A4-0248/95

Proposal for a Council Decision (EC) on implementation of a Community action programme to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry (COM(95)0087 - C4-0404/95 - 95/0081(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 5 *

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5. Whereas the rapid completion of the internal energy market constitutes a fundamental element for a competitive European industry;

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5. Whereas the rapid completion of the internal energy and telecommunications markets constitutes a fundamental element for a competitive European industry;

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* (Recital 6 in the other language versions.)

(Amendment 2)

Recital 7

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7. Whereas economic and social cohesion and the competitiveness of European industry are linked in that a competitive European industry can contribute to cohesion and cohesion can provide industry with the benefits of a wider commercial and geographic base;

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7. Whereas there is no social progress without competitiveness and economic growth but conversely it is not possible to ensure industrial competitiveness without taking the social dimension into account;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 8

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8. Whereas, notwithstanding the important role of public authorities, the maintenance and improvement of industrial competitiveness is primarily the task of business;

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8. Whereas, notwithstanding the important role of public authorities, industrial competitiveness depends on the common involvement of enterprises, individuals and social partners;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 8a (new)

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8a. Whereas the industrial competitiveness of businesses is adversely affected, inter alia, by the cost and quality of services offered by public sector businesses with a monopoly position on the market,

(Amendment 5)

Recital 9

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9. Whereas accelerated technical progress, increasing globalization of markets, intensification of international competition and the increasing importance of environmental protection require greater efforts from all those with responsibility in the economic, political and social field in order to facilitate the necessary structural adjustments, inter alia to ensure a sustainable development, and to create new jobs;

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9. Whereas accelerated technical progress, increasing globalization of markets, intensification of international competition and the increasing importance of protecting labour conditions and the environment require greater efforts from all those with responsibility in the economic, political and social field in order to facilitate the necessary structural adjustments, inter alia to ensure a sustainable development, and to create new jobs;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 10

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10. Whereas it is necessary to avoid distortions of competition and to promote the opening up of markets both within and outside the Community;

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10. Whereas it is necessary to avoid distortions of competition and to promote the opening up of markets both within and outside the Community; whereas, however, democratic structures such as employee participation and social standards as factors which bring stability to a society and form the basis for sound economic growth must not be sacrificed for the sake of a misconceived competition policy;

(Amendment 7)

Recital 10a (new)

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10a. Whereas the development of human resources especially through vocational training constitutes an essential aspect of the structural adjustments needed to improve industrial competitiveness;

(Amendment 8)

Recital 11a (new)

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11a. Whereas dialogue between labour and management gives workers the opportunity to take an active part in training programmes, organizing work and improving productivity, all of which help to enhance competitiveness;

(Amendment 9)

Recital 11b (new)

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11b. Whereas social dialogue and the participation of employees in devising training measures, modernizing the organization of labour and production and in negotiations make a key contribution towards increasing competitiveness; whereas, as an instrument for increasing competitiveness, they are capable of being further developed throughout the Union and should be stepped up in the context of the action programme;

(Amendment 10)

Article 1 (A)(B)(C) and (D)

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A. to eliminate unnecessary legal and administrative constraints for enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises;

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A. to promote intangible competitiveness factors;

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B. to ensure fair competition;

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B. to eliminate unnecessary legal and administrative constraints for enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises;

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C. to strengthen industrial co-operation;

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C. to ensure fair competition;

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D. to promote intangible competitiveness factors.

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D. to strengthen industrial co-operation.

(Amendment 27)

Article 1(Da) (new)

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Da. to modernize the role of the public authorities in order to ensure that the public sector continues to have a role in the future (innovative regulation)

(Amendment 11)

Article 1a (new)

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Article 1a

The annexed action programme shall be supplemented by a document which identifies the priorities of actions, the financial impact and likely results of the actions undertaken to achieve the various objectives. This document should in particular illustrate results of competitiveness improvements of each industrial sector including its effects on the employment situation. These results will then be used to raise the effectiveness of the action-programme on the employment situation. Programmes which provide incentives for innovative investments in environment-friendly systems and technologies shall be explicitly documented.

(Amendment 12)

Article 2

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The Commission shall send the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions a report evaluating the results obtained together with, where necessary, appropriate proposals.

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The Commission shall send the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions a report on an annual basis, as referred to in Article 1a, evaluating the results obtained together with, where necessary, appropriate proposals. The Commission shall also assess the success of the action programme and consider possible improvements at the annual hearing in the European Parliament, on the basis of its annual report.

(Amendment 13)

Annex, second square, third indent, third subindent a (new)

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. to minimise the risk of social dumping in the EU by defining minimum social requirements.

