evaluation of the european strategy on safety and health at work ...

156 EVALUATION OF THE EUREVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN STRATEGY ON SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK 2007-20121566 Horizon scanningThis section contains <strong>the</strong> forward looking part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>evaluation</strong> considering <strong>the</strong>conditions and trends, which are important to take into account when assessing <strong>the</strong>relevance <strong>of</strong> possible new policy initiatives to follow <strong>the</strong> current European <strong>strategy</strong>.The chapter is organised to provide an overview <strong>of</strong>:› The economic situation and <strong>the</strong> implications for occupational health and safetymeasures (section 5.1);› The social and industrial trends and <strong>the</strong>ir implications for persistent andemerging risks in relation to occupational health and safety (section 5.2);› The policy developments at <strong>the</strong> EU level in response to <strong>the</strong> economic andsocial situations and forecasts for <strong>the</strong> coming years as well as in key policyareas related to occupational safety and health (section 5.3);› The views <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stakeholders on <strong>the</strong> relevance <strong>of</strong> new policy measures at EUlevel (section 5.4).6.1 Economic situation and outlookFinancial andeconomic crisisalmost from <strong>the</strong> start<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>strategy</strong>period …6.1.1 Economic crisis and employment conditionsThe consequences <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> financial crisis that started in 2008 (and so almost from<strong>the</strong> start <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>strategy</strong> period) were according to <strong>the</strong> European Commission 173fully felt for <strong>the</strong> real economy in 2009 when GDP declined at an unprecedentedrate throughout <strong>the</strong> EU as well as in most o<strong>the</strong>r parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> global economy.Although employment proved very resilient in Europe immediately after <strong>the</strong>recession, job shedding has become widespread and unemployment shot up in mostEU Member States in 2009.173 European Commission, Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, LabourMarket Developments in Europe, 2011.http://projects.cowiportal.com/ps/A019055/Documents/3 Project documents/Interim and final report/Final report October 2012/OSH <strong>evaluation</strong>report_Final_submitted14 March 2013.docx