WRITTEN QUESTION P-2345/98

by Carlos Carnero González (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 July 1998)

Subject: Situation of Reocín mine in Cantabria, Spain

The expected short-term closure of Reocín mine (Spain), which belongs to the AZSA company, due to the exhaustion of deposits is understandably causing genuine concern in the region (Cantabria) and district (Torrelavega and Besaya), since among other things the closure will lead to the loss of around 380 jobs in the mine itself and a large number of jobs indirectly linked to the mine, with the corresponding economic and social consequences.

Having visited the mine some days ago and talked at length to workers' representatives and the management of the company, this Member believes that all possible resources should be mobilized to help draw up and implement a package of measures such as those proposed by the representative trade-union groups.

In this context, is the Commission aware of the situation concerning the mine at Reocín and is it aware that a similar situation might arise in other mines with comparable features in Finland, Ireland and Sweden?

Does the Commission have a specific programme on the basis of which it might play a part in such circumstances?

Would the Commission be prepared to look into possible EU participation, through the appropriate channels and together with the local, regional and national authorities, in the district labour viability and economic and environmental recovery programme?

Does the Commission take the view that this would also help balance the treatment given to all branches of mining, including metal extraction?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(22 September 1998)

According to information provided by the Asturiana de Zinc S.A. company, the operating life of the Reocín mine is due to come to an end in early 2003. The Reocín deposits have been intensively mined for more than 100 years.

At the time of closure, the work force will have been reduced from 380 to about 170 workers, following a pre-retirement plan for all workers of 60 or over. The company intends to negotiate an agreement with the unions on severance pay for workers below pre-retirement age. However pre-retirement cannot be offered to younger workers, as it is in the coal-mining sector.

In the meantime, the company is carrying out geological research aimed at finding new mineral deposits to allow it to continue its mining activities in the region. Once ore deposits are exhausted and there are no other possibilities for mining in the area, it is common practice in the world mining industry to close down the mine and rehabilitate the site in accordance with national and regional legislation. The Commission has no indications on other zinc mine closures in the Community.

There is no specific Community programme at present which could help tackle these problems. However, several types of national initiative co-financed by the Structural Funds are currently under way in the Cantabria region, where Reocín is located, involving measures to assist training, employment, economic recovery and environmental rehabilitation in the region. If the national, regional or local authorities, as appropriate, decide to apply some of the resources currently available (or those to be allocated in the next planning period of 2000-2006) more specifically to the Reocín district, the Commission is fully prepared to provide support and backing to the initiative.

The only mining sector receiving treatment in the Community is coal mining that is covered by the European Coal and Steel Community Treaty.