# CE2004078EN.01087101.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/871 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/871

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(2004/C 78 E/0924)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3886/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject:   Alcatel Italia and the seat of the European Satellite Agency

Subject:

In June 2003 the management of Alcatel presented its financial plans, which including cutting about 1 300 jobs, most of them in Italy (at Cittaducale in the province of Rieti and Battipaglia in the province of Salerno). It should be remembered that Alcatel, as well as producing telecommunications equipment, is Europe's biggest supplier of satellite technology. Its employees are therefore what are commonly known as ‘highly-specialised’ workers. Although the closure of these plants will lead to an employment crisis which would hit specialised workers, many of whom are women and young people, there is also a possibility that the European Satellite Agency may be set up in Lazio. For this possibility to become a reality, the competent Italian authorities and the entities involved are trying to plead the casue of the Lazio region as the ideal location. In the light of the employment problems which closure of the Alcatel plants would cause, the choice of Rome (or another municipality in Lazio) as the headquarters takes on even greater importance.

In view of the above, can the Commission say:

| 1. | whether the threatened crisis involving Alcatel may influence the decision concerning the seat of the Satellite Agency; |
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1.

whether the threatened crisis involving Alcatel may influence the decision concerning the seat of the Satellite Agency;

| 2. | whether it intends to back Rome's application to become the seat of the Satellite Agency, in view of the possibility of finding new jobs for specialised workers who would otherwise be threatened with unemployment? |
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2.

whether it intends to back Rome's application to become the seat of the Satellite Agency, in view of the possibility of finding new jobs for specialised workers who would otherwise be threatened with unemployment?

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 2004)

(4 February 2004)

| 1. | To date, as specified in the Commission's proposal for a Regulation on the future structures for the management of the Galileo satellite radionavigation programme (1), it has been proposed only to set up a ‘Supervisory Authority’ responsible for representing and defending public interests during the deployment and operational phases of the programme. Its staff will be limited in number (less than 50 people), so unfortunately this will not solve the problem of the 1 300 jobs lost in Cittaducale. Moreover, the duties performed by this public authority will be very different from the work of a private company. |
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1.

To date, as specified in the Commission's proposal for a Regulation on the future structures for the management of the Galileo satellite radionavigation programme (1), it has been proposed only to set up a ‘Supervisory Authority’ responsible for representing and defending public interests during the deployment and operational phases of the programme. Its staff will be limited in number (less than 50 people), so unfortunately this will not solve the problem of the 1 300 jobs lost in Cittaducale. Moreover, the duties performed by this public authority will be very different from the work of a private company.

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| 2. | Work on this proposal for a Regulation has only just begun in the Council and the question of the Supervisory Authority's headquarters has not yet been discussed. |
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2.

Work on this proposal for a Regulation has only just begun in the Council and the question of the Supervisory Authority's headquarters has not yet been discussed.

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(1)  COM(2003)471 final.

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