(Amendment 14)

Annex (1)(a) Action

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Action

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Action

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Draft communication on the promotion of intangible investment

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Draft communication on the promotion of intangible investment

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action on human resources

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action in the field of human resources with particular emphasis on the use of qualified female workers;

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action on vocational training and education in business administration with the emphasis on supporting small and medium-sized businesses

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Further support from the Structural Funds to improve the business environment and business cooperation and to support intangible investment by businesses.

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Further support from the Structural Funds to improve the business environment and business cooperation and to support intangible investment by businesses.

(Amendments 16 and 28)

Annex (1)(g) Objectives and Action

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Objectives

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Objectives

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introduction of new ways of organising work and improvement of the fiscal environment, particularly for small firms;

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taking into consideration the new possibilities afforded by the information society, introduction of new ways of organising work and improvement of the fiscal environment, particularly for small firms;

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Action

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Action

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involvement of management and labour in implementation of objective 4 and of the ADAPT and LEONARDO programmes

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involvement of management and labour in implementation of objective 4 and of the ADAPT and LEONARDO programmes

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encouraging new ways of working through employer and employee dialogue

(Amendment 18)

Annex (1)(ja) (new) Objectives and Action

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Objectives

Adaptation of human capital to structural change initiated as a result of competition

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Action

Development of retraining and continuing training strategies for workers in industries with poor long-term prospects for remaining competitive

(Amendment 29)

Annex (1)(jb) (new)

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Objectives

Improvement of the fiscal environment, particularly for small firms: promotion of entrepreneurial ethos:

Action

to be defined.

(Amendment 19)

Annex (2)(a)(4), Objectives and Action

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Objectives

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Objectives

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recourse to the Working Party of the Heads of Industrial Policy Departments to facilitate industrial cooperation operations and efforts to find information and partners

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recourse to the Working Party of the Heads of Industrial Policy Departments in cooperation with the trade unions and employers' associations to facilitate industrial cooperation operations and efforts to find information and partners

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Action

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Action

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meetings of the senior officials on industry with a view to establishment of a database on opportunities for industrial cooperation

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meetings of the senior officials of industry, jointly with trade union and employers' representatives, with a view to establishment of a database on opportunities for industrial cooperation, while taking into account the implications for the workforce in terms of employment and training requirements

(Amendment 20)

Annex (2)(a)(6), Action

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Action

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Action

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Promotion of scientific and technological cooperation under the fourth framework R& D programme.

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Promotion of scientific and technological cooperation under the fourth framework R& D programme.

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Promotion of the information society in business with the emphasis on small and medium-sized businesses.

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Preparation of a conference on the information society with the developing world.

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Preparation of a conference on the information society with the developing world.

(Amendment 21)

Annex (2)(a)(6a) (new), Objectives and Action (new)

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Objectives

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Strengthening of SMEs through cooperation

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Action

- research into cooperation as a factor in achieving success

- establishing a link between cooperation and other critical success factors such as marketing, production, organization, distribution

- creation of a centre of excellence in the sphere of European marketing targeted at SMEs.

(Amendment 22)

Annex (2)(a)(6b) Objectives and Action (new)

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Objectives

enhancing SMEs' internal communications infrastructure

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Action

- communication targeted at SMEs

- measures designed to support the management of SMEs.

(Amendment 23)

Annex (3)(a)(1) Action

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Action

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Action

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active participation in the work of the WTO

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active participation in the work of the WTO, especially on social issues in collaboration with the International Labour Office

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- work on harmonisation of non-preferential rules on origin (conclusions scheduled in 1998)

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- work on harmonisation of non-preferential rules on origin (conclusions scheduled in 1998)

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- further negotiations on steel, aviation and services (for example, telecommunications)

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- further negotiations on steel, aviation and services (for example, telecommunications)

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action to encourage the ratification of the ILO conventions and to step up the resources for monitoring them

(Amendment 24)

Annex (3)(b)(3a) (new)

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Objectives

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promoting the social dimension of the Internal Market

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Action

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adoption of the pending proposals for directives (eg posting of workers) and presentation of the ones suggested in the White Paper on social policy

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Timetable

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1995

(Amendment 25)

Annex (4)(b) Action

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Action

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Action

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To be defined

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encouraging modern management techniques in the delivery of public services

(Amendment 26)

Annex (4)(ia) (new), Objectives

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Objectives

multi-surveillance of the labour costs within the EU

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision (EC) on implementation of a Community action programme to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry (COM(95)0087 - C4-0404/95 - 95/0081(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(95)0087 - 95/0081(CNS),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 130 of the EC Treaty (C4-0404/95),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy and the Committee on Social Affairs and Employment (A4-0248/95),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

5. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.