WRITTEN QUESTION No. 212/99 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI Harmonisation of the right to strike in the public services
Date: 1999-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, MUSCARDINI
Subjects: approximation of laws, public service, right to strike, social policy, trade union

12.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 325/87

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 1999)

There have been two separate projects to create a Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) in Salerno. The first
project was proposed to the Commission in November 1988 by the Ageni/Terfin company. However, when
the preparatory work had been completed as normal and the payments made in the proper manner, the centre
could not be established because the main partner (Terfin) withdrew from the Ageni group. The second project
was presented by ‘Bic Campania Sud’ in October 1996. No problems have arisen so far with the allocation of
funding or the conduct of preparatory work, both of which are progressing normally.

Funding has not been awarded twice to the same beneficiary or to the same project; two separate cases of
funding are involved. The second was justified because the first project failed. The Commission did not take
any initiative to renew the funding; it approved the second project, which was presented by the local
promoters.

The bodies promoting the first project were the Ageni company, acting through Terfin, the Associazione
Industriali di Salerno, the Salerno Chamber of Commerce, Consorzio ASI, the Fondazione A. Genovesi SDOA,
the University of Salerno and Vila Sud Srl. The promoter of the second project is ‘Bic Campania Sud’, whose
main shareholders are the Province of Salerno, the Salerno Chamber of Commerce, Fondazione A. Genovesi
SDOA, Consorzio ASI, three banks and about 25 small private enterprises.

(1999/C 325/113)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0212/99

by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission

(12 February 1999)

Subject: Harmonisation of the right to strike in the public services

Unfortunately, the gap between trade unions and citizens using public services is widening more and more,
damaging the image of the unions and harming the lives of citizens, especially when it comes to health
services, air, rail or sea transport. In order to improve this relationship, which is more or less the same in all the
Member States, does the Commission not consider it advisable to put forward proposals for harmonising the
legislation on the right to strike, at least in essential public services?

Does it think that the functioning of the internal market could be improved by such harmonisation?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 1999)

The right to strike was explicitly excluded from the scope of Article 2 of the Agreement on social policy
(Article 137(6) of the EC Treaty when the Amsterdam Treaty comes into force). The Commission has no plans
to make any proposal on this issue.

(1999/C 325/114)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0213/99

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission

(12 February 1999)

Subject: Meat inspection fees pursuant to Directive 93/118/EC = my question E-2988/98

According to the Commission the lump-sum fees for meat inspections laid down in Directive 93/118/EC (1)
can be exceeded when higher fees have in fact been incurred (see answer to my question E-2988/98 (2)). In
Germany these fees are usually levied at district authority level.