WRITTEN QUESTION E-2900/03 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Council. Safeguarding jobs at the Alcatel plant in Rieti.
Date: 2003-10-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Latium, advanced technology industry, collective dismissal, economic consequence, industrial restructuring, job preservation, labour law, telecommunications

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/763

(2004/C 78 E/0811)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2885/03

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Application of the EU/Israel Association Agreement

(29 September 2003)

In recent years the European Commission has begun to apply a policy of imposing customs duties on
importers of goods which are known to have been produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied
territories of the West Bank. The Commission also imposes duties when it is suspected that goods have
been produced in the settlements.

The European Union has Free Trade Agreements with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority covering
the whole area of Israel and the occupied territories without regard to the nationality of the producer.
Does the Commission accept, therefore, that there should be no discrimination with regard to customs
duties on produce produced anywhere in the region regardless of the legal status of the settlements? Does
the Commission also accept that under the Oslo accords reached between Israel and the Palestinian
Authority that Israel is responsible for customs administration in all settlement areas, and, if so, does the
Commission believe that it is important for the EU to respect the Oslo accords even if it is not legally
bound to do so? Finally, what progress has been made under the terms of the dispute procedures that have
been activated to deal with this situation under Article 79 of the EU/Israel Association Agreement, and
which were put into place after a meeting of the Association Council in October, 2002?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2003)

The Union-Israel Association Agreement provides for the establishment of a free trade area between the
Union and Israel creating a favourable environment notably for the development of trade, investment and
economic co-operation. As regards the application of the rules of origin, the Union’s interpretation of the
Agreement is clear: products originating from the Israeli settlements (West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem
and the Golan Heights) are not entitled to benefit from preferential treatment.

As regards the reference made by the Honourable Member to the Oslo accords, these agreements do not
deal with the issue of preferential treatment of goods entering the Union since they regulate the bilateral
relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Following the ‘Notice to Importers’
issued by the Commission in November 2001 and the measures
adopted unilaterally by the Union, the ‘rules of origin’ issue has been discussed in the appropriate fora
(i.e. relevant Association Committees and Association Councils) where the Union reasserted its position
and the Israeli authorities expressed their willingness to explore appropriate technical measures in this
respect. This matter is still under discussion.

(2004/C 78 E/0812)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2900/03

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Council

(1 October 2003)

Subject: Safeguarding jobs at the Alcatel plant in Rieti

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.

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

C 78 E/764

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Is the Council 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 Council intend to take to prevent a temporary
difficulty from seriously damaging employment?

How does the Council 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?

Reply

(4 March 2004)

1.
The Council is conscious that any major restructuring, leading to job redundancies, in a multinational
company could be a risk for the region and country where the affected plants are located and recognises
that this could be a particularly sensitive subject in Italy, if the Alcatel plant in Rieti is affected.

2.
in
However, despite measures taken in the context of the European Employment Strategy and,
particular, the adoption of the annual Employment Guidelines in accordance with Article 128 of the
Treaty, Employment Policy as such remains a national competence. It is not therefore incumbent upon the
Council to intervene directly in situations affecting specific firms or plants.

3.
The Honourable Parliamentarian may be aware, however, that particular emphasis has been placed in
recent years, on the need to provide for adequate information and consultation of employees in situations
likely to affect their interests or, indeed, their livelihoods and that a number of Community legislative acts
have been adopted in this area.

4.
Provisions on employee information and consultation are contained in 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 (1), Council Directive 98/59/EC of 20 July 1998 on the approximation of the laws of
the Member States relating to collective redundancies (2) and Council Directive 2001/23/EC of 12 March
2001 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the safeguarding of employees’
rights in the event of transfers of undertakings, businesses or parts of undertakings or businesses (3).

5.
Another key instrument in this context is 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 (4), which the Member States should implement no later than 23 March 2005.

The Council invites the Honourable Parliamentarian to revert to the Commission for more detailed

6.
information as regards his question.

(1) OJ L 254, 30.9.1994, p. 64.
(2) OJ L 225, 12.8.1998, p. 16.
(3) OJ L 82, 22.3.2001, p. 16.
(4) OJ L 80, 23.3.2002, p. 29.

(2004/C 78 E/0813)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2911/03

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Council

(2 October 2003)

Subject: Football-related violence

Is the Council aware that Welsh football supporters were the target of significant violence during the Italy
v. Wales match in Milan on 6 September?

Does the Council intend to launch an investigation into this matter, and to take action in order to ensure
that such unacceptable events do not reoccur?