Legislative resolution embodying Parliament' s opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision (EC) on implementation of a Community action programme to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry (COM(95)0087 - C4-0404/ 95 - 95/0081(CNS))() (Consultation procedure)
Date: 1995-10-27
Institutions: Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, European Parliament
Subjects: EU industrial policy, European Union, competitiveness













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51995AP0248

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament' s opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision (EC) on implementation of a Community action programme to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry (COM(95)0087 - C4-0404/ 95 - 95/0081(CNS))() (Consultation procedure)  


Official Journal C 308 , 20/11/1995 P. 0470 





A4-0248/95Proposal for a Council Decision (EC) on implementation of a Community action programme to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry (COM(95)0087 - C4-0404/95 - 95/0081(CNS))The proposal was approved with the following amendments:(Amendment 1)Recital 5 *>Original text>5. Whereas the rapid completion of the internal energy market constitutes a fundamental element for a competitive European industry;>Text following EP vote>5. Whereas the rapid completion of the internal energy and telecommunications markets constitutes a fundamental element for a competitive European industry;>Original text>* (Recital 6 in the other language versions.)(Amendment 2)Recital 7>Original text>7. Whereas economic and social cohesion and the competitiveness of European industry are linked in that a competitive European industry can contribute to cohesion and cohesion can provide industry with the benefits of a wider commercial and geographic base;>Text following EP vote>7. Whereas there is no social progress without competitiveness and economic growth but conversely it is not possible to ensure industrial competitiveness without taking the social dimension into account;(Amendment 3)Recital 8>Original text>8. Whereas, notwithstanding the important role of public authorities, the maintenance and improvement of industrial competitiveness is primarily the task of business;>Text following EP vote>8. Whereas, notwithstanding the important role of public authorities, industrial competitiveness depends on the common involvement of enterprises, individuals and social partners;(Amendment 4)Recital 8a (new)>Text following EP vote>8a. Whereas the industrial competitiveness of businesses is adversely affected, inter alia, by the cost and quality of services offered by public sector businesses with a monopoly position on the market,(Amendment 5)Recital 9>Original text>9. Whereas accelerated technical progress, increasing globalization of markets, intensification of international competition and the increasing importance of environmental protection require greater efforts from all those with responsibility in the economic, political and social field in order to facilitate the necessary structural adjustments, inter alia to ensure a sustainable development, and to create new jobs;>Text following EP vote>9. Whereas accelerated technical progress, increasing globalization of markets, intensification of international competition and the increasing importance of protecting labour conditions and the environment require greater efforts from all those with responsibility in the economic, political and social field in order to facilitate the necessary structural adjustments, inter alia to ensure a sustainable development, and to create new jobs;(Amendment 6)Recital 10>Original text>10. Whereas it is necessary to avoid distortions of competition and to promote the opening up of markets both within and outside the Community;>Text following EP vote>10. Whereas it is necessary to avoid distortions of competition and to promote the opening up of markets both within and outside the Community; whereas, however, democratic structures such as employee participation and social standards as factors which bring stability to a society and form the basis for sound economic growth must not be sacrificed for the sake of a misconceived competition policy;(Amendment 7)Recital 10a (new)>Text following EP vote>10a. Whereas the development of human resources especially through vocational training constitutes an essential aspect of the structural adjustments needed to improve industrial competitiveness;(Amendment 8)Recital 11a (new)>Text following EP vote>11a. Whereas dialogue between labour and management gives workers the opportunity to take an active part in training programmes, organizing work and improving productivity, all of which help to enhance competitiveness;(Amendment 9)Recital 11b (new)>Text following EP vote>11b. Whereas social dialogue and the participation of employees in devising training measures, modernizing the organization of labour and production and in negotiations make a key contribution towards increasing competitiveness; whereas, as an instrument for increasing competitiveness, they are capable of being further developed throughout the Union and should be stepped up in the context of the action programme;(Amendment 10)Article 1 (A)(B)(C) and (D)>Original text>A. to eliminate unnecessary legal and administrative constraints for enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises;>Text following EP vote>A. to promote intangible competitiveness factors;>Original text>B. to ensure fair competition;>Text following EP vote>B. to eliminate unnecessary legal and administrative constraints for enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises;>Original text>C. to strengthen industrial co-operation;>Text following EP vote>C. to ensure fair competition;>Original text>D. to promote intangible competitiveness factors.>Text following EP vote>D. to strengthen industrial co-operation.(Amendment 27)Article 1(Da) (new)>Text following EP vote>Da. to modernize the role of the public authorities in order to ensure that the public sector continues to have a role in the future (innovative regulation)(Amendment 11)Article 1a (new)>Text following EP vote>Article 1aThe annexed action programme shall be supplemented by a document which identifies the priorities of actions, the financial impact and likely results of the actions undertaken to achieve the various objectives. This document should in particular illustrate results of competitiveness improvements of each industrial sector including its effects on the employment situation. These results will then be used to raise the effectiveness of the action-programme on the employment situation. Programmes which provide incentives for innovative investments in environment-friendly systems and technologies shall be explicitly documented.(Amendment 12)Article 2>Original text>The Commission shall send the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions a report evaluating the results obtained together with, where necessary, appropriate proposals.>Text following EP vote>The Commission shall send the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions a report on an annual basis, as referred to in Article 1a, evaluating the results obtained together with, where necessary, appropriate proposals. The Commission shall also assess the success of the action programme and consider possible improvements at the annual hearing in the European Parliament, on the basis of its annual report.