The joint Council of Ministers of labour and social affairs, meeting in Brussels, adopted two decisions in the social sector on 20 October. First, the plan for a common health card for all the countries of the Union, beginning from July 2004, was approved: emergency medical treatment may be provided to a European citizen on the territory of another state without the need for all the paperwork long prescribed. Second, the Daphne community programme for combating violence against women and children was adopted. Daphne will have a budget of 50 million euros for the period 2004-2008.
