26TH of November 2009, Sintra

Tim Tregenza & Boglárka BólaNetwork Managers (pre-accession)EU-OSHA, Network Unit

EU-OSHA`S EXPERIENCES WITH PRE-ACCESSION PROGRAMMES

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)

EU-OSHA: created in 1996, located in Bilbao, Spain

Responsible for the collection, analysis and dissemination of OSH information for researchers, policy makers, employers and workers

A network – based Agency

EU-OSHA: A network-based Agency

Governed by a tripartite board and bureau

Principal network comprised of FOCAL POINTS nominated by every Member State - normally the key national authority for workplace safety and health

Candidate & potential candidate countries and EFTA / EEA States also have FOPs who have observer status.

FOPs not yet established in Kosovo under 1244/99 nor in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Roles of the Focal Points

Implement the annual work programme

Organise and manage the tripartite national network (government, worker, and employer)

Provide information and feedback on initiatives and products organised or funded by EU-OSHA

Nominate representatives to expert groups

Manage the national Focal Point Website

Organise European Campaign activities

To attend focal point meetings (3 times a year)

Supporting Western Balkans and Turkey

Under the IPA funds EU-OSHA provides support to the Western Balkans (WB) and Turkey (TR) to integrate into its network and participate in activities

o Programme is based on the basic roles of the EU-OSHA Focal Point network

2006-2007 PHARE and 2008-2009 IPA I pre-accession assistance programmes to support Turkey and Croatia

2007-2009 CARDS to support Western Balkans

2009-2011 - IPA II to support Western Balkans and Turkey

IPA II programme – 900,000 EuroSupported activities

Facilitate participation at Agency meetings

Missions to the countries to visit the FOPs and the national network partners

Seminars in Bilbao to increase understanding on the operation of the Agency, the role of FOPs and national networks

Translation and printing of Agency materials

Facilitate participation at workshops, seminars in MS

Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Campaigns

EU-OSHA runs world’s largest regular OSH campaigns under the banner “Healthy Workplaces. Good for you, good for business”

Campaigns increase risk awareness and promote good practice solutions

EU-OSHA organises pan-European campaign, but States can tailor campaign themes to suite local requirements

2008/9 Campaign on Risk Assessment

Next campaign: 2010/11 – Safe Maintenance

Campaigning on national level

EU-OSHA coordinates the campaign and provides funding for the Focal Points in the MS to promote, stimulate and organise activities at national level

Agency provides support to the Focal Points of the WB and TR to organise campaign activities (seminars, press work)

o Translation and printing of campaign materials

o Focal Points are encouraged to join the Good Practice Award

Achievements and elements of success

Creation of national focal points (FOPs) and national tripartite networks

National network support by Agency staff, missions to brief FOPs and networks

Agency staff contribution to national seminars, events

Participation of States in Agency meetings

Translation of core content materials

Achievements and elements of success

Participation of States in Agency campaigns since 2006, including translation and printing of campaign materials, good practice competition, and holding of events

Participation of European OSH experts in national events (e.g. through twinning programmes)

Creation of national Focal Point Websites Participation in major European OSH survey

“ESENER” Better use of funds in case of TR, CR (PHARE

IV, IPA I)

Challenges

Turkish national service providers - the Agency needs to go through a VAT exemption procedure

No VAT problem with Croatia, rest of Western Balkans

Printing and delivery from Luxembourg causes problems at the customs in Turkey

Still no Focal Points set up in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina - no replies from relevant ministries

Capacities differ in each countries to participate in Agency activities

Only ad-hoc participation at Expert Group meetings

Ministries of WB and TR lack of resources to cover the participation at meetings

Future

More missions, seminars to meet the Focal Points and the national network partners to increase understanding on the role of the Agency, FOPs and national network

Increased contribution to national events, trainings, seminars

More funding to put on the campaign activities (seminars, press conferences, press work)

Future - needs

Different stages of development and capacitieso Some countries are able to absorb more support, few

can cover activities from own resources

Agency also needs help from the Focal Points to be able to carry out various activities (comments on Technical Specifications, suggesting companies for tenders, language checking etc.)

At present participation in Agency`s projects cannot be planned as funding cannot be guaranteed o Longer programmes are needed (4-5 year

programmes) to be able to ensure funding for participation in Agency projects

Thanks for your attention!

Tim Tregenza and Boglarka BolaEuropean Agency for Safety and Health at Work

http://osha.europa.eu/OSHA/