WRITTEN QUESTION E-1703/03 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Stress in Europe.
Date: 2003-05-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU action, mental stress, occupational health, social partners, worker (EU)

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/215

The Commission is planning to present a proposal for a Directive on reduced VAT rates before the
summer. The main purpose of the proposal will be to improve the functioning of the single market by
rationalising Member States’ use of reduced rates: the aim will be to avoid distortions of competition by
giving Member States the same scope to set reduced rates.

The merits of extending this scope to new areas will be carefully examined in preparation for this
forthcoming review of reduced rates.

(1) COM(2001) 599 final.

(2004/C 11 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1703/03

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 May 2003)

Subject: Stress in Europe

Millions of Europeans suffer from stress, at a cost to the economy of billions of euros. This alarming
situation calls for urgent action to be taken to remedy an ill that blights the lives of many of our citizens.

the importance of

stress as a work-related health problem in its
The Commission recognises
communication ‘Adapting to change in work and society: a new Community strategy on health and safety
at work 2002-2006’, with regard to which, in its Resolution of 23 October 2002, Parliament called on the
Commission to ‘allocate the resources necessary to reflect the high priority to be accorded to occupational
health and safety’ and to urgently draw up a ‘detailed action plan with financial and timing commitments
against each major proposal’.

Can the Commission indicate what tangible actions it has undertaken to combat a problem which affects
millions of people and engenders significant health risks at work?

Does it intend to present any measures that would improve health at work and mitigate new health risks
in the world of work, including that of stress?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(14 July 2003)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that stress is a major scourge that affects European
workers and citizens. Therefore, several policy measures have been put forward to counteract stress and
promote well-being at European level.

First of all, the Commission produced Guidance on work-related stress (1). This Guidance provides general
information on the causes, manifestations and consequences of work-related stress, both for workers and
work organisations. It also offers general advice on how work-related stress problems and their causes can
be identified, and proposes a practical and flexible framework for action that can be adapted to suit
national and individual company situations. The focus is on primary prevention of work-related stress,
rather than on treatment. The Guidance is of a non-binding nature and is addressed to Member States and
their social partners.

‘Working on stress’ was the main topic of the 2002 European Week for Safety and Health at Work. The
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, which was in charge of the co-ordination of the Week,
set up a website (2), organised a good practice award scheme and disseminated information and education
materials. A wide range of activities, involving different types of organisations, companies and individuals,
took place in the Member States.

C 11 E/216

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

Stress is one of the themes which the interprofessional social partners at European level are addressing as
part of their autonomous work programme 2003-2005. The Commission also launched a consultation of
the European social partners on this subject, under Article 138(2) of the EC Treaty, at the end of 2002.
The Commission regards the consultation document as a means of contributing to the discussions of the
social partners within the framework of their work programme and of supporting their own joint
initiatives on the issue of stress at work. Following a seminar organised by the social partners at the end of
February 2003, the Commission anticipates a joint response by the social partners by mid-2003.

(1) European Commission: Guidance on work-related stress. Spice of life or kiss of death? Luxembourg: Office for

Official Publications of the European Communities, 2000.

(2) http://osha.eu.int/ew2002/.

(2004/C 11 E/243)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1704/03

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Youth solidarity in the Community

(22 May 2003)

The solidarity shown by young people from Spain, other Member States and candidate countries in
mitigating the consequences of the ecological disaster caused by the sinking of the oil tanker ‘Prestige’ has
served to underline that the youth of Europe have embraced the culture of voluntary activity and can play
an important role in disaster and emergency situations. Although youth policy falls within the sphere of
competence of the Member States, major progress is now being made towards standardising approaches
through the open method of coordination.

Will the Commission move beyond the YOUTH Programme and foster the creation of instruments to
support voluntary youth activities in the Community that would encourage young people to work together
towards common goals, such as, for example, cooperation in disaster situations?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2003)

The European Union already has at its disposal an instrument for supporting voluntary activities by young
people. The European Voluntary Service (EVS), part of the Youth programme (2000-2006), allows young
people to become involved in various areas of activity, such as the social field or the environment, while at
the same time acquiring skills thanks to pedagogical supervision. Each year, some 3 500 young European
volunteers take part in EVS.

In certain circumstances the EVS allows young volunteers to participate individually in solidarity activities
following disasters. However,
is not designed for rapid, collective and effective intervention in
environmental or humanitarian crisis situations.

it

For this reason, as part of its reflections on the new generation of programmes to run from 2007, the
Commission is currently considering the changes and improvements which could be made to the EVS in
this respect.

The European Convention, at the present stage of its work, is also proposing the creation of a body of
the
young European volunteers in the field of humanitarian aid.
Commission will examine how this new service can be set up and how it can be linked to the EVS.

If these proposals are confirmed,

Finally, as part of the open method of coordination in the field of youth, proposed by the Commission in
its White Paper ‘A new impetus for European youth’ (1) and adopted by the Council in its Resolution of
27 June 2002 (2), the Commission will table objectives in 2004 with a view to generally reinforcing
voluntary activities by young people.

(1) COM(2001) 681 final.
(2) OJ C 168, 13.7.2002.