On Wednesday (24 September), MEP Per Clausen hosted a powerful event under the title “Asbestos – Europe’s Silent Killer – The Fight Isn’t Over” in the European Parliament. The day combined the screening of the documentary “Moral Fibre / La Fibra Sensible” with a debate between trade unions, victims’ organisations, paritarian organisations, and Members of the European Parliament.
The event was opened by Enhedslisten’s Member of the European Parliament Per Clausen, who welcomed participants and reminded the audience that while asbestos has been banned in the EU for nearly two decades, the dangers are far from over:
“Asbestos is not history — it is a present and deadly reality. Without proper screening, every school renovation or demolition project may expose workers and families to invisible risks.”
Clausen highlighted the 2023 achievement in lowering exposure limits, but warned that the most important step is still missing: a directive to ensure systematic asbestos screening and registration in all buildings across the EU.
A Film That Moves and Mobilises
The screening of Isabel Andrés Portí’s documentary “Moral Fibre / La Fibra Sensible” gave the issue a deeply personal dimension. The film tells the story of her father, who died after asbestos exposure, and shows how political action and union engagement can save lives.
In the panel debate, Nikolaj Villumsen representing the Danish Construction Unions (Dansk Byggefag) and the European Federation of Building and Wood Workers (EFBWW) underlined that while recent legislation reached with while Nikolaj was an MEP and together withMEP Véronique Trillet-Noir has made a real difference on worksites, but much more is needed:
- Mandatory screening before any renovation or demolition.
- Independent, certified asbestos experts.
- A public register of all asbestos-containing buildings.
- Stronger requirements for training and recognition of asbestos-related diseases.
“Without proper checks, workers are walking blindfolded into a death sentence. Europe must deliver for workers. No one should die from going to work,” Villumsen stressed.
Willem Van Peer from Constructiv called for more innovation for the treatment of waste, more independent experts and a European Union that sets the tone: “If the wheel starts from the EU, it gets smoother”, we also called for stronger accountability and warned against hihg costs of removal leading to “cowboys” in asbestos removal.
Marc Molitor from the Belgian Association of Asbestos Victims (ABEVA) spoke about the urgent need for fair compensation and a coordinated European removal plan. He shared the vastness of ramification of Asbestos – workers in direct contact, self-employed, families, the network of support, for instance legal support.
In the Q&A session several made emphasis on the fact that asbestos is not an isolated problem, it is a cross border problem: Marc also quotes Éric Jonckheere the former chair of ABEVA who died in 2024 of asbestos-caused cancer mesothelioma: “We are connected”. The participants from among others EU-OSHA, ABEVA, EFBWW and ETUC raised several points:
- EFBWW urged systematic training so workers know when they are handling asbestos and how to protect themselves. Giuseppe Peretti stressed that scientific tools and evidence already exist — what is needed now is political will.
- ETUC stressed the importance of expanding the EU’s list of occupational diseases to include cancers linked to asbestos, such as colon, stomach, and kidney cancers.
- EU-OSHA underlined the risk for mobile workers and particular cheaper labour from Eastern Europe.
- ABEVA raised the issue of financing, “if removal is too expensive, it incentivise for the black market increases” and raised the need coordinated EU asbestos removal strategies, as removal and training strategies varies widely sometimes even within countires.
A Call to Action
The event concluded with Per Clausen’s clear political message:
- Adopt the missing asbestos screening directive — workers must not be sent into danger blindly.
- Update the occupational diseases list to ensure victims and families receive recognition and compensation.
- Accelerate work on dangerous substances including by strengthening the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Directive and ECHA’s wiork to analyse dangerous substances.
- Advance the REACH revision — we need stronger rules on chemicals in the revision expected in 2025.
Member of the European Parliament, concluded the meeting with the final words: “The European Parliament proved in 2023 that we can deliver progress with unity and determination. Now we must show the same courage again.”
Enhedslisten’s Position
Enhedslisten will continue to fight alongside trade unions and victims’ associations to ensure the European Commission delivers on its promises. Asbestos has already claimed too many lives — the fight is not over, and Europe must act now to protect workers, families, and future generations.
