WRITTEN QUESTION E-0949/00 by Marie-Noëlle Lienemann (PSE) to the Commission. Large-scale redundancies in the ABB-Alsthom Group.
Date: 2000-03-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Works Council, European social policy, collective dismissal, infringement of EU law, worker consultation

C 303 E/210

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

24.10.2000

(2000/C 303 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0805/00

by Othmar Karas (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2000)

Subject: Funds for the Prince Programme (cid:129) information campaign about the euro

Over the last two years, the appropriations allocated for the information programme for European citizens
have not been fully utilised. A commitment appropriation of EUR 38 million was entered in the 1999
budget, but only EUR 35,1 million was actually committed. Given that the level of information and
knowledge of
the
appropriations available is quite incomprehensible and regrettable and prompts several questions.

the euro is totally inadequate,

the average citizen about

the failure to use all

Why was the appropriation entered against Article B3-306 not fully utilised, although Eurobarometer
statistics relating to businesses and to the general public, especially disadvantaged groups, show a more
than negligible need to give a boost to preparations for the changeover? What areas suffered from the cuts
in expenditure: cofinancing of national campaigns or the Europe-wide campaign to be carried out by the
Commission? What kind of expenditure was not made? What reasons are given for the failure to use all
the appropriations?

Have many Member States not taken up the appropriations available to them? If so, which ones?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 2000)

In the 1999 budget, a total of € 38 million was earmarked for two priority measures: € 35,1 for the
programme (cid:145)The euro, a currency for Europe(cid:146) and € 2,9 million for Agenda 2000.

As far as the euro is concerned, the Commission implemented its initial plan, and 98,6 % of the funds for
1999 were committed, compared with 99,9 % in 1998.

Regarding Agenda 2000, the Member States, with the exception of France and to a lesser extent the
Netherlands and Ireland, opted not to enter into agreements with the Commission. For this reason the
funds initially allocated were not fully used up.

Under its programme (cid:145)The euro, a currency for Europe(cid:146), the Commission has established bilateral partner-
ships with 13 Member States. For their own internal reasons, the United Kingdom and Denmark decided
not to make use of this option.

(2000/C 303 E/243)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0949/00

by Marie-Noºlle Lienemann (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Large-scale redundancies in the ABB-Alsthom Group

(29 March 2000)

Can the Commission verify whether the procedure followed by ABB-Alsthom Power with regard to its
expected redundancies in many EU countries complies with Community law? Can it also take action to
prevent these redundancies?

Most of these redundancies are not really based on true industrial requirements and pose huge social
problems. Worse still, however, is the fact that the decisions have been taken without any form of dialogue
or negotiation with the trade unions and the European works councils.

It appears that the EU directive on European works councils is unsuitable for two-company mergers,
especially when the merger is on a 50-50 basis, and does not guarantee that workers will be consulted
when facing post-merger redundancies.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 303 E/211

the directive should be revised in order to fill this gap. Will the
Should this indeed be the case,
Commission therefore propose an updated, revised version of the directive on the establishment of
European works councils in the case of company mergers?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(17 April 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to his oral question H-0238/00
during question time at Parliament(cid:146)s March I 2000 part-session (1).

(1) Debates of the European Parliament (March I 2000).

(2000/C 303 E/244)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1110/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Freedom of movement in Italy for unidentifiable immigrants

(4 April 2000)

On 6 March 2000 the Italian Ministry of the Interior issued a circular to all police headquarters and border
control points suggesting that they should not detain non-Community citizens of national or ethnic origins
for which, on the basis of past experience, repatriation is likely to prove unsuccessful because of the lack
of cooperation on the part of the diplomatic authorities of their presumed countries of origin in seeking to
establish their identity during the period for which they can be kept in the temporary detention centres
specially set up to house unauthorised immigrants (immigrants who are illegal, without identity documents
or awaiting repatriation). The provision refers in particular
to immigrants of Yugoslav, Algerian,
Ecuadorian, Iraqi and Turkish nationality and to Kurds. In other words, the circular authorises the free
movement of illegal and (cid:145)unidentifiable(cid:146)
in breach inter alia of the Napolitano-Turco law,
which is supposed to regulate immigration. The result is that in practice Italy is applying the principle of
free movement for immigrants unable to produce identity documents and unwilling to divulge their
identity.

immigrants,

Can the Commission answer the following:

1.

Is it aware of this provision?

2. Has it considered the effects that application of this provision will have on neighbouring Member

States which have signed the Schengen Agreement?

3. Does it think that these proposals comply with the Schengen Agreement?

4.

If not, will it propose that Italy be suspended from the agreement in order to safeguard the rights of
Member States with regard to controlling immigration within their territory?

5. Does it not think that ill-judged provisions of this kind help to foster xenophobic sentiments among

the population?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2000)

The Commission has no knowledge of the facts referred to by the Honourable Member. It has asked the
Member State concerned for information and will inform the Honourable Member of its findings.