Means available to the Agency in 2008

(Council Regulation (EC) No 2062/94 of 18 July 1994 as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1112/2005 of 24 June 2005)

Competences of the Agency as defined in the Council Regulation

Areas of Community competence deriving from the Treaty

Social provisions The Community and the Member States (…) shall have as their objectives (…) improved living and working conditions, so as to make possible their harmonisation while the improvement is being maintained (…). With a view to achieving the objectives of Article 136, the Community shall support and complement the activities o the Member States in the following fields: (a) improvement in particular of the working environment to protect workers’ health and safety; (b) working conditions; (…). (Extracts from Article 136 and 137 of the Treaty)

Objectives In order to improve the working environment, as regards the protection of the safety and health of workers as provided for in the Treaty and successive Community strategies and action programs concerning health and safety at the workplace, the aim of the Agency shall be to provide the Community bodies, the Member States, the social partners and those involved in the field with the technical, scientific and economic information of use in the field of safety and health at work.

Tasks — To collect, analyse and disseminate information on national and Community priorities and on research. — To promote cooperation and the exchange of information, including information on training programmes. — To supply the Community bodies and the Member States with information they require to formulate and implement policies, in particular as regards the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises. — To make available information on preventive activities. — To contribute to the development of strategies and Community action programmes. — To set up a network comprising national focal points and topic centres.

1 — Governing Board Composition — 1 representative of the government of each Member State. — 1 representative of the employers’ organisations of each Member State. — 1 representative of the employees’ organisations of each Member State. — 3 representatives of the Commission. Members and alternate members from the first three categories shall be appointed from the members and alternate members of the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work Task To adopt the Agency’s work programme, budget and annual general report. 2 — Bureau Composition — Chair and 3 vice-chairs of the Board. — Coordinators from each of the three interest groups. — 1 additional member from each of the groups and the Commission. Task Overseeing the preparation and follow-up of the Board’s decisions. 3 — The Director Appointed by the Governing Board on a proposal from the Commission. 4 — Committees Obligatory consultation of the Commission and the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work in respect of the work programme and budget. 5 — External audit European Court of Auditors. 6 — Discharge authority Parliament on a recommendation by the Council.

Budget — 14,9 million euro (14,9 million euro) Including: — Community subsidy, DG Employment: 96,5 % (93,8 %) — Community subsidy, DG Enlargement: 2,4 % (2,9 %) Staff at 31 December 2008 44 (42) posts in the establishment plan, of which, posts filled: 41 (38) Posts vacant: 3 (4) 23 (25) other posts (contract staff, seconded national experts and local staff). Total staff: 64 (63) assigned to operational tasks: 45 (47) administrative tasks: 10 (9) mixed tasks: 9 (7)