Brussels, 08/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - Meeting under the chairmanship of Juan Carlos Aparicio, on Thursday, the EU Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs stuck to their guns regarding the draft directive on worker protection against the risks linked to exposure to asbestos (see EUROPE of 4&5 March, p.15). Work will continue within Coreper, while waiting for the EP's opinion.
In addition, an agreement emerged on the great majority of provisions concerning the statute of the European co-operative company. Two issues remains in suspense, the possible introduction of a threshold in terms of company employees for the directive's implementation, the retention of the right, there where it exists, of worker representatives of being members of and voting at a general assembly of co-operatives.
Furthermore, ministers: 1) adopted a preliminary draft report on health care and care for the elderly, prepared by the Committee for Social Protection and the Economic Policy Committee; 2) took note of the: - a) 2002 working programme of the Social Protection Committee, whose chair, Mr. Briet said that combating social exclusion and the viability of pension schemes would retain a high priority; - b) the Employment Committee, for which its chair, Mr. Tucker, said that the Committee was to finalise the impact assessment of the European strategy for employment and discuss future guidelines. The two committees will attend the Employment Council in view of preparing its contribution to the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines; 3) heard Commissioner Diamantopoulou speak on the key elements of the EC strategy regarding health and safety at work, as well as on the Communication relating to demographic challenges that she will soon be presenting; 4) were briefed by the Presidency on the state of preparedness of the 2nd world assembly on ageing (Madrid 8-12 April) and by the German delegation on a ministerial conference on ageing (Berlin in September).