WRITTEN QUESTION E-0356/04 by Pasqualina Napoletano (PSE),Giorgio Ruffolo (PSE), Guido Sacconi (PSE)and Walter Veltroni (PSE) to the Commission. Crisis in the steel sector in Terni.
Date: 2004-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, cessation of trading, collective dismissal, corporate social responsibility, industrial restructuring, iron and steel industry

C 84 E/372

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

(2004/C 84 E/0430)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0355/04

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(12 February 2004)

Subject: Funding for young artists

The cultural association ‘Prometeo’ of Alatri
in the province of Frosinone has long been involved in
promoting and publicising an international art and literature prize, the aims of which include fostering the
knowledge of various cultures and traditions via paintings and sculptures produced by various artists from
different EU Member States.

The prize is awarded for an artistic work on a specific theme which is decided on each year, but it is left
up to the artists to choose what technique they consider most appropriate.

The aim of the whole initiative is to promote the trans-national dissemination of culture and the
movement of artists and artistic works, which is also one of the objectives of ‘Culture 2000’.

In view of the above, can the Commission say:

1. what measures or programmes are envisaged to fund this kind of initiative in the context of ‘Cultura

2000’;

2. whether there are similar initiatives within the EU;

3. whether this sector is one of the priorities for 2004?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(19 March 2004)

and 2. The Commission would ask the Honourable Member to refer to its reply to Written Question

1.
E-0938/03 (1).

3.
The Commission would also remind the Honourable Member that the call for proposals for projects
to be undertaken in 2004 closed on 30 October 2003 for annual projects and on 14 November 2003 for
multiannual projects.

(1) OJ C 242 E, 9.10.2003, p. 212.

(2004/C 84 E/0431)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0356/04

by Pasqualina Napoletano (PSE),
Giorgio Ruffolo (PSE), Guido Sacconi (PSE)
and Walter Veltroni (PSE) to the Commission

(12 February 2004)

Subject: Crisis in the steel sector in Terni

The company Thyssen Krupp (TK) recently presented its technical schedule, which indicates its decision to
close the AST’s electrical steel department in Terni, Italy, entailing the loss of 900 jobs in the area
concerned.

Electrical steel is of decisive importance for the overall equilibrium of the Terni steelworks, in terms of
production arrangements and synergies and the implications for employment; furthermore, TK promised
to make Terni the European centre of excellence for grain-oriented electrical steel.

The plant is one of the company’s European sites with the lowest product unit costs and there has been
enormous public investment, including Community funding linked to the Objective 2 contract and the

3.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/373

ESF, in developing local systems, infrastructure and vocational training, from which AST/TK has benefited
both directly and indirectly.

Does the Commission intend to promote immediate moves to prevent the closure of the electrical steel
department of TK’s plant in Terni?

Does it intend to adopt a more decisive strategy to tackle industrial restructuring and its social impact, in
order to prevent adverse repercussions not only on employment and working conditions, but also on
regional planning?

(2004/C 84 E/0432)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0390/04

by Francesco Rutelli (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 February 2004)

Subject: Closure of the electrical steel department of AST in Terni

The company Thyssen Krupp (TK) has announced its decision to close the electrical steel department of
AST in Terni, Italy. The product unit cost of the electrical steel produced there is among the lowest in
Europe.

In view of this, does the Commission intend to draw up proposals which may help to prevent the

1.
closure of the plant in Terni?

Does the Commission intend to support measures aimed at ensuring that workers are given more
2.
information about and are more involved in company decisions, so as to prevent drastic industrial
restructuring decisions from having adverse repercussions in the future?

(2004/C 84 E/0433)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0395/04

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 February 2004)

Subject: Measures to prevent the closure of the steelworks in Terni

The steelworks in Terni belongs to the German multinational Thyssen Krupp and is one of the most
important in Europe.

The group has indicated that it wants to close the plant, which is the only one in Italy producing electrical
steel.

For these reasons, can the Commission make every possible endeavour to safeguard this highly specialised
industrial sector, which provides jobs for thousands of workers, one thousand of whom (cid:1) if we include
those in related industries (cid:1) risk losing their jobs.

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0356/04, E-0390/04 and E-0395/04
given by Mr Dimas on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2004)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Members to its joint answer (1) to Written Questions
P-0376/04 by Mrs Sbarbati, P-0388/04 by Mrs Angelilli and P-0445/04 by Mr Mastella. In any case, the
Commission notes with satisfaction that an agreement appears to have been reached not to close down the
installations.

(1) See page 206.