European Parliament resolution of 12 September 2013 on the European strategy on health and safety at work (2013/2685(RSP))
Date: 2013-09-12
Institutions: Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, European Parliament
Subjects: EU employment policy, occupational safety, working environment








C_2016093EN.01015901.xml










9.3.2016   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 93/159





P7_TA(2013)0385
European strategy on health and safety at work
European Parliament resolution of 12 September 2013 on the European strategy on health and safety at work (2013/2685(RSP))
(2016/C 093/24)

The European Parliament,






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having regard to the Treaty on European Union, in particular the preamble and Articles 3 and 6 thereof,










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having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular Articles 4, 9, 145, 151, 152, 153, 154, 156 and 168 thereof,










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having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular Articles 1, 3, 27, 31, 32 and 33 thereof,










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having regard to the question to the Commission on evaluation of the European strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work (O-000073/2013 — B7-0214/2013),










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having regard to the Commission Communication of 11 March 2002 entitled ‘Adapting to change in work and society: a new Community strategy on health and safety at work 2002-2006’ (COM(2002)0118),










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having regard to the Commission Communication of 21 February 2007 entitled ‘Improving quality and productivity at work: Community strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work’ (COM(2007)0062),










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having regard to the Commission Communication of 3 March 2010 entitled ‘EUROPE 2020 — A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth’ COM(2010)2020),










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having regard to the Commission Staff Working Paper of 27 April 2011 entitled ‘Mid-term review of the European strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work’ (SEC(2011)0547),










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having regard to the Commission Staff Working Paper of 31 May 2013 entitled ‘Evaluation of the European strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work’ (SWD(2013)0202),










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having regard to its resolution of 24 February 2005 on promoting health and safety at the workplace (1),










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having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2008 on the Community strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work (2),










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having regard to its resolution of 15 December 2011 on the mid-term review of the European strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work (3),










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having regard to Rules 115(5) and 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,










A.


whereas the Europe 2020 Strategy aims, by 2020, to attain an employment rate of 75 % for the section of the population aged between 20 and 64;










B.


whereas technological progress, economic developments and the economic and social crisis continuously impact on the working environment and require rapid responses in order to provide a high level of health and safety at work;










C.


whereas the economic crisis should not be used as an excuse to undermine occupational risk prevention policies;










D.


whereas, to support legislative measures, health and safety at work has been addressed in policy documents and action programmes at EU level since 1978;










E.


whereas the Community strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work expired in 2012 and has not yet been followed up by any policy document at EU level;










F.


whereas the Commission admits that the Community strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work had a positive impact across the EU and that a number of challenges in the area of occupational safety and health still need to be addressed in the coming years;












1.


Is concerned that the Commission has not to date adopted a new European strategy on health and safety at work;












2.


Reiterates its call on the Commission to present the new European strategy on health and safety at work for the years between now and 2020; calls on the Commission to do so finally before the end of 2013;












3.


Deplores the fact that to date the Commission has not launched a proposal for a directive on either work-related musculoskeletal disorders or the review of Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work, although these were already announced in its work programme for 2011;












4.


Repeats the messages contained in its resolution of 15 December 2011 on the mid-term review of the European strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work;












5.


Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.






(1)  OJ C 304 E, 1.12.2005, p. 400.

(2)  OJ C 41 E, 19.2.2009, p. 14.

(3)  OJ C 168 E, 14.6.2013, p. 102.