Motion for a resolution - B6-0119/2005Motion for a resolution
B6-0119/2005

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

16.2.2005

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Nicola Zingaretti and Guido Sacconi, on behalf of the PSE Group
Lapo Pistelli, Antonio Di Pietro and Luciana Sbarbati, on behalf of the ALDE Group
Monica Frassoni and Sepp Kusstatscher, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Roberto Musacchio and Umberto Guidoni, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
on the crisis in the steel industry (TK Terni)

Procedure : 2005/2519(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
B6-0119/2005
Texts tabled :
B6-0119/2005
Texts adopted :

B6‑0119/2005

European Parliament resolution on the crisis in the steel industry (TK Terni)

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, which obliges the Member States to have as their 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 11 March 20022[1] on informing and consulting employees, Directive 98/59/EC of 20 July 1998 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to collective redundancies, and Directive 94/45/EC of 22 September 1994 on the establishment of European Works Councils; 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 on the case of AST/Thyssen Krupp (Terni, Italy), adopted unanimously on 12 February 2004,

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

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

A.  concerned at the opting-out from high-level technological production, which was in recent years regarded as a model of technological know-how and which must therefore be protected, for reasons relating to employment and the preservation of market share,

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

C.  whereas at the beginning of 2004 the Thyssen Krupp company expressed its intention to close down the magnetic sheet steel plant at AST (Terni), a decision which would entail the disappearance of 900 jobs in the area,

D.  whereas, thanks to the mobilisation of workers, unions and the relevant authorities, as well as promises of action from the EU institutions, Thyssen Krupp withdrew its decision, and on 17 June 2004 an agreement was signed to the effect that the Terni plant would continue to produce magnetic sheet steel,

E.  whereas less than six months after this agreement was signed, at the last meeting of its board of directors the company, ignoring the meetings scheduled for 23 November 2004 between the two sides of industry and the Italian government, reverted to its position of closing down the magnetic sheet steel plant, a decision which was implemented on 7 February 2005, making 360 workers redundant without warning,

F.  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 m,

G.  whereas in its investment plan Thyssen Krupp had undertaken to turn Terni into a European pole of excellence in magnetic sheet steel production, in exchange for the benefits in terms of infrastructure and energy costs agreed by the Italian government in June 2004,

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

I.  having regard to the large-scale public investment, including Structural Fund monies related to the ESF / Objective 2 area contract, intended to develop the local system and infrastructures and to promote training, from which AST/Thyssen Krupp has benefited directly and indirectly,

J.  whereas solidarity calls for a firm commitment by the Member States, for both present and future generations, to promote economic and social cohesion with a view to supporting disadvantaged areas and reducing disparities between population groups in the Union,

1.  Asks the Italian government and the Commission to act forthwith to ensure that Thyssen Krupp reverses the closure of the AST magnetic sheet steel plant in Terni and immediately reinstates the 360 workers made redundant;

2.  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;

3.  Expresses its solidarity with the workers affected and their relatives, whether employed at the AST plant or in related activities, whose jobs are now at risk;

4.  Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take a firmer stand with regard to industrial restructuring and its social impact, so as to prevent negative effects on employment, working conditions and regional planning, in line with the Commission's working programme for the management of productive changes and their social consequences adopted in November 2002 by agreement with the two sides of industry;

5.  Reminds the Commission that it falls within its powers, following the disappearance of the ECSC, to deal with the economic and social consequences of the evolution of the Union's steel industry and to draw up proposals to protect industry, especially steel, in the context of the new cohesion policy which will apply from 1 January 2007;

6.  Believes that the EU must create conditions favouring the development of advanced and high-technology industries by investing in research and innovation, employing Union funds via the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development and developing new materials, designs and processes with a view to ensuring sustainable innovation and development in the traditional industries:

7.  Considers that all aid granted from public funds, including the Structural Funds, must be conditional on undertakings to maintain employment, ensure local development and invest in the modernisation of production;

8.  Considers it incumbent on the Commission to draw up a legislative proposal to tighten the rules limiting the relocation of companies receiving Community aid, either by extending the period during which the company has to maintain production in the locality or by obliging it to provide alternative and innovative solutions in terms of products or working practices that will ensure job preservation;

9.  Calls on the Member States to promote and develop the social dialogue, on a basis of compliance with national and Community law, with regard to the information and consultation of workers, and to adopt effective measures for the protection of union representatives;

10.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States and the social partners.