Safety crimes in the enlarged Europe between economic and social drivers

Safety crimes are an often neglected form of upperworld criminality. In particular, these are crimes arising from employers’ failure to comply with health, safety and welfare standards at work. This article focuses on safety crimes in the enlarged Europe and on the challenges raised for European policy-making on occupational safety and health by the accession of new Eastern European Member States. It is organised as follows. It first defines more clearly these crimes in terms of their impact and aetiology. Working conditions and illicit practices impacting upon workers’ safety and health in the enlarged Union are then analysed, in particular by comparing the situation in old and new Member States. EU standards to respond to and prevent such illicit conducts are then considered, as well as their level of transposition and implementation in new Member States. Some ways to improve working conditions in Eastern European countries are suggested, together with some conclusive remarks concerning the transnational dimensions of these phenomena within Europe.