EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/587

(2004/C 84 E/0663)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0424/04

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: Protecting wickerwork craftsmen in the Madeira Autonomous Region

Wickerwork weaving is a traditional activity of the Madeira Autonomous Region, and an integral part of the economy of the Atlantic islands of Madeira and Porto Santo, and of their culture.

Between the production of wicker and its weaving, the industry involves hundreds of jobs, giving it considerable economic weight in certain areas; many families are dependent on it. Competition from products coming from third countries, above all Asia, has thrown the industry into deep crisis, and if there are no in-depth changes, it runs the risk of folding completely, entailing the disappearance of part of the culture of the people who settled in these islands over 500 years ago.

To date, there are no measures to protect this specific ultra-peripheral regional activity. The action taken so far is not sufficiently far-reaching for this sector, neither as regards wicker growing and harvesting nor wicker weaving and marketing. What are needed are specific support programmes on an altogether different scale, encouraging the modernisation of wicker growing and treating techniques, and a proper study in the field of renewing and updating the products designed for the market, alongside measures to encourage the promotion of these products.

Within the existing programmes, what measures could be considered with a view to supporting this regional craft work sector, and what possibilities exist for providing subsidies which would ensure its survival and modernisation as an EU craft industry?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 April 2004)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's view of the importance of the economic and cultural role of traditional craftwork, including wicker weaving in Madeira.

Aware of the need to capitalise on craft product quality, the Commission has mounted a study surveying the craft arts in Europe that includes a set of recommendations on strategies to promote craft products, ranging from preserving and transferring know-how to facilitating access to national and international markets through expansion of e-commerce.

The final report can be found on the website: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/entrepreneurship/craft/craft-studies/rarecrafts.htm).

Accordingly the operational programme for Madeira (Popram III) includes various actions to protect and develop craftwork in ‘Measure 2.3: Competitiveness and economic efficiency’. The Honourable Member's attention is drawn in particular to that included in the programme complement as Action 2.3.2.: Dynamising the business environment' providing for the funding of projects capitalising on specific regional craft products such as tapestry, embroidery and wickerwork.

In addition to these measures for craft trades, wicker growing in Madeira also benefits under the POSEI specific measures for certain agricultural products for the Azores and Madeira introduced by Council Regulation (EC) No 1453/2001 of 28 June 2001 (1).

The Commission funded a study entitled ‘Support for regional craft trades’ to examine the opportunities for supporting and revitalising these. A draft programme ‘Restructuring regional craft trades’ was then drawn up for the purpose of implementing new measures to dynamise and expand tapestry, embroidery and wickerwork production.

Under the Euromed Heritage II framework programme the Commission has also provided funding for the Prodecom project aimed at mobilising the potential of the Euro-Mediterranean artistic and craft heritage by introduction of a ‘local culture product’ label intended to make it easier for the quality and originality of craft products to be recognised. In the longer term this initiative should facilitate the marketing of craft products in Europe and worldwide. The project is being coordinated by the Chambre des Beaux Arts de Méditerranée (2).

Finally, a specific aid scheme is currently being prepared for measures to promote the marketing of craft products.

The Commission continues to devote attention to this subject and is thinking of carrying out preparatory work to evaluate the feasibility of a Community instrument for promoting distinctive products — other than agricultural products — made by small European enterprises, including the traditional products of the outermost regions that are an integral part of Europe's cultural heritage and economically speaking are an invaluable asset to their producers (mainly small businesses and micro-enterprises) and local communities.

The European Social Fund (ESF) is providing EUR 99 075 446 in assistance for the Popram III programme under CSF III (2000-2006) (Measure 1.5 — Human Resource Skills and Social Equality). The assistance in Madeira is intended to help improve the population's qualification level and promote employment, employability, equal opportunities and social integration: support for young people in obtaining qualifications, both inside and outside the education system, training for those already in employment, retraining and reintegration for the unemployed, local employment expansion schemes etc.

Community aid for wickerwork producers falls within this overall human resource development framework for the Madeira Autonomous Region. It is up to the national authorities to define specific policies for the various areas of activity. Theoretically all types of action open to ESF assistance could be aided under the programme but the national authorities have set selection criteria for Popram III that give priority to training plans proposed by businesses in the sector that are undergoing restructuring and to applications submitted under Action 1.5.3 — Training for those in employment.

(1) OJ L 198, 21.7.2001.

(2) 59, rue Cambronne, 75015 Paris: ch.beaux.arts@wanadoo.fr