • building capacity for development and implementation of effective public health policies particularly in areas of high need;

• Involvement of new (non-traditional) actors for health in sustained, co-operative and ethically sound actions, both at regional or local level and across participating countries. This includes the public sector, the private sector and stakeholders among wider civil society whose primary aims are not limited to public health (for example among the youth, ethnic groups and other public interest spheres such as environment and sport).

Overall preference will be given to activities where tested tools and approaches are to be used.

Proposals which meet the above mentioned criteria can be considered of exceptional utility.

Priorities are listed in sections corresponding to the strands referred to in the Programme Decision.