The European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) finally confirmed (49 votes to 2 with 3 abstentions), on Tuesday 13 April, the negotiating mandate for the interinstitutional talks of far-right MEP Stefania Zambelli (ID, Italy), rapporteur for the directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work.
However, this is only a “formal” vote, several sources assure us. In practice, the negotiations will be led by the Chair of the EMPL Committee, Lucia Nicholsonová (ECR, Slovakia). This is the result of backroom discussions with the different political groups, which are not very enthusiastic about the idea of having a far-right MEP represent the European Parliament.
Ms Zambelli will nevertheless remain at the forefront of the negotiations as one of the shadow rapporteurs. Thus, the aim is to make as much progress as possible on this issue at the technical level, in order to limit political discussions.
This sets a “precedent”. In the recent history of the European Parliament, there has never been a far-right negotiator in front of the EU Council, we are told. The fact that the legislative text fell into the hands of the ID group was problematic from the outset. When voting on the content of the text, the EPP, S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and The Left groups had rejected the compromise amendments proposed by Ms Zambelli en bloc and had voted their own compromise amendments (see EUROPE 12687/12). However, Ms Zambelli decided to keep her name on the report.
MEPs have extended the scope of the directive to include reprotoxic agents and are calling for an action plan to introduce 25 additional mutagenic and carcinogenic agents.
No dates for interinstitutional meetings are currently scheduled. The Council of the EU had already decided on its position last year. The Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council hopes to conclude by the end of its term in June, despite the delay in Parliament. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)