WRITTEN QUESTION E-0834/99

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission

(7 April 1999)

Subject: Competitiveness of the slate industry

In its answer to my previous Written Questions E-4009/97 and E-4011/97(1), the Commission informed me that it was pursuing a policy of competitiveness for extractive industries in line with the approach set out in the communication on the competitiveness of the non-energy extractive industry and the Council's conclusions of 18 November 1993. The Commission also indicated that its communication on the competitiveness of the construction industry sets out four major strategic objectives and over 60 specific measures to improve the industry's competitiveness. The Commission further pointed out that, with the help of those involved in the industry, the Commission regularly publishes a directory on European minerals which is designed to increase market transparency both for consumers and producers, many of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and that it had invited the European slate sector association to collaborate on that directory.

Can the Commission say in which of those specific initiatives to improve competitiveness the Community slate industry has participated to date, and in what way, with particular reference to the Spanish slate industry?

Can the Commission say what action has been taken to encourage the participation of the Community slate industry in the above directory, and whether slate is now included in the directory?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(26 April 1999)

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's reply to Written Question P-4009/97(2) as far as action by the Commission to improve the competitiveness of the Community non-energy extractive industry in general, including the slate industry, is concerned.

The follow-up to this action includes a regular review of the Community extractive industry by the plenary group for the supply of raw materials, which is made up of representatives of industry, the Member States and the Commission. The Community mining industry is represented in this group among others by Euromines, whose European slate producers' association, Euro Slate, became an associate member this year. Euro Slate represents the French, German, UK and Spanish slate producers. Euro Slate was invited by the Commission to take part in the last meeting of the plenary group in Brussels on 15 December 1998, but was not represented at the meeting.

The European Minerals Yearbook, which is produced under the auspices of the Commission in order to improve the transparency of the market concerned(3), includes a chapter devoted entirely to the slate industry. The Commission will be starting this year on a revision of this publication, which will essentially consist of updating the electronic publication available on the Internet. Given the prime importance which the Commission attaches to contributions and advice from the Community extractive industry associations, Euro Slate's assistance will be requested for this and future revisions.

(1) OJ C 196, 22.6.1998, p. 56.

(2) OJ C 19, 22.6.1998.

(3) The second edition is available from the following Internet address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg03/publicat/emy/index.htm).