9.3.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 93/159

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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.