Commissioner Dimas (Commissioner for the Environment) gave a speech to open the proceedings of the first Environment and Health Quiz Evening. The event was organized by EPHA Environment Network (EEN) to show the linkages between Health and the Environment. The audience consisted of EEN members taking part in EEN Annual General Meeting, Members of the European Parliament, Member State Representations to the EU, the Commission Services for Health, Environment and Research, Journalists and other NGOs working in the Environment and/or Health field.

In his speech (see below) he highlighted the importance to two main tasks on Environment and Health. The first is to take action on the major environment-related health issues we already know about. The second is to think about the future. We need to develop an information base to assess how well we are doing, to identify where the gaps are and to take further action as required.

Commissioner Dimas stated that the Commission will be producing its Review and Implementation Plan on Environment and Health Information in the coming months the detailed road map on how to achieve the above.