WRITTEN QUESTION E-3050/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 November 2001)

Subject: Additional information on workers' health and safety

In its reply to my Question E-0906/01(1) on adequate controls by the Member States in compliance with Article 4(2) of framework directive 89/391/EEC(2) on the improvement of the safety and health of workers, the Commission states: As far as the specific situation in Greece is concerned, the Commission requested further information from the plaintiff (Petition 00/4404) following the complaint made by the General Confederation of Greek Workers. After receiving this information, the Commission also sent a letter to the Greek Government requesting information on the introduction of measures Although a reminder letter on this matter has been sent to the Greek authorities, they have not yet provided the information requested by the Commission.

Despite all the above, the Directorate-General for Employment and Social Affairs has asked the plaintiff for additional information (Doc. 62383 of 1 August 2001). Since this remains an urgent matter and controls are still inadequate, will the Commission say why it has not opened infringement proceedings under Article 226 with the information on which the complaints are based or which it has collected itself and why it is continuing to ask for additional information from the plaintiff?

(1) OJ C 340 E, 4.12.2001, p. 119.

(2) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989, p. 1.

Joint answerto Written Questions E-3049/01 and E-3050/01given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 2001)

The Commission would like to emphasise that such a complex question as the functioning of a system of adequate controls and supervision, which the Member States must implement in accordance with Article 4(2) of Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work(1), cannot be resolved without full and detailed information concerning the alleged problems in the operation of the Greek system of controls and supervision.

The Commission therefore wrote to the Greek Government asking for information concerning the implementation of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work. The Greek Government provided some information in response, but further information is needed to enable the Commission to check the functioning of the Greek authorities' system of controls and supervision. A second letter explaining this was sent to the Greek Government on 2 August 2001. The information requested included statistics on the number of legal proceedings in the area of health and safety at work and the penalties imposed, further information on the working methods of the labour inspectorate (for example how the companies to be inspected are selected, how the inspections are carried out, whether there is a follow-up system relating to inspections and measures taken following the inspections, etc.) and a detailed description of internal controls within the labour inspectorate. The Honourable Member's questions concerning the charges brought against the undertakings and the penalties imposed are included in the information requested by the Commission in this letter to the Greek authorities.

A reply dated 9 November 2001 was received, which the Commission is currently analysing. The Commission will ensure that the appropriate measures are taken in accordance with the results of this analysis.

The complainant has been informed of the developments in this matter by letter dated 1 August 2001, to which the Honourable Member refers. This letter also invited the complainant to pass on any further information available.

(1) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.