WRITTEN QUESTION E-2908/03 by Franz Turchi (UEN) to the Commission. Alcatel industrial plan.
Date: 2003-10-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, Italy, advanced technology industry, cessation of trading, industrial project, job cuts, satellite navigation, telecommunications, vocational retraining

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.

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/161

In this connection, measures to convert production capacity may be financed following an initiative by the
region of Lazio and the region of Campania, which are the authorities responsible for selecting and
conducting operations in their geographical areas.

(1) OJ C 65 E, 13.3.2004, p. 242.

(2004/C 70 E/169)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2905/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 October 2003)

Subject: Unemployment in Greece on the basis of the 2001 census

According to an article by a distinguished academic and former minister, unemployment in Greece is in
the region of 9,5 % rather than the 8,9 % announced by the National Statistical Service (NSS).

This assessment derives from the fact that the NSS measures the level of unemployment on the basis of the
1991 rather than the 2001 census, thereby underestimating the workforce between the ages of 15 and 44
but, conversely, overestimating the workforce over the age of 45. The result of this for the second quarter
of 2003 is that the workforce has been underestimated by 461 600, those in employment by 390 300 and
the unemployed by 71 300.

What are the Commission’s views on this matter? Is the NSS’ method of measuring or the view taken by
the above academic correct? Finally, what is the level of unemployment in Greece according to the latest
available data?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(5 November 2003)

Pursuant to the applicable Community legislation, the measurement of unemployment should comply with
the definition of Article 1 and 2 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1897/2000 of 7 September 2000
implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 577/98 on the organisation of a labour force sample survey in
the Community concerning the operational definition of unemployment (1), and Greece is in full
compliance.

In relation to the source used to calculate the weighting factors, Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC)
No 577/98 of 9 March 1998 (2) does not specify the source (population registers, census, etc.).

The latest non-seasonally adjusted data for Greece available in Eurostat correspond to the 2nd quarter
2003 and show an unemployment rate of 8,9 %. These data are available in the New Cronos database:
Theme 3 \ Labour Force Survey (LFS) \ unemployment. The seasonally adjusted unemployment data, as
published in the last monthly press release of Eurostat (No 113/2003 of 1 October 2003) show a
9,2 % rate for Greece for the 2nd quarter 2003.

The Commission does not wish to express a view on diverging academic positions.

(1) OJ L 228, 8.9.2000.
(2) OJ L 77, 14.3.1998.