"The Commission and WHO have roles and duties which extend world-wide. While their nature, means and procedures are different, they have nevertheless common interests in a large number of areas related to health," said Dr Brundtland. "Above all they are both committed to striving for a high level of human health protection and health improvement. Their effective cooperation benefits Member States of the European Union and other nations with whom Europe is linked. Member States of the European Communities and those of WHO have repeatedly stressed the need for such cooperation that will help reduce unnecessary duplication in the effort to reach common objectives."

"In a world where health problems and solutions take on a more global character every day, we must join forces to confront the formidable challenges that face public health and health protection systems," David Byrne said at the signing ceremony. "Today's agreement marks an important step forward to forge influential partnerships between our organizations and exercise leadership to meet these challenges. WHO and the European Union have together an important job to do, particularly in view of an enlarged Europe and the fading of borders on the European continent and elsewhere when it comes to keeping up with both old or recurring and newly emerging health threats. I am looking forward to an interesting and fruitful co-operation."

WHO and the EU have been working together since 1982. This has produced positive results in areas such as health research, development and humanitarian aid, environment, chemical products and food safety, surveillance of communicable diseases and health monitoring.

The areas of cooperation between the two institutions include: generating, collecting, processing and disseminating authoritative information and data on health; developing methodologies and tools for health monitoring and disease surveillance, and effective responses to, in particular, malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, emerging diseases and anti-microbial resistance threats; strengthening communicable disease surveillance and improving responses; exchanging information and sharing experience on the evaluation of health effects, in particular on safety and health protection against physical, chemical, and biological agents; promoting health related research and technological development; mobilizing and coordinating, where appropriate, resources for health interventions and co-operating in emergencies such as those resulting from natural catastrophes.

As shown by a recent statement issued jointly by Dr Brundtland and Commissioner Byrne, one of the top priorities in this strengthened cooperation will certainly be the reduction of tobacco consumption through the negotiation, adoption and implementation of a Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, as well as the exchange of information and dissemination of good practice on smoking abatement.