Commission Legislative Programme and Work Programme for 2008

Speech by Liz Lynne on Tue 13th Nov 2007

Mr President, I welcome many aspects of the Commission programme. In particular, I am delighted to see the Commission's commitment to bring forward a specific horizontal directive under Article 13 to combat discrimination in access to goods and services, although perhaps I would have preferred to see specific directives in all sectors. However, I do welcome it. This is something I and many other colleagues have been calling for, and I look forward to working with the Commission closely on this.

I also welcome the Commission's commitment to a communication on hospital-acquired infections. We need to work towards a code of practice at European level to ensure best practice is shared and standards are raised, given the stark differences that exist between Member States. I would also like to see an amendment to the 2000 Biological Agents Directive to protect health workers from contracting HIV and hepatitis C from needle stick injuries. There are over one million such injuries across the EU each year, and I am disappointed that there is no action planned in this 2008 work programme. I would urge the Commission to bring forward that amendment as soon as possible in line with the Parliament's request.

I would also say, under health and safety legislation, that I am pleased that you are committed to having impact assessments before any new legislation is brought forward. But I urge you to make sure that you look at the implementation of current legislation as well.