The way forward

1. Member States of the European Region should:
   • take all necessary steps to reverse negative trends as soon as possible and to maintain and increase the health-related improvements already taking place. In particular, they should make every effort to implement WHO's regional strategy for health for all as it concerns the environment and health;
   • strengthen collaboration among themselves and, where appropriate, with the European Community and other intergovernmental bodies on mutual and transfrontier environmental problems that pose a threat to health;
   • ensure that the Charter adopted at this meeting is made widely available in the languages of the European Region.
2. The WHO Regional Office for Europe is invited to:
   • explore ways of strengthening international mechanisms for assessing potential hazards to health associated with the environment and for developing guidance on their control;
   • make a critical study of existing indicators of the effects of the environment on health and, where necessary, develop others that are both specific and effective;
   • establish a European Advisory Committee on the Environment and Health in consultation with the governments of the countries of the Region;
   • in collaboration with the governments of the European countries, examine the desirability and feasibility of establishing a European Centre for the Environment and Health or other suitable institutional arrangements, with a view to strengthening collaboration on the health aspects of environmental protection with special emphasis on information systems, mechanisms for exchanging experience and coordinated studies. In such arrangements, cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and other organizations is desirable. Account should be taken of the environmental agency to be established within the European Community.
3. Member States of the European Region and WHO should:
   • promote the widest possible endorsement of the principles and attainment of the objectives of the Charter.
4. European Ministers of the Environment and of Health should:
   • meet again within five years to evaluate national and international progress and to endorse specific action plans drawn up by WHO and other international organizations for eliminating the most significant environmental threats to health as rapidly as possible.
     

See also the books on environment and health in the WHO/Europe publications catalogue.