The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the 1989 Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers and the action programme relating thereto,

–  having regard to Directive 75/129/EEC(1), as amended by Directive 92/56/EEC(2), on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to collective redundancies,

–  having regard to Directive 94/45/EC(3) on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees,

–  having regard to the fast transformations and economic changes that may affect companies in all the Members states, either in a positive or negative way,

–  having regard to its resolutions of 14 March 2006 on relocation in the context of regional development and of 15 March 2006 on restructuring and employment, and to its numerous previous resolutions on company restructuring, relocations, mergers and closures of undertakings, especially that of 13 March 2003 on the closure of undertakings after receiving EU financial aid,

–  having regard to Directive 2002/14/EC(4) of 11 March 2002 establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community,

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

A.  whereas companies should make management decisions which secure the business growth of their enterprises, and whereas restructuring of enterprises should safeguard social and economic progress if the changes required address the challenges of fostering the development of a sustainable economy, combined with a determination to protect social welfare and environment,

B.  whereas the Lisbon Strategy is aimed at turning 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 restructuring must be managed in a socially and environmentally sensitive way, failing which it may run counter to the Lisbon objectives seeking to promote full employment, quality of jobs, social and territorial cohesion and sustainable development,

1.  Calls on the Commission, as already requested in Parliament's resolution of 12 February 2004 on the crisis in the iron and steel sector, to adopt a more decisive strategy to tackle industrial restructuring and its social impact;

2.  Considers that aid from public funds should be linked to long-term agreements by the management of a company in matters of employment and local development;

3.  Asks the Commission, as well as the Member States, to withdraw the subsidies from aid programs and to claim reimbursement of these subsidies from companies which do not respect their obligations;

4.  Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote a European dialogue on industrial restructuring as well as on structural reforms of the labour market to secure the advantages of globalisation, while minimising the negative social impact;

5.  Reminds the Commission of the importance of a well functioning European Works Council Directive that ensures that information and consultation of workers are properly carried out;

6.  Calls on the Commission to draw up without delay an evaluation of the application of the directive on collective redundancies and company closures and to make proposals for measures to ensure compliance;

7.  Welcomes the forthcoming Globalisation Fund, which will support workers and improve the social and educational infrastructure with regard to collective redundancies, and calls on the Council to adopt its Common Position as soon as possible after Parliament's first reading;

8.  Expresses its solidarity with all the workers, their families and their communities affected by redundancies;

9.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the social partners.

(1) OJ L 48, 22.2.1975, p. 29. (2) OJ L 245, 26.8.1992, p. 3. (3) OJ L 254, 30.9.1994, p. 64 (4) OJ L 80, 23.3.2002, p. 29.