WRITTEN QUESTION E-1207/03 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Personnel recruited under local employment agreements.
Date: 2003-04-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU employment policy, EU financing, EU programme, job preservation, local employment initiative

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/165

(2004/C 11 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1185/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: Community aid

On 12 February employees of Decobook Ltd. based in Braga in Portugal, (which forms part of the French
Multinational Visualis, based in Burges) found the plant closed indefinitely. According to the management,
this measure is due to a temporary lack of work. Employees have been denied any legal documentation
regularising their employment status vis-à-vis the enterprise, in particular a notification of suspension of
work without any loss of wages, letter of dismissal or declaration enabling them to claim unemployment
benefit until they resume work.

Will the Commission say whether this group receives Community aid, either in Portugal or in France, and
what measures are to be taken to protect employees’ rights?

Joint answer
to Written questions E-1184/03 and E-1185/03
given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(22 May 2003)

The information available to the Commission, which has been confirmed by the Portuguese authorities,
shows that in 1989 Fabolin received PTE 18 139 000 in Community aid as part-financing from the
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). However, no aid has been granted to Decobook Lda. It is
up to the Member State to take the legal action required to recover that aid if it turns out that it has not
been used in accordance with the agreements it made with the firm when the aid was granted.

Similarly in the case of workers’ rights, it is up to the Member State to ensure the application of the
national legislation in force, with due regard to the relevant Community directives.

(2004/C 11 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1207/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Personnel recruited under local employment agreements

(2 April 2003)

It is very important for the economic development of the European Union and the sustainability of social
protection schemes to achieve full employment. Local Employment Agreements, which are receiving
finance from the European Social Fund, are regarded by the Commission as a means of achieving this
objective and combating unemployment at regional and local level.

In Greece a considerable number of people were recruited under the Local Employment Agreements,
mainly within services and operations run by the local authorities. Most of the schemes are coming to an
end in the first quarter of 2003, together with the employment contracts of those recruited under these
schemes. Despite continued Commission funding for European employment initiatives, those recruited
under this programme are now being given notice, notwithstanding their work experience.

What steps will the Commission take to ensure that continued funding for these schemes does not result
in job losses among those already in employment?

C 11 E/166

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2003)

The Territorial Employment Pacts (TEPs) are pilot actions to test the possibility of bringing together local
employers, local employment services and local authorities in order to elaborate and implement small scale
development schemes through which jobs may be offered to local unemployed. These jobs are of a
temporary nature and last for as long as the actions run. Although TEPs do not guarantee permanent jobs,
successfully evaluated TEP actions may be included later in Community mainstream programmes and
funded through them.

According to the relevant regulation (1), the selection of the projects and actions to be co-funded through
Community programmes by the Structural Funds is the responsibility of the Member States. Consequently,
the funding of a second generation of TEPs and/or the mainstreaming of first generation TEP actions
within the regional operational programmes, is the exclusive responsibility of the Greek authorities.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds,

OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2004/C 11 E/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1208/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(2 April 2003)

Subject: Progress made by programmes for the development of workshops and infrastructures for technical

education establishments

Technical schools in Greece, whose objective as laid down by their statutes is to equip young people
professionally to enter the employment market, are suffering from a severe shortage of workshops and up-
to-date equipment. This is undermining the quality of technical education and many students are therefore
dropping out and becoming sidelined. According to Eurostat, youth unemployment and education drop-
out rates in Greece are among the highest in the Union.

In view of the fact that Action 5.2 of the Second Operational Programme for Education and Initial
Vocational Training of the Third Community Support Framework for Greece provides for the development
of workshops and infrastructures for technical educational establishments and given that the programme is
now in its third year of operation:

1. What progress has been made by this action?

2. Are delays occurring and if so, why?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2003)

According to the information received from the Greek authorities, progress regarding the action for the
development of workshops and infrastructures for technical educational establishments can be summarised
as follows.

The operational programme ‘Education and initial vocational training’ was adopted by the Commission on
16 March 2001, while the programme complement was confirmed by the Monitoring Committee of the
programme on 29 May 2001. During the first two years of implementation of the operational programme,
an amount of EUR 4 440 000 was spent on the procurement of basic workshop equipment.