The Official Journal of the European Union has published on December 22nd the Commission Decision of 18th December 2010 concerning the adoption of the 2010 work plan to implement the Second Programme of Community action in the field of health (2008-2013), and the criteria for selection, award and other factors that apply to financial contributions for activities of this programme. Together with this programme, four calls for proposals have also been issued.

Decision No 1350/2007/EC established the Second Programme of action in the field of health (2008-2013), which aims to complement, support and add value to the policies of the Member States and contribute to greater solidarity and prosperity in the European Union. The Programme's objectives are to improve the health of the citizens, promote health, including reducing inequalities in health, and to generate and disseminate information and knowledge about health.

According to the Decision, the Commission must adopt an annual work plan that sets out priorities and actions to be undertaken, including allocation of financial resources, the criteria for the percentage of the Community financial contribution including criteria for assessing whether or not exceptional, and methods of implementation of joint strategies and actions referred to in that Decision. Therefore, the Commission has adopted the work plan for 2010.

The second Health Programme aims to promote synergies with other Community Programmes active in the field of health, notably the seventh Research Framework Programme under its Health Theme. Proposals submitted under the second Health Programme should not contain significant elements which relate to research. Efforts will be made to avoid overlap and duplication between the second Health Programme, FP7 and other Community programmes.

Topics for 2010 have been selected in line with the Programme Decision and the Health Strategy, as set out in the White Paper Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013, which identifies three main strands of action around:

• Promoting healthy ageing across the lifecycle
• Combating threats to health
• Supporting dynamic and innovative health systems.

These overall objectives are addressed in this Work Plan through horizontal actions on areas such as health determinants, as well as specific actions on particular diseases and conditions

Financing

Decision Program provides a total budget of 321,500 million for the period from January 1st 2008 to December 31st 2013. The budgetary authority has approved a total budget of EUR 47.100.000 for 2010

Additional contributions from the EFTA countries that are members of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and candidate countries participating in the program is estimated that would amount to 1,186,920 euros in relation to countries the EFTA / EEA and 138,000 euros to Croatia.

All financing mechanisms will be implemented under the responsibility of the Executive Agency for Health and Consumer Affairs (AESC), which assist the Commission in implementing the work plan for 2010. The above funding arrangements are:

• Calls for proposals.
• Calls for tender.
• Joint Actions.
• Operating grants.
• Lectures in the field of public health and risk assessment.
• Cooperation with international organizations.
• Scientific Committee.
• Community Payment to WHO Framework Convention on tobacco control
• Other activities

Calls for proposals

Under the second program of Community action in the field of health (2008-2013), together with the work plan 2010, the European Commission has issued four calls for proposals concerning:

• The financial contributions for specific actions in the form of projects.
• The financial contributions for specific actions in the form of lectures.
• The financial contributions for the functioning of nongovernmental organizations and networks (operating grants).
• An invitation to Member States and participating countries to submit joint actions.

The deadline for submission of proposals from different calls is March 12, 2009.

All information on the call is available on the website of the Executive Agency for Health and Consumer Affairs.