WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4075/97 by Concepció FERRER to the Commission. SMUs and the extraordinary Council meeting in Luxembourg
Date: 1998-01-14
Institutions: European Parliament, FERRER
Subjects: employment policy, fight against unemployment, job creation, small and medium-sized enterprises, social partners

C 310/12

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

9. 10. 98

What action does the European Union intend to take in response to this major problem, particularly in view of the
recent decision by the Luxembourg Unemployment Summit, which clearly expressed its determination to take
concerted action to reduce unemployment within the EU?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(3 February 1998)

The Commission is perfectly aware of the social and economic importance of tobacco production in Europe,
particularly in Greece. It has therefore proposed in its report on the common organisation of the market in raw
tobacco (1) that Community aid should continue.

The aid scheme is to continue, however it will have to be radically altered to encourage production of better
quality  tobacco.  The  Commission  will  very  shortly  present  to  the  Council  and  Parliament  a  draft  Regulation
making the changes envisaged in its report.

(1)  COM(96) 554 final.

(98/C 310/13)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4075/97

by Concepcio· Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission

(14 January 1998)

Subject: SMUs and the extraordinary Council meeting in Luxembourg

The Commission did not include representatives of small and medium-sized undertakings in the preparation of
its  guidelines  for  the  extraordinary  European  Council  on  employment.  SMUs  are,  however,  having  to  face
particular  challenges  as  a  result  of  economic  globalization.  SMUs  also  have  an  important  role  to  play  in  the
Union  in  job  creation.  Can  the  Commission  state  what  measures  it  intends  to  take  to  include  SMUs  in  the
preparation of policies concerning them?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 1998)

Several European social partner organisations with small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) membership took
part in the process leading up to the adoption of the 1998 employment guidelines. As members of the standing
committee on employment, or as part of the employers(cid:146) delegation to the informal meetings between the social
partners  and  the  steering  group  of  the  employment  and  labour  market  committee,  the  main  European
organisations(cid:146) representatives for SMEs had the occasion to express their views on the content of the guidelines
and their contributions to the process.

The  social  partners  at  all  levels  have  been  given  explicit  roles  in  the  implementation  of  the  employment
guidelines. The Commission communication of 1 October 1997 on the employment guidelines (1), the European
Council conclusions from the extraordinary summit on employment in Luxembourg 20-21 November 1997 and
the Council Resolution of 15 December 1997 on the 1998 employment guidelines all emphasised that the social
partners  at  all  levels  will  be  involved  and  will  have  their  contribution  to  make  to  the  implementation  of  the
guidelines, especially those relating to adaptability and employability within the Community.

The Member States are currently preparing these employment action plans and the social partners are expected to
play an important role in the process. At European level the meetings of the above mentioned committees will
continue to provide for a dialogue, and, furthermore the Commission will continue to consult the social partners
on  policy  and  legislative  proposals  in  the  social  policy  field  including  the  initiatives  emerging  from  the
employment process.

(1)  COM(97) 497 final.