Labour MEP Alfred Sant has accused the European Commission of “disgraceful” behaviour over its treatment of employees exposed to asbestos.
The former prime minister said the Commission had not yet replied to a parliamentary question about the fate of 1,700 translators, including 50 Maltese nationals, who worked at the Jean Monnet building in Luxembourg.
Four months have elapsed since Dr Sant asked the European Commission whether a definite date had been decided to transfer the employees out of the asbestos-riddled building into a safe place.
Dr Sant had also asked the Commission how many cases of asbestos were recognised as professional illness.
“European institutions should lead by showing full respect to regulations in the countries where they operate. They surely cannot appear to lead in the non-observance of rules meant to protect the health of European citizens,” Dr Sant said yesterday in a strongly-worded statement.
They surely cannot appear to lead in the non-observance of rules meant to protect the health of European citizens
Questions to the European Commission from the European Parliament should be answered within six weeks at the latest but four months have elapsed, he added.
Dr Sant took this as an indication that the European Commission “could not or did not want” to provide a firm date for the transfer of its staff.
“Staff complaints about the issue have been ignored and use of the building is in conflict with Luxembourg’s regulations regarding health and safety standards but these cannot be enforced given the Commission’s diplomatic status,” Dr Sant said.
Last July, the Luxembourg newspaper Le Quotidien revealed that killer asbestos was discovered in the Jean Monnet building and two people had already fallen ill as a result of the hazardous material.
Asbestos fibres can accumulate inside the respiratory tract over a long span of time and, in some cases, may provoke lung cancer.
The material, which was used in construction, was banned in 1989 but could still be found in various areas of the Jean Monnet building such as false ceilings, fire doors and floor tiles.
The building opened in 1975 and although its lease expired at the end of last year, construction work on a new building to house the Commission employees has been slow.