WRITTEN QUESTION E-1012/01 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Community rules on teleworking.
Date: 2001-03-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: equal treatment, labour law, labour relations, telecommunications industry, teleworking, working conditions

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/119

Following the conclusion of the Presidency at the European Council of Stockholm, the Commission will
develop, in co-operation with the Council, a vast strategy in the electronic network security area.

(1) COM(2001) 66 final.
(2) COM(2001) 11 final.
(3) Directive 97/7/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 1997 on the protection of consumers in respect
of distance contracts (cid:129) Statement by the Council and the Parliament re Article 6(1) (cid:129) Statement by the
Commission re Article 3(1), first indent (OJ L 144, 4.6.1997) and 97/489/EC: Commission Recommendation of
30 July 1997 concerning transactions by electronic payment instruments and in particular the relationship between
issuer and holder (OJ L 208, 2.8.1997).

(2001/C 318 E/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0775/01

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Community regulation of teleworking

(13 March 2001)

The exercise of one(cid:146)s profession at a distance using the multiple possibilities now offered by the
information society has made teleworking an increasingly common form of work. This is recognised by
the conclusions of the Lisbon European Council of 23 and 24 March 2000; the same European Council
issued a series of recommendations on the subject. On 7 February 2001,
those
recommendations, the committee on social dialogue of the telecommunications sector, which brings
together 16 European operators, formally adopted an agreement setting out organisational guidelines for
teleworking.

in the wake of

Has the Commission produced any legislative initiative establishing a framework to regulate this form of
work at Community level? Does the Commission believe it should express a position on the proper
treatment of teleworkers EU-wide as compared with other workers, in the areas of working conditions,
training and information opportunities and career development?

(2001/C 318 E/127)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1012/01

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Community rules on teleworking

(30 March 2001)

Recently the telecommunications sector social-dialogue committee formally adopted guidelines for the
organisation of
teleworking. This agreement has been reached by following the Lisbon Summit
recommendations and by acknowledging that teleworking is an increasingly common form of work
organisation.

One of the most significant of the above guidelines is the one which acknowledges that teleworkers should
be treated in the same way as other employees as regards working conditions, the availability of training
and information, trade-union rights and career development.

Does the Commission think that there should be Community rules on teleworking based on the above-
mentioned guidelines, so as to harmonise the relevant provisions and ensure that all teleworkers are treated
fairly?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0775/01 and E-1012/01
given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(18 May 2001)

On 20 June 2000, the Commission began consultations with the social partners on the modernisation and
improvement of employment relations on the basis of Article 138(2) (ex Article 118a) of the EC Treaty. On

C 318 E/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

16 March 2001, having examined their replies, it continued with the second phase of this consultation
process by sending them a document dealing with teleworking, since the social partners expressed very
considerable immediate interest in this topic. Indeed, they made it known that Community action was
highly desirable in this area and was likely to provide added value.

It is true that the spread of the information technologies, accelerated by the development of the Internet, is
leading to the development of this new type of work organisation, which cannot be ignored. However,
while it undeniable that teleworking represents a factor of flexibility, the Commission considers that it is
necessary to ensure that its development does not take place to the detriment of the protection of
employees.

That is why the Commission believes that it is necessary to draw up guidelines governing the practice of
teleworking without hampering its development. On the basis of the various existing practices, in order to
adapt the working environment (especially the practices stemming from collective bargaining), as part of
these consultations the Commission submitted to the social partners a list of general principles that should
govern practice: voluntary basis, with right of return; guaranteed retention of employee status; guarantee of
equal treatment; information to be given to teleworkers; payment of the costs by the employer; guarantee
of the provision of suitable training; protection in the area of health and safety; working time; protection
of private life and personal data; maintenance of contact with the enterprise; the collective rights of
teleworkers and access to teleworking.

In these consultations,
the Commission has invited the social partners to send it an opinion or
a recommendation on the content of the planned proposal (in accordance with Article 138(3) of the
EC Treaty) or to inform it of their wish to initiate the negotiation process on the basis of this proposal
(Article 138(4) and Article 139 (ex Article 118b) of the EC Treaty). It is currently awaiting their replies.
Moreover, as the Honourable Member points out, at sectoral
level, certain employers(cid:146) and workers(cid:146)
organisations have already adopted guidelines on the organisation of teleworking in their sectors.

(2001/C 318 E/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0786/01

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 March 2001)

Subject: Research programme and the Agricultural Fund

Agriculture is vital to the survival of rural areas in northern Sweden, in terms of employment, the social
environment and the landscape. The most northerly agriculture in the world is conducted in northern
Scandinavia, under unique
regionally adapted R & D is
correspondingly great. This R & D should be directed towards exploiting the opportunities offered by the
climate while minimising the disadvantages. It should also seek to husband local resources used in current
production to make it more sustainable, while at the same time developing alternative foodstuff and non-
foodstuff production. This R & D will be an important regional policy instrument.

conditions, and the need for

climatic

A comprehensive R & D programme to achieve this has been developed to cover all Objective 1 areas of
northern Sweden. It includes applied research and a strategy for disseminating results. Three out of four
county administrative boards have promised funding while the fourth is awaiting a decision in respect of
Objective 1. The agricultural sector has decided to fund 20 % of the cost. The Objective 1 administrative
authorities are questioning the admissibility of support for such a programme under the rules governing
the Agricultural and Regional Funds, maintaining that the Agricultural Fund is not allowed to support
research. Does the Commission share the view put forward by the Objective 1 administrative authorities?