Corporate social responsibility and the Polioli case
3.7.2018
Question for written answer E-003684-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Daniele Viotti (S&D) , Mercedes Bresso (S&D) , Alberto Cirio (PPE)
Polioli SpA is a chemical company based in Vercelli and produces trimethylolpropane (TMP) trimethylolpropane diallyl ether (TMPDE) and neopentyl glycol.
In July 2017, following a period of crisis, the Swedish group Perstorp acquired it and announced the relaunch of the company and a 6+6 year industrial plan.
In mid-June 2018, contrary to what it had declared less than a year earlier, Perstorp announced its intention to bring Poliolio’s activities to an end. Thanks to the know-how acquired, production will be moved to other plants owned by the group, making 72 employees redundant with only EUR 1 000 in severance pay, leaving open the question as to the heavy legacy of the land to be cleaned up. The closure of the plant has serious social and environmental consequences.
In the light of the above, can the Commission answer the following questions:
- 1.Does the Commission consider that the behaviour of the Perstorp management conforms to the principles of corporate social responsibility, particularly as regards the principle that companies should be accountable for their impact on society?
- 2.What action does it intend to take to ensure compliance with Directive 2002/14/EC establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees and to foster dialogue between management and trade unions, in particular in the case of large multinationals and their subsidiaries?