MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Inconsistencies in published occupational-accident statistics – P-000848/2025

Priority question for written answer  P-000848/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Alexander Bernhuber (PPE)

Referencing by the Commission in its reporting focuses on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, in particular in the area of ‘safety and health at work’. The questioner has noticed inconsistencies in published occupational-accident statistics, however, which raise questions as to quality assurance relating to the underlying data, as there are also extreme fluctuations in values within the EU. With regard to United Nations data, information is needed on verification, on quality (about which there are doubts) and on how discrepancies are dealt with.

• 1.Does the Commission, in particular Eurostat, independently verify the data provided by the United Nations and, if so, are the verification results made publicly available?
• 2.In the specific case of ‘Occupational Accident Statistics’, has the Commission ever identified discrepancies or voiced the suspicion that the published data may be incorrect or incomplete, and how can the Commission explain the fact that in Romania, for instance, there are only 71 ‘non-fatal occupational injuries per 100 000 workers’ and in France 2 800 and in Denmark over 3 000 ‘non-fatal occupational injuries per 100 000 workers’?
• 3.How does the Commission intend to proceed in this case in order to ensure the quality and plausibility of the data, and what measures are in place for verification or for coordination with data providers, e.g. with national statistical offices, the ILO or the United Nations?

Submitted: 26.2.2025