WRITTEN QUESTION E-3059/02 by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission. Crisis at Fiat.
Date: 2002-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, European undertaking, Italy, economic recession, industrial restructuring, labour law, motor vehicle industry, worker consultation, worker information, works council

C 92 E/226

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.4.2003

This measure effectively related to people with disabilities but also, more generally, to immigrant or
foreign jobseekers, refugees, persons in custody or imprisoned, and groups faced with illiteracy. In terms of
programme management, the financial model did not identify the breakdown of the ESF budget for
Measure 17 according to target group. The Commission therefore does not yet have any information on
the sum awarded by the French Ministry of Employment and Solidarity to the CCAH-PSP under this
measure. However, the Commission will contact the Member State and will ensure that any additional
information received is forwarded immediately to the Honourable Member.

(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93 of 20 July 1993 amending Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 laying down
provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards coordination of the activities of the different
Structural Funds between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other
existing financial instruments, OJ L 193, 31.7.1993.

(2003/C 92 E/285)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3059/02

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(25 October 2002)

Subject: Crisis at Fiat

The serious economic crisis faced by the Italian car maker Fiat comes on top of the many other problems
in large companies that have shaken the European economy in recent months. The need for radical
industrial restructuring raises major concerns about the European economy as a whole and, in particular,
the risk of the heavy job losses. The Fiat crisis is likely to involve many firms supplying components in the
automobile sector, producing a multiplier effect with worrying consequences.

Does the Commission intend to make a thorough assessment of the situation and bring forward proposals
designed to find solutions to this very serious economic crisis?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 2002)

The Managing Change Report of the High Level Expert Group on Industrial Change (the ‘Gyllenhammer
group’) set up in the wake of the major plant closure at Renault Vilvorde in 1997, stated in 1998 that
change can be positive if properly anticipated.

The European Monitoring Centre on Change (EMCC) was therefore set up in the European Foundation for
the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions in October 2001 to address issues raised by industrial
change.

The EMCC is one of the main measures proposed in the Commission’s June 2000 Social Policy Agenda
and responds to calls by the Commission’s High Level Expert Group on Industrial Change. The EMCC’s
objective is to provide the tools for key actors in European social policy to make more informed decisions
about managing the processes of change.

In addition to that, the Union has over the years developed policies and instruments aimed at ensuring that
corporate restructuring is done in a socially acceptable way. As a result of that on-going policy, every
restructuring operation must be preceded by effective information and consultation of employees’
representatives with the aim of avoiding or attenuating its social impact, in accordance with Community
Directives on ‘Collective Redundancies’ (1), ‘Transfers of Undertakings’ (2), ‘European Works Councils’ (3) and
‘Information and Consultation’ (4).

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The Commission has also launched in January 2002 a major initiative requesting the European-level social
partners to establish and develop a set of principles which should govern restructuring. The Commission
hopes that the social partners decide to take up that important issue.

(1) Council Directive 98/59/EC of 20 July 1998 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
collective redundancies. (This Directive consolidates Directives 75/129/EEC and 92/56/EEC), OJ L 225, 12.8.1998.
(2) Council Directive 2001/23/EC of 12 March 2001 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating
transfers of undertakings, businesses or parts of

to the safeguarding of employees’ rights in the event of
undertakings or businesses, OJ L 82, 22.3.2001.

(3) 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.

(4) Directive 2002/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2002 establishing a general

framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community, OJ L 80, 23.3.2002.

(2003/C 92 E/286)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3065/02

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(22 October 2002)

Subject: National origin of food products

Recent cases, such as that of Genoese ‘pesto’, have once again highlighted the issue of accurate information
for consumers/purchasers about food products, especially in relation to their origin. In particular the habit
of using Italian names for products which have nothing to do with Italy has become widespread, as has the
practice of appropriating the names of traditional recipes, without respecting the content.

In the case of products which are not protected by a European quality mark (Regulation (EEC) No 2081/
92 (1)), the safeguarding of accurate consumer information as regards the origin and identity of a product
referred to by a traditional name is ensured by the Directive on the approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs, No 2000/13/EC (2).

Can the Commission say:

(cid:1) which Member States have transposed Directive 2000/13/EC in its entirety;

(cid:1) what its general view is of the actual impact of Directive 2000/13/EC, and more particularly the
measures to be adopted in the event of behaviour infringing its provisions and misleading the
consumer;

(cid:1) whether information measures for the promotion of agricultural products in the internal market
carried out pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000 (3) may also be directed towards familiarising
European consumers with the quality of the traditional products of the individual Member States?

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 109, 6.5.2000, p. 29.
(3) OJ L 328, 23.12.2000, p. 2.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2002)

Directive 2000/13/EC (1)
foodstuffs (2) and its subsequent amendments.

is the consolidated version of Directive 79/112/EEC on the labelling of

Directive 2000/13/EC does not therefore require any national measures to transpose it, as all of its
provisions were transposed following adoption of the original texts.