European Parliament resolution on the future of the steel sector
Date: 2005-02-24
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, EU industrial policy, aid for restructuring, corporate social responsibility, economic and social cohesion, industrial restructuring, iron and steel industry

1.12.2005

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Official Journal of the European Union

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TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

Thursday 24 February 2005

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 5
ARTICLE 1, POINT 3
Article 18a (Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999)

Suspension of the transfer of vessels pursuant to Article 7(3)(d)

Procedure relating to the transfer of vessels pursuant to Arti-
cle 7(3)(d)

The Commission may suspend the transfer of a vessel pur-
suant to Article 7 (3) (d) if it considers that such a transfer
does not comply with the conditions laid down therein.

1. Member States shall notify the Commission of the ves-
sels for which a transfer pursuant to Article 7 (3) (d) is envis-
aged as well as the intended destination.

2. Within two months of such notification, the Commission
may inform the Member State concerned that the transfer
does not comply with the conditions laid down in Art-
icle 7 (3) (d),
If the Commission
does not inform the Member State concerned within two
months, that Member State may proceed with the transfer.

in particular 7 (3) (d) (iii).

P6_TA(2005)0050

The steel sector

European Parliament resolution on the future of the steel sector

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and in particular to its
provisions regarding social rights, and to Article 136 of the EC Treaty, under which the Member States
shall have as objectives the promotion of employment, improved living and working conditions, proper
social protection, dialogue between management and labour, the development of human resources with
a view to lasting high employment and the combating of exclusion,

— having regard to Directive 2002/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March
2002 (1) establishing a framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community,
Directive 98/59/EC (2) and Directive 94/45/EC (3); whereas the two last-named directives both concern
the harmonisation of Member States' legislation on the instruments of dialogue between management
and labour,

— having regard to its previous resolutions on the steel industry and industrial restructurings and mergers,
and, in particular, that of 12 February 2004 on the crisis in the iron and steel sector on the case of
AST/Thyssen Krupp (Terni, Italy) (4), adopted unanimously,

— having regard to the continuing job losses in the steel industry in Europe,

— having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Europe begun with the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC),

B. whereas the Lisbon strategy aims to turn the EU into the world's most competitive and dynamic knowl-
edge-based economy, capable of sustained economic growth accompanied by the creation of more and
better jobs and greater social cohesion,

(1) OJ L 80, 23.3.2002, p. 29.
(2) Council Directive 98/59/EC of 20 July 1998 on the approximation of the laws of the Members States relating to

collective redundancies (OJ L 225, 12.8.1998, p. 16).

(3) Council Directive 94/45/EC of 22 September 1994 on the establishment of European Works Council or a procedure
in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purpose of informing and
consulting employees (OJ L 254, 30.9.1994, p. 64). Directive amended by Directive 97/74/EC (OJ L 10, 16.1.1998,
p. 22).

(4) OJ C 97 E, 22.4.2004, p. 637.

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C.

concerned at the opting-out from high-level technological production, which has in recent years been
regarded as a model of technological know-how and which must therefore be protected,

D. having regard to the EU's interest in providing conditions in which industrial activities that employ a

large segment of the working population of the enlarged Europe can be maintained,

E. whereas solidarity needs a solid expression, both at present and for future generations, through econ-
omic and social cohesion which will help disadvantaged areas and population groups in the EU to
eliminate disparities on a basis of enhanced growth and competitiveness,

F. whereas Thyssen-Krupp has failed to honour the undertakings made in the agreement reached with the
Italian government over its plant in Terni, under which the steel plant would be maintained in exchange
for benefits in terms of infrastructure and energy costs,

G. whereas no industrial reason justifies not honouring the June 2004 agreement, especially in view of the

55 % increase in the company's net profits, which now stand at more than EUR 844 000 000,

H. whereas less than one year after that agreement, the company has again announced its intention to
close the magnetic sheet steel plants, with the risk of closure of all forges next year; whereas no indus-
trial reason justifies not honouring the agreements reached by all the parties concerned or dismantling
the Thyssen-Krupp plant in Terni,

I. whereas the reduction of the production of magnetic steel in Terni will basically mean the loss of this
strategic industrial sector in Italy, with serious consequences for the competitiveness of the economy
and for the employment of young qualified people,

J.

having regard to the considerable public investment, including structural funding under Objective 2 and
from the European Social Fund, for developing the local system, infrastructures and vocational training,
from which AST Thyssen-Krupp has benefited,

K. having regard to the renewed protests by the workers affected, their unions, the local community and

the local authority representatives,

Calls on the Commission, as already requested in its above-mentioned resolution of 12 February 2004,

1.
to adopt a more decisive strategy to tackle industrial restructuring and its social impact;

2.
Calls on the Member States and the Commission to promote initiatives to prevent the downscaling of
the European steel industry and the consequent losses of qualified jobs, particularly at those centres of
excellence where there has been much investment in innovation;

3.
Calls on Thyssen Krupp, following such intervention by the Italian Government and the Commission,
to maintain worker numbers, comply with the investment plan submitted in June 2004, and develop other
branches of production (alloys and titanium) not directly linked to its core business of producing stainless
steel;

Expresses its solidarity with the workers affected and their relatives, whether employed at the AST

4.
plant or in related activities, whose jobs are now at risk;

Considers that the use of Community funds, and especially funding for industry and from the Euro-
5.
pean Social Fund, should be made subject to specific rules relating to innovation,
local development,
employment, and to production commitments within the territory, in the long term, of the enterprises
benefiting; calls in particular for the rules on use of the Structural Funds to be respected and reinforced;

Calls on the Commission and the national governments to introduce legislation on corporate social

6.
responsibility in the interests of sustainable development;

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7.
Considers that Europe must promote innovation by developing its industrial interests, especially in the
advanced and high technology sectors, supporting appropriate industrial redeployment plans; emphasises
that investment in research and development can be used to develop the new materials, designs and pro-
cesses that can reconfigure traditional industries;

Asks the Commission to present a communication on the current state of the steel sector and to

8.
create a high-level group on this sector;

Invites the Commission, after the expiry of the ECSC Treaty, to present a strategy for the future

9.
prospects of the steel sector in order to promote independent European capacity in this sector;

10.
Calls on the Member States to promote and step up the social dialogue on a basis of compliance with
national and European legislation on informing and consulting employees, and to adopt effective measures
aimed at protecting trade union representatives;

Calls on the Commission to work for a decision at WTO and OECD level which would ensure the

11.
protection of the Union's steel industry on the international market;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Governments

12.
and Parliaments of the Member States, the WTO, the OECD and the social partners.

P6_TA(2005)0051

Human Rights (Geneva, 14 March to 22 April 2005)

European Parliament resolution on the EU's priorities and recommendations for the 61st session of
the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva (14 March to 22 April 2005)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the 61st session of the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), which will be

held in Geneva from 14 March to 22 April 2005,

— having regard to the EU Treaty and its provisions on human rights,

— having regard to Articles I-3(3) and III-292 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe,

— having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,

— having regard to the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament on the
European Union's role in promoting human rights and democratisation in third countries (COM(2001)
0252) and its resolution of 25 April 2002 on that communication (1),

— having regard to its resolution of 22 April 2004 on human rights in the world in 2003 and European

Union human rights policy (2),

— having regard to its previous resolutions on the UNCHR since 1996,

— having regard to its resolution of 29 January 2004 on the relations between the European Union and

the United Nations (3),

— having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

(1) OJ C 131 E, 5.6.2003, p. 147.
(2) Texts Adopted, P5_TA(2004)0376.
(3) Texts Adopted, P5_TA(2004)0037.