WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3833/98 by Paul RÜBIG to the Commission. Impact of international financial turmoil on the European steel market - enlargement
Date: 1998-12-22
Institutions: European Parliament, RUEBIG
Subjects: Central and Eastern Europe, accession to the European Union, economic recession, enlargement of the Union, import policy, industrial restructuring, iron and steel industry, protectionism, steel

21.7.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 207/133

Recent examinations of this issue, particularly within the industry itself, suggest that the competitiveness and
hence the economic viability of undertakings depend less on the adoption of new production methods and the
adaptation of workers to those methods than was previously the case, although both those measures remain
necessary. The competitiveness of undertakings would appear to depend increasingly on changes to their
internal organisation, based to some extent on workers’ individual and collective adherence to a company
plan.

Without neglecting technical training, which remains necessary depending on the circumstances, under-
takings must therefore, in their workforce training plans, take account of, and perhaps even give priority to,
measures designed to make workers more versatile and more collectively and individually aware of their role in
the company.

(1999/C 207/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3833/98

by Paul Rübig (PPE) to the Commission

(22 December 1998)

Subject: Impact of international financial turmoil on the European steel market + enlargement

The international steel trade faces new challenges; three major regions of the world + Russia, South-East Asia
and Latin America + are facing economic problems. The consequences of this are twofold: the shift in
traditional trade flows has led to massive increases in imports into Europe, with a 520 % rise in imports from
Asia and a 109 % rise in imports from the USA in 1998, and the concentration of markets has resulted in a fall
in European exports, exacerbated by a tendency towards regional protectionism. European steel producers
have so far coped successfully with this development. The number of operators in central and eastern
European countries raises important issues for the Union’s enlargement strategy.

What importance does the Commission attach to the steel sector in the current and planned accession
negotiations, particularly in view of the current situation?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(24 February 1999)

As regards the steel sector, the applicant countries will be expected, upon accession, to implement the relevant
acquis. In the run up to membership they prepare themselves in the framework of the pre-accession strategy.
The Commission attaches great importance to the steel sector in this preparatory phase. In its communication
of 7 April 1998 (1), the Commission outlined a methodology for supporting steel industry restructuring in the
Central and Eastern European countries to ensure a successful integration into the internal market.

(1) COM(98) 220 final.

(1999/C 207/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3836/98

by Eva Kjer Hansen (ELDR) to the Commission

(7 December 1998)

Subject: Establishment of an office to investigate internal and external fraud

Will the Commission provide a legal opinion demonstrating how the establishment of an office for the
investigation of internal and external fraud completely independent of and without any links to the
Commission (as described by Mr Santer during the debate on the Bösch report in plenary on 6 October
1998), can be based on the Treaty, with reference to both the Maastricht Treaty and the Amsterdam Treaty, or
whether the establishment of this office would require an amendment to the Treaty?