WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4150/97 by José BARROS MOURA to the Commission. Community funding of hydraulic projects in Spain
Date: 1998-01-07
Institutions: BARROS MOURA, European Parliament
Subjects: Cohesion Fund, EU financing, Spain, Structural Funds, hydraulic machinery, hydraulic works

16. 6. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187/131

This company has concluded agreements with two US companies whereby the latter are to take over totally the
manufacture  of  Ericsson  public  communications  equipment  worldwide.  This  decision  may  have  serious
consequences for thousands of Europeans working for the Ericsson group and the implementation of the plan in
Spain would mean the transfer of many workers to other companies. The operation does not ensure industrial
stability or employment in the new company and, furthermore, endangers other jobs in auxiliary and service
industries which now work for Ericsson in Spain.

In view of the fact that the European Works Council of Ericsson employees was neither informed nor consulted
about  this  decision  and  the  trade  union  representatives  in  each  country  received  the  news  through  unofficial
channels after the decision had been implemented, can the Commission say:

1.  whether it knows about this situation;

2.  whether it knows that Ericsson(cid:146)s main world market is the EU and that after this policy is implemented there
will be no coherence between the responsibilities that the multinational will have as regards maintaining
jobs, generating business, etc., and the volume of profit which Europe brings it;

3.  whether it considers that the abandonment of industrial activities by major companies will lead to the loss of
tens of thousands of jobs in a sector of great importance to workers in the EU who are not highly qualified;

4.  whether it considers that Ericsson has infringed workers(cid:146) right to be informed and consulted as laid down in
Directive 94/45/EEC? Can it guarantee that Ericsson will comply with this Directive on the establishment of
a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and groups of undertakings for
the purposes of informing and consulting workers?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-4141/97 and E-4218/97
given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 1998)

No complaint or request for action has been made to the Commission by the interested parties concerning the
facts described by the Honourable Members.

At present the Commission is carrying out a global evaluation of the transposition into national law of Council
Directive 94/45/EC of 22 September 1994 on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in
Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and
consulting employees. Infringements by firms of the rules laid down in this Directive must be assessed in the
light of the national provisions transposing the Directive into national law. It is first and foremost for the national
authorities to ensure compliance with these provisions.

(98/C 187/204)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-4150/97

by Jose· Barros Moura (PSE) to the Commission

(7 January 1998)

Subject: Community funding of hydraulic projects in Spain

In view of the conditions laid down for approval of the funding of the Alqueva project, but taking into account
the  fact  that  the  Commission  has  already  financed  a  number  of  hydraulic  projects,  of  various  types  and
dimensions, in Spain, especially in rivers which flow into neighbouring countries, can the Commission state:

1. 

the nature, location and dimensions of the projects concerned, and, in particular, their water storage capacity;

2.  whether, and under what conditions, deviation or (cid:145)transfusion(cid:146) of watercourses was involved;

3.  what were the environmental, agricultural or other consequences;

4.  what were the conditions laid down by the Commission for approval of the projects;

5.  what was the level of funding?