(Amendment 13)Annex, second square, third indent, third subindent a (new)>Text following EP vote>. to minimise the risk of social dumping in the EU by defining minimum social requirements.(Amendment 14)Annex (1)(a) Action>Original text>Action>Text following EP vote>Action>Original text>Draft communication on the promotion of intangible investment>Text following EP vote>Draft communication on the promotion of intangible investment>Original text>action on human resources>Text following EP vote>action in the field of human resources with particular emphasis on the use of qualified female workers;>Text following EP vote>action on vocational training and education in business administration with the emphasis on supporting small and medium-sized businesses>Original text>Further support from the Structural Funds to improve the business environment and business cooperation and to support intangible investment by businesses.>Text following EP vote>Further support from the Structural Funds to improve the business environment and business cooperation and to support intangible investment by businesses.(Amendments 16 and 28)Annex (1)(g) Objectives and Action>Original text>Objectives>Text following EP vote>Objectives>Original text>introduction of new ways of organising work and improvement of the fiscal environment, particularly for small firms;>Text following EP vote>taking into consideration the new possibilities afforded by the information society, introduction of new ways of organising work and improvement of the fiscal environment, particularly for small firms;>Original text>Action>Text following EP vote>Action>Original text>involvement of management and labour in implementation of objective 4 and of the ADAPT and LEONARDO programmes>Text following EP vote>involvement of management and labour in implementation of objective 4 and of the ADAPT and LEONARDO programmes>Text following EP vote>encouraging new ways of working through employer and employee dialogue(Amendment 18)Annex (1)(ja) (new) Objectives and Action>Text following EP vote>ObjectivesAdaptation of human capital to structural change initiated as a result of competition>Text following EP vote>ActionDevelopment of retraining and continuing training strategies for workers in industries with poor long-term prospects for remaining competitive(Amendment 29)Annex (1)(jb) (new)>Text following EP vote>ObjectivesImprovement of the fiscal environment, particularly for small firms: promotion of entrepreneurial ethos:Actionto be defined.(Amendment 19)Annex (2)(a)(4), Objectives and Action>Original text>Objectives>Text following EP vote>Objectives>Original text>recourse to the Working Party of the Heads of Industrial Policy Departments to facilitate industrial cooperation operations and efforts to find information and partners>Text following EP vote>recourse to the Working Party of the Heads of Industrial Policy Departments in cooperation with the trade unions and employers' associations to facilitate industrial cooperation operations and efforts to find information and partners>Original text>Action>Text following EP vote>Action>Original text>meetings of the senior officials on industry with a view to establishment of a database on opportunities for industrial cooperation>Text following EP vote>meetings of the senior officials of industry, jointly with trade union and employers' representatives, with a view to establishment of a database on opportunities for industrial cooperation, while taking into account the implications for the workforce in terms of employment and training requirements(Amendment 20)Annex (2)(a)(6), Action>Original text>Action>Text following EP vote>Action>Original text>Promotion of scientific and technological cooperation under the fourth framework R& D programme.>Text following EP vote>Promotion of scientific and technological cooperation under the fourth framework R& D programme.>Text following EP vote>Promotion of the information society in business with the emphasis on small and medium-sized businesses.>Original text>Preparation of a conference on the information society with the developing world.>Text following EP vote>Preparation of a conference on the information society with the developing world.(Amendment 21)Annex (2)(a)(6a) (new), Objectives and Action (new)>Text following EP vote>Objectives>Text following EP vote>Strengthening of SMEs through cooperation>Text following EP vote>Action- research into cooperation as a factor in achieving success- establishing a link between cooperation and other critical success factors such as marketing, production, organization, distribution- creation of a centre of excellence in the sphere of European marketing targeted at SMEs.(Amendment 22)Annex (2)(a)(6b) Objectives and Action (new)>Text following EP vote>Objectivesenhancing SMEs' internal communications infrastructure>Text following EP vote>Action- communication targeted at SMEs- measures designed to support the management of SMEs.(Amendment 23)Annex (3)(a)(1) Action>Original text>Action>Text following EP vote>Action>Original text>active participation in the work of the WTO>Text following EP vote>active participation in the work of the WTO, especially on social issues in collaboration with the International Labour Office>Original text>- work on harmonisation of non-preferential rules on origin (conclusions scheduled in 1998)>Text following EP vote>- work on harmonisation of non-preferential rules on origin (conclusions scheduled in 1998)>Original text>- further negotiations on steel, aviation and services (for example, telecommunications)>Text following EP vote>- further negotiations on steel, aviation and services (for example, telecommunications)>Text following EP vote>action to encourage the ratification of the ILO conventions and to step up the resources for monitoring them(Amendment 24)Annex (3)(b)(3a) (new)>Text following EP vote>Objectives>Text following EP vote>promoting the social dimension of the Internal Market>Text following EP vote>Action>Text following EP vote>adoption of the pending proposals for directives (eg posting of workers) and presentation of the ones suggested in the White Paper on social policy>Text following EP vote>Timetable>Text following EP vote>1995(Amendment 25)Annex (4)(b) Action>Original text>Action>Text following EP vote>Action>Original text>To be defined>Text following EP vote>encouraging modern management techniques in the delivery of public services(Amendment 26)Annex (4)(ia) (new), Objectives>Text following EP vote>Objectivesmulti-surveillance of the labour costs within the EULegislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision (EC) on implementation of a Community action programme to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry (COM(95)0087 - C4-0404/95 - 95/0081(CNS))(Consultation procedure)The European Parliament,- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(95)0087 - 95/0081(CNS),- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 130 of the EC Treaty (C4-0404/95),- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,- having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy and the Committee on Social Affairs and Employment (A4-0248/95),1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;4. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;5. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.