WRITTEN QUESTION E-0794/02 by Stefano Zappalà (PPE-DE)and Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Situation of managerial staff in the European Union.
Date: 2002-03-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Union, employment policy, executive, gender equality, participation of women, research policy, workers' representation, working time

C 52 E/20

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2003

(2003/C 52 E/021)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0794/02

by Stefano Zappalà (PPE-DE)
and Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 March 2002)

Subject: Situation of managerial staff in the European Union

In November 2000 we submitted a question (E-3631/00 (1)) in which we pointed out that the Committee
on Social Affairs, Employment and Working Conditions had adopted report A3-0196/93 and that the
European Parliament had adopted the resolution on the situation of managerial staff in the European
Community (A3-0196/93) (2) on 25 June 1993. We asked what action had been taken on Parliament’s
requests. On 22 December 2000 Mrs Diamantopoulou replied that the Commission was collecting the
information it required to answer our question and that it would notify us of the results of its inquiries as
soon as possible. 14 months later, we are still awaiting that information.

Will the Commission state what action has been taken in response to the European Parliament resolution,
which was adopted fully nine years ago?

(1) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001, p. 236.
(2) OJ C 194, 19.7.1993, p. 347.

Answer given by Mr Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(14 May 2002)

The Commission undertook the following actions which respond to the resolution of the Parliament of
25 June 1993:

1.

In 1998 a study on the working time of managerial staff in the Union was launched. It identified an
average working time of approximately 45 hours/week for managerial staff and analysed the state of
discussion on this issue in the Member States.

2. The report on the representativeness of Eurocadres and the Confédération Européenne des Cadres
(CEC) at cross-industry level was completed in 2001 by the Institut des sciences du travail de
l’Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve (UCL).

3.

Since 1993, the Commission formally consults the European organisations representing the manage-
rial staff (CEC and Eurocadres), according to Article 138.2 of the EC Treaty.

4. Representatives of European managerial staff increasingly participate in the European social dialogue
framework at cross-industry level as part of the official European trade union representation (European
Trades Union Confederation) as well as in the framework of numerous sectoral social dialogue
committees (in particular in service sectors).

5. The European Works Councils (EWC) Directive (1) mentions in a recital the need for Member States to
ensure proper representation of all categories of workers in EWCs. Moreover, the recently adopted
Directive 2002/14/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2002 establishing a general
framework for informing and consulting employees in the Community (2) provides for substantial
information and consultation rights for all workers.

6.

In addition to mainstreaming gender across the entire European Employment Strategy (3), its 4th pillar
is dedicated to equal opportunities. A specific guideline, no 17 (in 2002) is directed at bringing about
a balanced representation of women and men in all sectors and occupations and at all levels.

7. The Commission Communication ‘Women and science (cid:1) Mobilising women to enrich European
research’ of 1999 (4) set a target of at least 40 % for women’s participation on the panels, consultative
committees and in fellowship programmes of
the fifth Community Framework Programme for
Research and Technological Development. In its Decision on gender balance in expert groups and
Committees set up by the Commission of May 2000, the Commission states its intention to have a
minimum gender representation of 40 % in each of its committees and expert groups. To help meet
the Commission requests Member States to present candidates of both sexes for
this target,

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Official Journal of the European Union

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membership in those bodies. The progress towards this target is monitored in the Gender Scoreboard
(produced as part of the Annual Report) and has shown a progression from 13 % to 28 % in 2001.

8. The importance of improving access for women to the labour market,

including to positions of
responsibility, has been carefully reflected in the recent report (2002) of the High Level Task Force on
Skills and Mobility and the Commission’s Action Plan for Skills and Mobility (5).

9. As part of the Framework Strategy on Gender Equality (6), the Commission is preparing a call for
tender in order to establish a database of regularly updated statistics on women in decision-making
industries’ and social partners’
positions in the economy and society with data on management,
organisations as well as major non governmental organisations (NGOs).

The Commission regrets the fact that it has taken 14 months to give a definitive answer to the Honourable
Member.

(1) Council Directive 94/45/EC of 22 September 1994 on the establishment of a European Works Council or a
procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of
informing and consulting employees, OJ L 254, 30.9.1994.

(2) OJ L 80, 23.3.2002.
(3) Communication form the Commission to the Council, the Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the
the European Employment Strategy (cid:1)

the Regions (cid:1) Strengthening the local dimension of

Committee of
COM(2001) 629 final.

(4) COM(1999) 76 final.
(5) COM(2002) 72 final.
(6) Proposal for a Council Decision on the Programme relating to the Community framework strategy on gender

equality (2001-2005), OJ C 337 E, 28.11.2000.

(2003/C 52 E/022)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0861/02

by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 March 2002)

Subject: European art market

if any,

is the European Commission proposing to take in response to the recent report
What steps,
commissioned by the European Fine Art Federation which shows that the European art market is losing
out to the United States?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2002)

The question asked by the Honourable Member concerns the report ‘The European Art Market in 2002’,
commissioned by the European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF).

According to TEFAF, this survey reveals (cid:1) among other positive contributions made by the art market (cid:1)
a ‘worrying decline in Europe’s share of the global market since 1998, which has fallen by 7,2 % in favour
of the United States’. This decline, according to the report, can be attributed (cid:1) among other things (cid:1) also
to the harmonisation of the resale right (Droit de Suite) at Community level.

The above report was commissioned by TEFAF with the support of other European organisations
representing some of the economic operators in the art market. Therefore, the economic and regulatory
analysis carried out in the report reflects a partial vision of the European Art Market, notably that of art
trade organisations like TEFAF.