subsidisesGermanworkerswhotakeupjobsabroadbyapproximatelyDKK60anhour.Theindividual
workeralsoreceivesataxallowanceofsomeDKK800aday.
Thebusinessmaninquestionhassent3000e-mailsandfaxestoDanishfirmsofferingtosupplythem
withGermanworkersinthebuildingtradesatanhourlyrateofDKK120.Bywayofcomparison,afirm
mustpaybetweenDKK175and190anhourforaskilledDanishworker.
Thebusinessmanisdoingnothingillegal,heissimplyexploitingcurrentGermanlawasthesystemwas
introducedbytheFederalInstituteofLabour.However,thissystemisseverelyunderminingtheDanishlabourmarketinthatitisincreasingthepressureonasectorinwhichunemploymentiscurrentlyrising.
Germanyhas,ineffect,introducedanunfairsysteminanattempttoexporthighGermanunemployment
toanotherMemberState,inthiscaseDenmark,therebyunderminingtheDanishsystem.
Inthelightofthissituation,whatdoestheCommissionintendtodotoputanendtothisarrangement,
whichisdistortingcompetition?
AnswergivenbyMrMontionbehalfoftheCommission
(27May2003)
TheCommissioncanassuretheHonourableMemberthatitisawareofthefactthatemploymentaid
grantedbyMemberStatesmayhaveamajorimpactoncompetitioninthecommonmarket,althoughthepromotionofemploymentisacentralaimfortheeconomicandsocialpoliciesoftheCommunityandofitsMemberStates.TheCommunityhasdevelopedaEuropeanemploymentstrategyinordertopromotethisobjectiveandasalegalbasisforemploymentaidtobegrantedbyMemberStates,theCommissionhas adoptedCommissionRegulation (EC) No2204/2002of5December 2002onthe application ofArticles87and88oftheECTreatytoStateaidforemployment(
1).
AsregardsthespecificmeasuresmentionedbytheHonourableMember,theyseemtoformpartofplans
and measures already put into effect aimed at reforming the German labour market. Some of theseelements are presently under scrutiny by the Commissionunder State aid law. The Commissionwillrequest the German authorities to provide information on the specific measures addressed by theHonourableMemberandwillassessthemifappropriateunderStateaidrules.
(1) OJL337,13.12.2002,corrigendumOJL349,24.12.2002.
(2004/C58E/070) WRITTENQUESTIONE-1231/03
byChristopherHuhne(ELDR)totheCommission
(2April2003)
Subject:ECCommitteeontheDrivingLicence
1. WhoarethemembersofthemedicalworkinggroupsestablishedundertheauspicesoftheEC
CommitteeontheDrivingLicence,andwhatpowersordecision-makingresponsibilitiesdotheyhaverelativetoEuropeanpolicyontheuseofbiopticlensesindriving?
2. Can the Commission confirm whether the relevant working group is now established and
functioning,andwhatthefrequencyofitsmeetingsis?C58E/52 EN6.3.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
3. Whereistheissueofbiopticdrivingontheiragenda,andwhat,ifany,proactiveactionsorenquiries
aretheypursuingonthissubject?
4. Dotheyhaveanyprojectedtimeframewithinwhichtheyanticipatedevelopments?
AnswergivenbyMrsdePalacioonbehalfoftheCommission
(30April2003)
While the creation of medical working groups, including one on vision, has been announced to the
DrivingLicenceCommitteewhichapprovedoftheprinciple,theseworkinggroupshavenotyetbeenestablished,norhavetermsofreferencebeenfixedormembersappointed.ThefuturemedicalworkinggroupswillbeevaluatingthemedicalrequirementstodriveaslaiddowninAnnexIIIofCouncilDirective91/439/EECof29July1991ondrivinglicences(
1),whichwereestablishedin1991.
TheissueofbiopticdrivingisstillinanexperimentalstageintheUnion.Sofartheuseofbiopticlenses
hasnotbeenallowed,andisnotexpectedtobeforthenearfuture,asitshouldfirstbethoroughlyinvestigatedanddiscussed.
Asthemedicalworkinggrouponvisionhasnotyetbeenestablished,itisnotpossibletoaffirmifthis
subjectwillbeanissueontheagenda.
(1) OJL237,24.8.1991.
(2004/C58E/071) WRITTENQUESTIONE-1258/03
byCamiloNogueiraRomán(Verts/ALE)totheCommission
(3April2003)
Subject:ShipbuildingattheIzar-FeneshipyardintheRíadoFerrol,Galicia
TheGalicianParliamentrecentlyapprovedaproposalrequestingthattheIzar-FeneshipyardintheRíado
Ferrol,Galicia,beallowedtobuildshipsagain/dashanactivityinwhichithadreachedworld-class,buildingshipsupto300000tonnes/dashandthatitshouldbeabletocontinuemanufacturingoff-shoreequipment.TheIzar-Feneshipyard,formerlyAstanoandnowpartoftheIzarcompany,wouldthusnolongersufferfromthediscriminationwhichled,indifferentcircumstances,toitbeingbannedfrombuildingmerchantships,causingaseriouseconomiccrisisintheFerrolregion.Theneedtorenewtheworldfleetforthetransportofoilderivativesanddangerousgoods,whichisparticularlyurgentgiventhedisastrouseffectsofaccidentssuchasthatinvolvingthe‘Prestige’offtheGaliciancoast,speaksinfavourofsuchadecision,
whichwouldmakeasignificantcontributiontothedevelopmentofboththeFerrolregionandGaliciaasa
whole.
WhatdecisionwilltheCommissiontakeontherequestfromtheGalicianParliament,whichreflectsthe
desireexpressedbythewholeofGaliciansociety?
AnswergivenbyMrMontionbehalfoftheCommission
(23May2003)
ItmaybeworthrecallingthatFene(exAstano)shipyardisclosedtoshipbuildingbecausethiswasoneof
the conditionswhen the Commissionauthorised(
1)Spaintogrant substantialrestructuring aidtothe6.3.2004EN C58E/53 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion