RESOLUTIONof the Council and of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council,of 29 May 1986concerning the adoption of a European emergency health card(86/C 184/03)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to the draft recommendation submitted by the Commission (1) , Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2) , Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3) , Whereas the creation of a People's Europe is one of the priorities of the European Council which, at its meeting in Milan on 28 and 29 June 1985, expressed the wish that work proceed systematically in the various fields concerned; Whereas in order further to protect the health of European citizens and to enhance their freedom of movement it is desirable to provide for means whereby in an emergency their pre-existing or present health problems can be identified; Whereas to that end an appropriate means at this stage appears to be a European emergency health card, clearly and succinctly setting out certain vital information; Whereas the European emergency health card could, where appropriate, complement the similar systems which exist in certain Member States for protecting the health of citizens, I Hereby recommend that Member States which consider it desirable to do so make it possible, by any appropriate means, for any person resident in their territories, whose pre-existing or present health problems it should be possible to identify in an emergency, to obtain, on a voluntary basis, a European emergency health card to be completed by a doctor in accordance with the specimen (4) annexed hereto; Matters concerning the preparation and updating of the card, liability as regards the accuracy of the information thereon and the confidentiality of that information will be for the Member States to deal with in accordance with national legislation and practice; II Hereby invite Member States which consider it desirable to do so, to encourage medical circles and the persons concerned, by any appropriate means, to make extensive use of the European emergency health card; III Agree to review, not later than five years after adoption of this resolution, the principle and the form of the European emergency health card on the basis of a Commission report assessing experience with the card and with similar systems existing in some Member States.