Removing asbestos from public spaces

27.4.2016

Question for written answer E-003361-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Sofia Ribeiro (PPE)

The survey made in Portugal of the number of public buildings containing asbestos has produced worrying results. This fibrous material is linked to a number of different diseases, two of the most widely known being asbestosis and mesothelioma. The use of asbestos has been banned in the EU since 2005, but many buildings are still affected. The WHO records 112 000 deaths across the world and around 30 000 cases of asbestos-related diseases in the European Union every year. More than 300 000 people are expected to die from mesothelioma by 2030.

Can the Commission enable access to the structural funds specifically for asbestos removal and substitution plans?

Given that this is a problem that goes beyond the Member States, is the Commission considering the possibility of instigating a worldwide campaign to combat the continued use of asbestos, above all in emerging countries?

Is the Commission considering the possibility of setting up a platform to share experiences that would also involve representatives of the national environment agencies?