(2004/C 84 E/0001)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0021/03

by Vitaliano Gemelli (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 January 2003)

Subject:   Appointment of senior staff in the European Commission — medical service

ILO (International Labour Organisation) Recommendation No 112 concerning occupational health services in places of employment establishes, as one of the professional guarantees designed to ensure that there is a relationship of trust between employers, workers and their occupational health service physician, ‘professional and moral independence’ vis-à-vis all those concerned.

In its resolution of 1 July 1960 on safety and hygiene at work the European Parliament recognises that occupational medicine is practised in occupational health services in companies and in the work of occupational physicians.

In its Recommendation of 20 July 1962 on company medical services (1) the Commission calls on the Member States to officially recognise occupational medicine in enterprises, emphasising that these services should preferably be headed, wherever possible, by full-time occupational physicians.

Can the Commission say why it saw fit to ignore the fundamental principles of the ILO recommendation, Parliament's resolution and its own recommendation to the Member States, by appointing an official with no medical knowledge as head of its medical service?

Does the Commission not consider that decisions of this kind may severely harm its credibility in the eyes of the other institutions and European citizens?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2003)

Contrary to what the Honourable Member appears to have been led to believe by the information at his disposal, the Commission does not disregard any of its own recommendations to the Member States on the importance of occupational health services.

After the previous head of the Medical Service in Brussels retired, the Commission decision in 2002 was taken specifically for the purpose of reinforcing its Medical Service in Brussels by giving greater attention to the management of this service through the appointment of two members of staff to lead it. The post of Unit Head was entrusted to an administrator with proven management experience and a new function of Medical Adviser — with full responsibility for the medical aspects of the service — was created. That post was assigned to a medical doctor with well established and recognised expertise in occupational health matters. The Medical Adviser is not inferior in grade or in status to any person in the Medical Service.

The Commission was assisted in coming to the decision by knowledge of the manner in which hospital management is organised in some Member States.

The Commission is sure that the Honourable Member will want to correct the impression inadvertently given by his question that ‘an official with no medical knowledge’ was appointed by the Commission to head its Medical Service, in contravention of ILO recommendations.

(1)  OJ B 80, 31.8.1962, p. 2181.