WRITTEN QUESTION E-2623/03 by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Eurostat taskforces.
Date: 2003-09-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, European official, Eurostat, freedom of opinion, freedom of religious beliefs, fundamental rights, regulations for civil servants

6.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 58 E/189

(2004/C 58 E/203)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2623/03

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 September 2003)

Subject: Eurostat taskforces

According to reports in the Luxembourg press, at least two of the main suspects in the Eurostat affair are
members of a freemasons’ lodge.

What information does the Commission have to suggest that leading officials in the taskforces set up by
the Commission may also have connections with freemasons’ lodges?

What steps has the Commission taken to prevent ‘fraternisation’ between its investigators and the suspects?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 2003)

Under Article 10 of the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union, everyone has the right to
freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes freedom to change religion or belief and
freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or in private, to manifest religion or
belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

Exercise of this fundamental right by its officials in a manner which does not conflict with their
obligations under the Staff Regulations is not a matter for the Commission.

(2004/C 58 E/204)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2657/03

by Manuel Pérez Álvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Health and safety in subcontracted companies

(10 September 2003)

In recent months, the media have been reporting accidents at work involving serious injuries and even
deaths amongst workers belonging to companies subcontracted by the main contractor,
temporary
workers and even workers supplied to the main contractor by a temporary job company.

The 2002-2006 Community health at work strategy covers new forms of productive work organisation on
the basis of such things as out-sourcing, subcontracting, etc.

Given the situation referred to above, has the Commission made any provision for some kind of specific
action to prevent or reduce accidents in work situations involving the presence and competition of various
companies at a single workplace?

Answer given by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(14 October 2003)

Where several companies are working on the same premises, effective coordination is needed to ensure
protection and prevent occupational risks. In this regard, the Council’s Framework 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) requires the different employers to cooperate in implementing the safety, health and
occupational hygiene provisions and, taking into account the nature of the activities, coordinate their
actions in matters of the protection and prevention of occupational risks, and inform one another and
their respective workers and/or workers’ representatives of these risks (cf. Article 6(4)). Reference should