On Monday 27 September, MEPs in the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) adopted by an overwhelming majority (47 votes in favour, 0 against and 7 abstentions) the ‘Villumsen’ own-initiative report in which they call on the European Commission to come up with a real asbestos removal strategy and introduce an occupational exposure limit value for asbestos, against the European Commission’s own advice.
“The European Commission needs to develop a comprehensive, cross-cutting strategy if it is to achieve the zero work-related deaths target (set out in the new OSH strategy) and if it is to prevent the wave of building renovation it is proposing from causing hundreds, if not thousands, of deaths”, rapporteur Nicolaj Villumsem (The Left, Denmark) told EUROPE.
Thus, as mentioned in our lines, the own-initiative report calls on the institution to present a ‘European Strategy for the Removal of All Asbestos’ (ESRAA), which would include national asbestos removal plans, and to draw up a series of initiatives and legislative amendments at European level.
Of particular importance, MEPs supported (39 votes in favour, 11 against and 3 abstentions) an occupational exposure limit value of 1,000 fibres/m3 (i.e. 0.001 fibres/cm3), despite the tabling of an amendment by the EPP and the ECR against this principle (see EUROPE 12796/17). In the end, the EPP supported the proposal, leaving the RCE and ID to vote against.
The European Commission had called on MEPs before the vote not to include such a value, on the grounds that the issue was particularly complex and that the autonomy of the social partners should be respected. “The Commission’s interference is both incomprehensible, as until recently there was positive feedback on limit values, and unacceptable. Our committee is trying to see what response we should give at Parliamentary level to the behaviour of the European Commission”, commented the rapporteur.
MEPs also call for systematic screening and removal of asbestos before any renovation work is carried out as part of the European Commission’s ‘renovation wave’ of buildings.
All compromise amendments were voted. The text is expected to be presented to the plenary session during the second session in October. An amendment against the occupational exposure limit value by the EPP is highly unlikely, the MEP said.
The unions applaud. The European Federation of Building and Woodworkers welcomed the vote by MEPs. “This is a very important first victory for all construction workers, firefighters, miners and cleaners or waste disposal workers who are regularly exposed to asbestos”, said General Secretary Tom Deleu. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)