# CE2004084EN.01069901.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/699 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/699

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(2004/C 84 E/0786)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0957/04

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(23 March 2004)

Subject:   The stated intention of deactivating Sorefame-Bombardier

Subject:

Following my question of 28 November 2003 (E-3672/03 (1)), my worst expectations appear to have been fulfilled, with the announcement from Bombardier that it intends to shut down completely or drastically reduce some of its plants in Europe, and specifically Sorefame-Bombardier, in Amadora, Portugal.

1

As I stated before, this is a high-quality, high-capacity and high-tech company manufacturing and assembling rolling stock, and currently employs some 550 workers, and provides employment for a further thousand workers in subcontracted companies.

The situation is all the stranger, given that in Portugal, there are some projects which, if they were implemented, could resolve the problem, namely the Lisbon and Porto metro strategic expansion plans, and the Porto suburban trains, amongst other large-scale projects, some of them supported with Community funding.

Given what has happened in other EU Member States:

| 1. | What measures does the Commission intend to take, in terms of support mechanisms for companies, public investment, public competitions, ‘inter alia’, to guarantee Sorefame-Bombardier employment and high-quality production, and thus help to prevent the worsening of the economic recession in Portugal? |
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1.

What measures does the Commission intend to take, in terms of support mechanisms for companies, public investment, public competitions, ‘inter alia’, to guarantee Sorefame-Bombardier employment and high-quality production, and thus help to prevent the worsening of the economic recession in Portugal?

| 2. | Does the Commission intend to adopt measures to stimulate Portuguese contracts with Sorefame-Bombardier, to prevent the stopping of assembly lines in the near future, and consequent impact on jobs, given that Portugal currently suffers from the highest unemployment growth figures in the EU? |
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2.

Does the Commission intend to adopt measures to stimulate Portuguese contracts with Sorefame-Bombardier, to prevent the stopping of assembly lines in the near future, and consequent impact on jobs, given that Portugal currently suffers from the highest unemployment growth figures in the EU?

| 3. | Does the Commission not believe that what is happening with Sorefame-Bombardier in Portugal, amongst many other examples, makes it clear that there has to be public intervention in companies of fundamental strategic importance, i.e. multinationals, in order to guarantee employment, production and development? |
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3.

Does the Commission not believe that what is happening with Sorefame-Bombardier in Portugal, amongst many other examples, makes it clear that there has to be public intervention in companies of fundamental strategic importance, i.e. multinationals, in order to guarantee employment, production and development?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 April 2004)

(21 April 2004)

On the social impact of Bombardier's planned closing of European plants, we can add nothing to what we have already told the Honourable Member in our reply to question E-3672/03 (2).

2

Suitable measures to help revive strategic industrial sectors such as the one to which the Honourable Member refers are a responsibility of the Portuguese authorities, which have reached agreement with us on introduction of mechanisms for supporting enterprises in that sector and on public investment (under the Economy and Transport Operational Programmes we have approved (3)). All action of this type must be in line with Community rules and policies, e.g. on public contracts.

3

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(1)  OJ C 78 E, 27.3.2004.

1

(2)  OJ C 78 E, 27.3.2004.

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(3)  C(2000)1774, 28.7.2000; C(2000)2382, 28.7.2000.

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