WRITTEN QUESTION E-0625/00 by Alejandro Cercas (PSE) to the Commission. Accidents at the workplace in Spain.
20. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 53 E/15 The involvement of other Member States in these incidents has been examined. Member States of departure have responsibility to ensure that route plans are only endorsed if they comply with the journey times in the Directive and that the transporter returns these for checking after completion of the journey. The active involvement of both the Member State of departure and the Member State of destination is also necessary to ensure that all the requirements are met, in particular that vehicles for such journeys are of an acceptable standard. Authorisation of the transporter in this case was the responsibility of Greece. If improvements are absent, the Commission will in due course take a decision as to whether to open infringement proceedings under Article 226 (ex-Article 169) of the EC Treaty in respect of Italyís failure to adequately enforce the rules of the animal transport directives. (2001/C 53 E/017) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0625/00 by Alejandro Cercas (PSE) to the Commission (3 March 2000) Subject: Accidents at the workplace in Spain Will the Commission provide information on the data it possesses with regard to accidents at the workplace in Spain, the trends therein in recent years, and the initiatives it intends to take in order to remedy this unacceptable state of affairs, which affects millions of workers? Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (17 April 2000) The Commission has at its disposal information on workplace accident rates in Spain which the Spanish authorities provide under voluntary agreements entered into since 1992 under the ESAW harmonised statistics project (European Statistics on Accidents at Work) relating to fatal accidents and accidents resulting in more than three days absence from work. This project makes it possible to monitor trends in workplace accident rates in Europe since 1994 (after an initial year of pilot data in 1993). In view of the time needed to prepare harmonised data, the most recent information available to the Commission is for 1996. This information is available in the Health and safety at workí domain recently opened on the New Cronosí page of the Eurostat website, and in the Eurostat publication Statistics in focus ü Accidents at work in the European Union in 1996í, which will appear within the next few weeks. A copy of this publication will be sent directly to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament Secretariat. Between 1994 and 1996 workplace accident rates (number of workplace accidents per 100 000 persons in employment) evolved as follows (1). Workplace accidents resulting in more than three days absence from work: ü Community as a whole: fall from 4 539 (per 100 00) to 4 229, i. e. -6,8 %. ü Spain: increase from 6 166 to 6 736, i. e. +9,2 %. Fatal workplace accidents: ü Community as a whole: fall from 6,1 (per 100 000) to 5,3, i. e. -13,1 %. ü Spain: fall from 7,0 to 5,9, i. e. -15,7 %. Figures for Spain relating to the years after 1996, produced by the non-harmonised national methodology, are available from the Spanish authorities. C 53 E/16 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 2. 2001 The Commission has always taken initiatives to promote safety and health protection for workers at work, and over 20 áhealth and safetyí directives have been adopted by the Council on the basis of proposals from the Commission. These directives have to be transposed by the Member States, which are responsible for ensuring appropriate monitoring and enforcement of the resulting national provisions. The Commission also develops non-legislative measures designed to help improve workersí health and safety and reduce workplace accidents and occupational diseases, focusing particularly on small and medium-sized enterprises. For example, it is working on measures to enhance the awareness of the various players, in a bid to establish a prevention culture as the most effective means of meeting changes and developments in the world of work. Some of these non-legislative measures also involve the preparation of non-binding practical guides intended to make it easier to understand the obligations imposed by the new European legislation. (1) Under the ESAW project, workplace accident rates cover all of the following nine main branches: agriculture, forestry ü industry, manufacturing ü production and distribution of electricity, gas and water ü hunting, construction ü commerce, vehicle repair and repair of domestic items ü hotels and catering ü transport and communications ü financial activities ü property, leasing and services to companies (branches A and D to K respectively of the classification of economic activities in the European Community ü NACE). (2001/C 53 E/018) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0680/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission (9 March 2000) Subject: Involvement of elected representatives in overseeing international institutions Will the Commission indicate whether any discussions are taking place with governments and parliament- ary groups in order to promote the greater involvement of elected representatives in overseeing interna- tional institutions, including the United Nations? Is, for example, the Commission pursuing the European Parliamentís proposal to invite the Chairs of parliamentary environment committees to meet with officials from the UNís environmental agencies? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (5 May 2000) The issue raised by the Honourable Member on the involvement of elected representatives overseeing international institutions raises matters of global governance and reform of the United Nations system. Given that the Community is not a member of the United Nations (UN), this is an area where Member States have primary responsibility. The Honourable Member should be aware of the encouragement generally given by the Commission to closer contacts between elected representatives and also interna- tional organisations. This is also the basis for the arrangement between the Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the involvement of Members of Parliament in international conferences. (2001/C 53 E/019) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0681/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission (9 March 2000) Subject: NGO participation in discussions about the future of the UN Will the Commission say what provisions are being made for the participation of Southern NGOs and civil society organisations in the deliberations of the UNís Millennium Civil Society Forum in May, and the UN Millennium General Assembly in September?