WRITTEN QUESTION E-0269/03 by Giacomo Santini (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Loss of jobs on the borders with CEECs.
Date: 2003-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central and Eastern European countries, accession to the European Union, change of job, customs profession, job cuts, redevelopment aid, vocational retraining

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/75

(2004/C 11 E/076)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0269/03

by Giacomo Santini (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 February 2003)

Subject: Loss of jobs on the borders with CEECs

The accession of the Central and Eastern European Countries, scheduled for May 2004, will inevitably
result in the loss of hundreds of jobs in the border services that have until now handled customs
operations, transport and related services.

On certain borders, such as Italy’s eastern border with Slovenia, unemployment will hit over 90 % of those
at present employed in the forwarding sector and services relating to it, and will also have a range of
knock-on effects.

Added to the tangible problem of the loss of jobs and the crises likely to ensue in many families will be the
economic damage occasioned by the loss of the skills of entire categories of worker, which will result in
the dissipation of a human and cultural heritage developed through years of work and tradition.

In the light of the above, could the Commission indicate:

1. what type of measures are envisaged for categories of worker hard hit by the momentous event which

is enlargement;

2. whether it does not consider it appropriate to bring forward a proposal for a directive promoting the

retraining of all those workers who will lose their jobs on what are today’s external borders;

3. whether on the same basis a compensation scheme might be envisaged, by way of derogation from

the rules on State aid, for companies that will have to cease operating;

4. what sort of contribution countries who are set to join the EU might be asked to make to these

compensation measures?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2003)

As the Commission has already indicated in its answer to Written Question E-2488/02 from Mr Lisi (1), it
does not intend to propose any specific measures - such as a directive or a compensation plan - for
workers whose jobs in customs, transport and related services will disappear following enlargement. The
Member States have the possibility of applying for assistance under the Structural Funds or securing
approval of State aid under the relevant guidelines laid down by the Commission.

(1) OJ C 52 E, 6.3.2003, p. 179.

(2004/C 11 E/077)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0286/03

by Carlos Coelho (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 February 2003)

Subject: Closure of the C. & J. Clark footwear factory in Castelo de Paiva (Portugal)

On 10 January 2003 the multinational company ‘C. & J. Clark (cid:1) Fábrica de Calçado, Lda’, a maker of
footwear located in Castelo de Paiva (Portugal), announced the closure of its factory, thus making 588
workers redundant.

The decision to close this factory is justified by the company itself on grounds relating to ‘imports of
vamps from India and Romania’ and ‘the objective of maintaining a competitive price structure’ (cf. press
release issued by the Clark management on 10 January 2003).