# CE2004084EN.01039002.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/390 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/390

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(2004/C 84 E/0453)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0417/04

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 February 2004)

Subject:   Sackings from the Finex Group factory

Subject:

The Finnish Finex Group owns a clothing factory in Nogueira, Maia, Portugal, which used to employ some 1 000 workers. Finex has already pressurised over half of them to accept dismissal agreements. Of the current 430 workers, some 300 women are now being pressurised to consent to unacceptable agreements on their dismissal by the end of this month. It should be noted that this company has received various subsidies.

Can the Commission answer the following:

| 1. | How much Community subsidy has been paid to the Finex Group in Portugal and in other EU countries? |
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1.

How much Community subsidy has been paid to the Finex Group in Portugal and in other EU countries?

| 2. | What measures are the Commission and the Portuguese Government going to take with a view to defending the employment and all the rights of Finex's workers, most of whom are women? |
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2.

What measures are the Commission and the Portuguese Government going to take with a view to defending the employment and all the rights of Finex's workers, most of whom are women?

| 3. | Is the Commission prepared to demand that the subsidies paid to the Finex Group should be repaid, if Finex continues to put pressure on its workers with a view to getting rid of them? |
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3.

Is the Commission prepared to demand that the subsidies paid to the Finex Group should be repaid, if Finex continues to put pressure on its workers with a view to getting rid of them?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Dimas on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 2004)

(31 March 2004)

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that Finex has received the following aid:

Community Support Framework (CSF II)

| (in euro) |
| --- |
| | Total | European Social Fund (ESF) | Orçameno da Segurança Social (OSS) |
| PEDIP II | 20 467,54 | 15 350,65 | 5 116,89 |

(in euro)

Total

European Social Fund (ESF)

Orçameno da Segurança Social (OSS)

PEDIP II

20 467,54

15 350,65

5 116,89

The granting of ESF assistance for vocational training measures is not subject to conditions linked to undertakings' continued existence, but to compliance with the access and eligibility criteria laid down in the regulations in force at the time of allocation of such assistance.

The Commission feels that any investment in human capital is of the greatest importance at national and regional levels. It must be underlined that ESF funding does not support a company as such, but provides an investment in human capital, so that the training which individuals benefit from improves their employability. Furthermore, as far as the Commission is aware, the company concerned is not in breach of the rules on the granting of Structural Fund assistance.

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that the company concerned has received cofinancing from the European Regional Development Fund amounting to EUR 308 413, for a project approved on 11 February 1996 under the programme for modernisation of the economic fabric (see CSF II) (1).

1

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(1)  Financial assistance to Portugal for a specific industrial development programme.

1

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