WRITTEN QUESTION P-0709/04 by Pasqualina Napoletano (PSE) to the Commission. Alcatel crisis (Rieti).
Date: 2004-03-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Regional Development Fund, Italy, application of EU law, collective dismissal, company in difficulties, industrial restructuring, outplacement, redevelopment aid, telecommunications industry, worker information

C 84 E/444

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

This concern regards all kind of animals, whose suffering should be limited by stricter rules.

The EC proposal for a review of the legislation on transport does not include any reference to stocking
densities, journey limits, or stops for feeding and watering for poultry.

Several cases of transport of poultry which have involved serious problems of welfare and even death of
these animals have been reported; in some cases, hundreds of animals died because the cages in which
they were kept were broken by the cages above that crashed on to them.

Strict measures for the protection of poultry need to be introduced as a matter of urgency.

The EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) is currently producing evidence relating to the transport of
poultry.

How and when will the Commission introduce standards for poultry within the debate for a new
Regulation?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(2 April 2004)

The Commission is aware of the animal welfare problems that may occur in the transport of poultry
mentioned by the Honourable Member. The Commission proposal now under discussion in the Parliament
and in the Council already includes general animal welfare requirements for the protection of poultry
during transport aimed at improving the current situation.

Furthermore, in October 2002 the Commission requested the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and
Animal Welfare to examine the issue in order to elaborate a detailed scientific opinion on the protection of
poultry during transport.

As the Scientific Committee for Animal Health and Animal Welfare (Schahaw) had not completed its
evaluation at the time of transfer of competence for scientific advice from the Commission to the
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the request was taken over by the EFSA Panel and Animal Health
and Welfare.

Once the EFSA opinion becomes available the Commission will consider presenting a proposal to
introduce additional standards for poultry.

(2004/C 84 E/0518)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0709/04

by Pasqualina Napoletano (PSE) to the Commission

(4 March 2004)

Subject: Alcatel crisis (Rieti)

With regard to the decision by the multinational company Alcatel to restructure and even close the
facilities at Rieti and Battipaglia, and since several questions have already been put to the Commission
highlighting the importance of preserving these facilities in order to safeguard employment and the high
level of technology provided in a significantly under-developed area, could the Commission indicate:

1. whether the Italian authorities have referred the serious crisis affecting Alcatel to the European

Commission;

2. what initiatives the Commission has it within its powers to take;

3. how it can ensure that the owners and public authorities responsible guarantee the workers’ right, in
line with principles laid down in current European regulations, to precise and transparent information
on a restructuring process that is jeopardising a major technological pole and employment itself?

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/445

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 2004)

The Italian authorities have not approached the Commission to discuss the crisis affecting Alcatel and
potential remedies.

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

Measures to convert production capacity may be financed,
following an initiative by the regional
authorities (Campania and Lazio), which are the authorities responsible for selecting and conducting
operations.

The Commission wishes to point out
that several Community Directives lay down procedures of
information and of consultation of workers’ representatives which can prove to be applicable in the event
of restructuring of companies,
in particular Council Directive 98/59/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning
collective redundancies (1), and Council Directive 94/45/EC, of 22 September 1994, concerning the
European Works Councils (2). Another Directive was also adopted on 11 March 2002 by the Parliament
and the Council with the aim of supplementing the Community mechanism on the matter (Directive
2002/14/EC establishing a general framework relating to information and consultation of workers in the
European Community (3)).

It is important to recall that the Directive 98/59/EC on collective redundancies stipulates that, when an
employer envisages collective redundancies, it is required to carry out, in good time, consultations with the
workers’ representatives with a view to reaching an agreement. These consultations cover at least the
possibilities of avoiding or of reducing the collective redundancies as well as the possibilities of alleviating
their consequences by recourse to social accompanying measures aiming at,
in particular, aid for
redeployment and retraining of redundant workers.

(1) OJ L 225, 12.8.1998.
(2) OJ L 254, 30.9.1994.
(3) OJ L 80, 23.3.2002.

(2004/C 84 E/0519)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0717/04

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 March 2004)

Subject: Johne’s disease

What plans does the Commission have to address the animal welfare issues posed by Johne’s disease in the
EU?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2004)

The Commission is obviously concerned at the serious animal health and welfare issues posed by the
occurrence of Johne’s disease (paratuberculosis) within the EU.

With a view to increasing the available scientific knowledge, a number of specific research projects have
already been funded under the Community’s Framework Programmes to investigate this disease. These
have considered aspects such as improved diagnostic methods, epidemiology and risk assessment, the role
of wildlife in disease transmission and management tools to control the disease in domestic ruminants.

The Commission has also recently requested the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to issue a
scientific opinion on the risk of transmission of the causative organism Mycobacterium avium subsp.
paratuberculosis via bovine semen.