WRITTEN QUESTION E-2901/03 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Safeguarding jobs at the Alcatel plant in Rieti.
Date: 2003-10-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Latium, advanced technology industry, economic consequence, industrial restructuring, job cuts, job preservation, telecommunications, vocational retraining

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/159

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(5 November 2003)

The Honourable Member’s question relates to an action under measure 3.5 of the ‘Information Society’
Operational Programme of the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF) for Greece. The aim of this
action, which is cofinanced by the European Social Fund (ESF), is to give young unemployed graduates the
possibility to have a training period of nine months in the field of Information Society.

According to the Managing Authority of this Operational Programme:

(cid:1) during the training period, the participants are covered by medical insurance only;

(cid:1) their participation is not recognised as work experience by the public administration. However,
the Greek Ministry of Interior and Public Administration is acting to pass a legislative amendment
through the Greek Parliament so that these training periods are recognised as work experience;

(cid:1) a certificate of attendance is granted by the Greek Employment Organisation (OAED)

to all

participants completing the training period.

The Commission is in contact with the Greek Authorities to discuss ways to improve the direct or indirect
effects of this action.

(2004/C 70 E/166)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2899/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Public debt and budget deficit in Greece in 2003

(1 October 2003)

What is the Commission’s estimate of the budget deficit and public debt in Greece as a percentage of GDP
in 2003?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(4 November 2003)

In the 2003 State Budget and the 2002 Stability programme, the central government debt is projected to
be equal to EUR 171,05 billion, whereas the general government consolidated gross debt is estimated to be
EUR 150,4 billion, representing 100,2 % of gross domestic product (GDP). According to the Commission
Spring forecasts, the Greek general government deficit is projected to be equal to 1,1 % of GDP whereas
the general government debt ratio is projected to stand at 101 % of GDP at the end of 2003.

Currently, the Commission is proceeding to the Autumn forecast round and these estimates may be
revised.

(2004/C 70 E/167)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2901/03

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Safeguarding jobs at the Alcatel plant in Rieti

(1 October 2003)

The telecommunications sector is going through a period of recession. In order to tackle the unfavourable
situation the Alcatel group has decided on drastic job cuts. Apart from undermining the research sector
this policy also threatens to lead to the company’s activities being relocated to countries with low labour
costs.

C 70 E/160

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

If they go ahead, Alcatel’s restructuring plans will hit Alcatel’s factories in southern Italy, in particular the
ultramodern establishment in Rieti.

Is the Commission aware of the risks for the economy of the Rieti area, where substantial resources have
been invested in electronics?

Since Alcatel’s situation is improving, what steps does the Commission intend to take to prevent a
temporary difficulty from seriously damaging employment?

How does the Commission intend to safeguard plants such as the one at Rieti, which are considered of
strategic importance because of the highly specialised professional staff and equipment?

(2004/C 70 E/168)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2908/03

by Franz Turchi (UEN) to the Commission

(1 October 2003)

Subject: Alcatel industrial plan

industrial plan for Italy and Europe,

With reference to the Alcatel
in view of the company’s recent
decisions which have particularly affected employment levels, especially at the Battipaglia and Rieti plants
(the latter is to be closed with the loss of over 1 000 jobs), and given the company’s situation as a
consortium within the Galileo project and in the context of the TEN project, will the Commission say
whether or not the plan contains any future strategies for the company, in terms of relaunching, selling or
closing it?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2901/03 and E-2908/03
given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2003)

The Commission has no competence to interfere with companies’ decisions insofar as they do not violate
Community law. With regard to the employment aspects of Alcatel’s decision to close its Rieti plant, the
Commission would like to refer the Honourable Member to the answer it has given to Written Question
P-2897/03, by Mrs Angelilli (1).

The Galileo project has now entered its development and validation phase. The Galileo Joint Undertaking
has therefore full responsibility for that phase, but industrial contracts for the space segment (and related
ground segment) will be managed by the European Space Agency (ESA). An invitation to tender will soon
be issued by ESA concerning the first satellites and the core ground segment. Several companies in Europe
are interested in these activities. A set of space manufacturers, i.e. Astrium, Alcatel and Alenia Spazio, have
created a joint venture called ‘Galileo Industries’ which is most likely to bid for these contracts. At this
stage, however, there is no guarantee whatsoever that Galileo Industries (hence Alcatel) will win them.

As regards Galileo,
the Commission has no rights or obligations regarding the future of Alcatel’s
Battipaglia and Rieti plants. It could, however, be mentioned that a very first contract for a ‘demonstration
and frequency protection’ satellite has been placed with Galileo Industries for a value of EUR 72 million.
This activity could probably generate work for these sites.

As far as the negative effects on the economy are concerned, the territory of the province of Rieti is partly
eligible for assistance from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under Objective 2, and the
municipality of Cittaducale, where one of the Alcatel plants is located,
is an eligible area, as is the
municipality of Battipaglia in Campania, which is an Objective 1 region.