EU regional and local leaders supported the European Commission's proposals to revise a directive on protecting workers from the effects of asbestos, while stressing that the directive deals with asbestos in a very fragmented way and that the broad spectrum of asbestos regulation should be strengthened by a European strategy for asbestos removal, which would ensure an integrated approach of different policies and implement systemic and effective solutions in all Member States on inventory, monitoring, safe disposal, storage, education and training methods.
Limiting the issue to the protection of workers from the risks of asbestos exposure in the workplace will not ensure effective and comprehensive prevention of work-related cancers, the European Committee of the Regions said, arguing that information and education campaigns, health measures and changes in the management of stocks of asbestos are needed.
Asbestos is a highly dangerous, cancer-causing substance, accounting for 78% of occupational cancers diagnosed in the EU are asbestos-related. An estimated 4.1 to 7.3 million workers are currently exposed to harmful asbestos fibres, and the average time from exposure to asbestos to the appearance of the first symptoms is 30 years. More than 220 million buildings or structures were constructed before asbestos was banned (in the EU - 2005).
Rapporteur for the above opinion, Hanna Zdanowska (PL/EPP), mayor of Łódź, said: "I am very pleased that the European Commission is striving to accelerate the rate of elimination of asbestos and to secure employees dealing with its removal. In order to better protect our citizens and workers, I call for increased cooperation at EU level and the need for new grant mechanisms and financial incentives for citizens interested in replacing asbestos roofing. Poland is a leader in developing solutions for asbestos removal. However, despite many actions, it is estimated that my region - the Łódź Voivodeship - needs 102 years to completely solve asbestos problem. The current pace of asbestos removal in the EU is far from sufficient and justifies the need to redefine the current EU asbestos policy."
In their opinion on Amending the Directive on Asbestos, adopted on 16 March at the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions, local and regional leaders backed changes to the directive on asbestos in the workplace in order to improve the protection of workers by significantly lowering the maximum acceptable level of occupational exposure to asbestos At the same time COR recommends further reduction of a threshold three years after the entry into force of the Directive
Local representatives also underlined that a key element is the creation of mechanisms to safely speed up the removal of asbestos by raising awareness and increasing protections for workers and residents (including local and regional government and health-care workers). At the same time, they pointed to the need for a specific health-care and treatment regime for those suffering from asbestos-related diseases, typically (current and former workers in sectors exposed to asbestos.
The opinion calls for solutions to be put in place to monitor asbestos removal more effectively and for local and regional authorities to be given direct access to European Structural and Investment Funds to carry out plans for the safe removal of asbestos. Additionally, the opinion argues that one of the key aspects for the realisation of an asbestos-free future is the establishment of a financial framework using funds (ESIF) to support building owners, thereby linking the safe removal of asbestos to other public policies and programmes (such as energy efficiency, better living conditions, social housing and disease prevention).
In a broader context, the opinion also relates to the Renovation Wave Strategy and the proposal for a revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The proposals on the risks of asbestos exposure are part of the prevention pillar of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, and will contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal, the Zero-Pollution Action Plan and the European Pillar of Social Rights.
