WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1883/98 by José GARCÍA-MARGALLO Y MARFIL to the Commission. SMEs
Date: 1998-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU activity, business policy, company structure, competitiveness, distributive trades, domestic trade, handicrafts, small and medium-sized enterprises

C 50/110

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.2.1999

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 1998)

The framework agreement on parental leave concluded by the Union of industrial and employers(cid:146) confederations
of Europe (UNICE), Conseil europØen des entreprises publiques (CEEP) and the European trade union
confederation (ETUC) on 14 December 1995 which formed the basis for Council Directive 96/34/EC (1) sets
out the minimum requirements on parental leave as an important means of reconciling professional and family
responsibilities and promoting equal opportunities and treatment between men and women. It contains provisions
that entitle men and women workers to parental leave on the grounds of the birth or adoption of a child to enable
them to take care of that child for at least three months.

The agreement also defines circumstances under which an employer following consultation in accordance with
national law, collective agreement and practice is allowed to postpone the granting of parental leave for
justifiable reasons related to the operation of an undertaking. These include work of a seasonal nature, the
inability to find a replacement within the notice period or where a specific function is of strategic importance.

In addition to the circumstances mentioned above, the agreement expressly authorises (cid:145)special arrangements to
meet the operational and organisational requirements of small undertakings... as long as the minimum
requirements of this agreement are respected(cid:146).

The details of the application of parental leave are not specified in this agreement as this falls within the
competence of Member States and social partners.

(1) OJ L 145, 19.6.1996.

(1999/C 50/158)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1883/98

by JosØ Garc(cid:237)a-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission

(16 June 1998)

Subject: SMEs

The Commission(cid:146)s report to Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of
the Regions on the coordination of activities to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the craft
sector (COM(07) 0610) (p. 30) states that in 1997 a reform was undertaken of the operating procedures of the
Committee on Commerce and Distribution (CCD). At present there is also a parliamentary intergroup on
commerce and distribution.

Are there arrangements for coordination between both forums in relation to the subjects dealt with on a monthly
basis?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(22 July 1998)

The committee on commerce and distribution (CCD), established by Commission Decision 81/428/EEC of
20 May 1981 (1), is a consultative body to the Commission whose members are entrepreneurs representing all
sectors of commerce. Its main objective is to advise the Commission on policy matters with regard to commerce.
The CCD normally meets in small working groups in order to discuss specific issues. Meetings are scheduled
according to the urgency of the matter and to the need for debate and advice. The reform of the functioning of the
committee in 1997 concerned internal working procedures.

There are no formal links between the CCD and the Parliament(cid:146)s commerce and distribution intergroup which is
composed of members of the Parliament interested in issues related to commerce. However, these members of the
Parliament are invited to the annual CCD conference where the president of the intergroup takes the floor.
Whenever invited to intergroup meetings, the Commission participated in them and reported on CCD activities.
The Commission will maintain the contacts with the Parliament intergroup and its members.

(1) OJ L 165, 23.6.1981.