MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
9 February 2004
pursuant to Rule 37(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Francesco Rutelli, Luciana Sbarbati, Antonio Di Pietro, Giorgio Calò and Paolo Costa
on behalf of the ELDR Group
on the crisis in the steel sector (AST/Thyssen Krupp)
B5‑0089/04
European Parliament resolution on the crisis in the steel sector (AST/Thyssen Krupp)
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and in particular the provisions on social rights, and the provisions of the EC Treaty, in particular Article 136 thereof, according to which the Member States have as their objectives the promotion of employment, improvement of living and working conditions, proper social protection and dialogue between management and labour with a view to lasting high employment and the combating of exclusion,
– having regard to the Lisbon European Council conclusions of 23 and 24 March 2000,
– having regard to Directive 94/45/EC on the establishment of a European Works Council or a general framework for informing and consulting employees in industries of European Community dimension,
– having regard to Directive 2002/14/EC establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in industries of the European Community,
– having regard to the fact that the EU steel industry suffered from the US decision to impose extraordinary tariffs on steel imports, mainly from the EU,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the steel sector and industrial restructuring and mergers,
– having regard to the continuous loss of jobs in the steel sector,
– having regard to Rule 37(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the disappointing economic performance of the EU economy in 2003 makes it even more imperative to complete the Lisbon agenda; whereas this situation is exacerbated by the challenge of enlargement and the uncertainties in the international economic climate,
B. having regard to the huge public investment funding from which AST Thyssen Krupp has benefited, including structural funds from Objective 2 and from the European Social Fund, for developing the local system, infrastructure and vocational training,
1. Reminds the Commission that, since the disappearance of the ECSC, it is responsible for dealing with economic and social issues within the steel industry;
2. Expresses it solidarity with the workers and their families;
3. Considers it necessary to ensure that the EU maintains a strong, modern steel industry which is in a position to meet the needs of sustainable development and job creation;
4. Calls on the Commission to continue to vigorously pursue, through both the OECD and the WTO, multilateral rules against unfair competition from third countries, and to tackle the problem of over-production in the steel sector;
5. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote innovation, develop new actions aimed at specialisation and quality in this sector also and/or provide for appropriate plans for conversion;
6. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to adopt a more pro-active approach to industrial restructuring and its social consequences, with a view to preventing negative effects on jobs;
7. Calls on the Member States to promote and strengthen dialogue between management and labour, in compliance with national and European legislation on informing and consulting workers;
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the WTO, the OECD, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the social partners.