WRITTEN QUESTION E-1313/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (11 April 1997)

Subject: New technologies and employment

Following the submission of 'The impact of the introduction of new technologies on employment' (CES 1403/96), it must be said that the ever-increasing impact of new technologies on growth and employment is likely to increase social exclusion and regional marginalization. This situation calls for the introduction of vigorous policies to provide support for less-qualified workers and young people looking for their first job, since these are the most economically vulnerable groups and those most prone to long-term unemployment. Combating marginalization is even more important in respect of those least-favoured regions in which the problems caused by geographical remoteness are aggravated by a lack of proper structures and infrastructure linked up by means of a network with the rest of the European Union, and by technological disparities which are far worse than any economic disparities. In line with the priorities laid down in respect of economic and social cohesion in the EU, responsibility for technological development must be taken at different levels: Community, national and regional.

The Commission is therefore asked to combine action under the Community's R& TD policy with Structural Fund operations as effectively as possible.

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1313/97 and E-1314/97 given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (17 June 1997)

The impact of technological progress, more particularly the development of information technology, on employment, is the subject of many concerns and is intensively studied at Community level. The overall conclusions of the work carried out on this issue are that the global effect of technological development on employment is a shift from less skilled and more repetitive jobs, to higher skilled and more creative ones.

It is also agreed that investment in research and technological development (RTD) has a positive impact on growth and competitiveness, which is a major factor of job creation, through the development of new products and the opening of new markets.

In order to benefit from these mechanisms, bearing in mind the concern to avoid social or regional marginalisation, the Community is making substantial efforts in the framework of social, regional, education and training and research policy, through a broad range of instruments and programmes, to stimulate both training and the mastering of new technologies, and the development of RTD activity.

The results of this action can already be observed. The gap between more advanced and less advanced Member States in terms of economic performance, as well as the even more important gap in terms of technological potential and activity, are progressively narrowing.

In order to strengthen the economic and social cohesion of the Community, and to maximise the impact of the actions undertaken, the Commission intends better to combine and fully exploit the possible synergies between RTD and regional policies, through a strengthening of the articulation between RTD programmes and structural funds.

Such a development is explicitly foreseen in the Commission proposal for the fifth framework programme (1998-2002). In a forthcoming communication on economic and social cohesion, research and competitivity, the guidelines the Commission proposes to follow in this respect will be presented, as well as mechanisms it would be possible to use.