Spanish MEPs call for defining new high-risk occupations.

MEP Maravillas Abadía Jover (EPP, ES) introduced a Proposal for a legal act covering occupational health and safety aspects back in April. Together with Dolors Montserrat (EPP, ES), she is calling for specific occupational groups to be categorised as high-risk occupations in order to better protect employees from assaults and their consequences. Especially those working in the defence and security sectors should benefit from this.

Does Europe need new high-risk professions?

Many men and women protect Europe every day. They often even risk their health when doing so. Attacks on security forces are increasing throughout Europe and with them comes the risk of losing physical and psychological integrity. This is why Jover and Montserrat are demanding appropriate high-risk prevention for police officers, military personnel and prison officers as well as customs and border officials.

The two Spaniards want to create an EU-wide definition for these high-risk occupations. They also want to provide employees in these occupations with extended rights, including the option of early retirement, access to psychological treatment for employees and their families as well as further training opportunities. Legal prosecutions following attacks against them should also be improved.

Patriots and social democrats criticised

Last year, the Patriots for Europe group attempted to introduce a similar proposal in the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL). This endeavour  failed. The EMPL coordinators decided not to pursue the Patriots' proposal. The Patriots see the European People's Party's new proposal as an affront. For them, it is just a poor copy of their 2024 proposal.

The Social Democrats believe that the proposal goes too far. They noted that it is not only jobs in the defence and security sectors that are dangerous. Public transport and healthcare employees are also being increasingly exposed to attacks. They have spoken out against separate regulations for specific occupational groups.

Any chance of success?

The European Parliament’s procedural rules stipulate that MEPs can submit a proposal for a Union act under the right of initiative. As with the Patriots' proposal, the EMPL coordinators had to decide on the success of the proposal. A majority voted in favour of converting the proposal by Jover and Montserrat into a European Parliament resolution. This proposal retains the same title and it will be added to the list of resolutions to be drafted by the European Parliament.