Greek MEP Afroditi Latinopoulou (Patriots for Europe) has called on the European Commission to update the European list of occupational diseases to include cancers linked to firefighting, citing the 2022 classification by the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which deemed occupational exposure of firefighters as 'carcinogenic to humans'. The written parliamentary question, submitted on 3 June 2026, targets the Commission's role in prevention, monitoring, and compensation for firefighters diagnosed with malignant neoplasms.
updating the European list of occupational diseases, proposing EU-level guidelines for Member States on prevention and compensation, and requesting data on occupationally related cancers and deaths among firefighters across the EU. The MEP emphasises that several Member States have already made specific arrangements to recognise such cancers, suggesting a patchwork of national approaches that the Commission could harmonise.
Policy orientations point toward stronger EU-level action on occupational health for a high-risk profession, with potential implications for national social security systems and employers' liability. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its response will signal whether it plans to initiate a revision of the European Schedule of Occupational Diseases (Recommendation 2003/670/EC) or prefers to leave the matter to Member States.
Firefighters would benefit from clearer recognition and compensation pathways, while national health and insurance systems could face increased costs from expanded disease listings. EU regulatory bodies would need to assess the scientific evidence and coordinate with Member States. Firefighting employers and public authorities may face higher insurance premiums or prevention obligations.