A note from Belgium and Italy, supported by Romania and Malta, proposes that the EU Council establish a European Day in Remembrance of the Victims of Accidents at Work and for the Protection and Dignity of Workers, to be observed annually on 8 August. The proposal is scheduled for discussion at the EPSCO Council meeting on 29 June 2026.
The initiative builds on a European Parliament resolution adopted on 21 May 2026 (2025/3046 (RSP)) with 395 votes in favour, 12 against, and 41 abstentions, which called for the creation of such a day. The date 8 August commemorates the 1956 Bois du Cazier mine disaster in Marcinelle, Belgium, where 262 miners of various European nationalities died.
The proposed day aims to honour victims of workplace accidents and occupational diseases, raise awareness on prevention, occupational health and safety, and decent working conditions, and strengthen EU and Member State commitment to the "Vision Zero" objective of eliminating work-related deaths, accidents, and diseases. It would complement the International Labour Organization's World Day for Safety and Health at Work (28 April) from a European perspective, highlighting shared historical memory and specific European labour market challenges.
Belgium and Italy also note that 2026 marks the eightieth anniversary of the Marcinelle disaster, adding symbolic weight to the proposal. If the Council backs the initiative, the European Day would be formally established through a Council decision, likely following further procedural steps.