WRITTEN QUESTION E-3658/03 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Ban Bullying Day — future action.
Date: 2003-12-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU action, occupational health, occupational safety, psychological harassment, public awareness campaign, violence, workplace

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/307

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(23 December 2003)

The Commission would refer
Mrs Muscardini (1)

(1) See page 263.

the Honourable Member

to its answer

to written P-3334/03 by

(2004/C 78 E/0309)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3658/03

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(9 December 2003)

Subject: Ban Bullying Day (cid:1) future action

Given that bullying at work is an increasing problem for workers in many Member States, the trade union
Amicus has for the past ten years been campaigning and seeking legislation in the UK and Ireland to
protect workers from the various forms of ill-treatment which constitute bullying. I believe that the
decision of Amicus and several other organisations in the United Kingdom to declare Thursday,
16 October 2003 (during European Safety Week) Ban Bullying Day was a step in the right direction.

Will the Commission investigate the extent of the problem of workplace bullying across the EU and the
existence of legal and other protective measures in the various Member States with a view to bringing
forward a report and proposals for action, taking into particular consideration the views of Amicus and
the European Agency on Safety and Health, reporting back to Parliament with a timetable for action?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2004)

In its communication ‘Adapting to change in work and society: a new Community strategy on health and
safety at work 2002-2006’ (1), the Commission announced that it would ‘examine the appropriateness and
the scope of a Community instrument on psychological harassment and violence at work’.

The Commission is at present gathering and reviewing the information available in this field. This review
covers, among other things, the legislative initiatives and/or rules adopted or envisaged in the Member
States.

Against that background, Parliament’s resolution on harassment at the workplace (2) and the opinion
adopted on violence at work by the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at
Work (3), plus the information available through the European Agency for Health and Safety at Work, will
also be taken into account. The Commission will also be mindful of specific experience in the area of
violence at work, such as that mentioned in your written question.

Using the above as a basis, the Commission plans to consult the social partners in the course of 2004 on
the possible direction of Community action in this field. Such consultation was included in the
Commission’s work programme for 2004 (4).

The Commission considers that bullying, harassment and intimidation are specific instances of violence at
the workplace. In principle, it is planned that the consultation of the social partners will cover all forms of
violence which could affect workers’ health, physical and psychological integrity, and dignity.

(1) COM(2002) 118 final.
(2) A5-0283/2001 du 19.9.2001.
(3) COM(2003) 346 final.
(4) COM(2003) 645final.