WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4141/97 by Laura GONZÁLEZ ÁLVAREZ , Pedro MARSET CAMPOS to the Commission. Failure to provide information to European works councils
C 187/130 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 6. 98 Private arrangements are being made outside the above mentioned fisheries agreements. The contracting parties to the International Baltic sea fishery commission (IBSFC) have agreed (fishery rule 2. 1) that vessels fishing under such private arrangements should have a specific authorization for a defined fishing activity from the official authorities of the flag state and of the country where the fishing takes place. For monitoring purposes, the authorising contracting party in whose waters the fishing takes place shall also, prior to the commencement of the fishery, communicate to the IBSFC secretariat such specifications as the species, quantities, period and the name of vessels. The IBSFC circulates this information to the contracting parties. The Commission is convinced that such regional and bilateral co-operation contributes to economic integration in general and will have positive effects on the next enlargement negotiations. (98/C 187/202) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4141/97 by Laura Gonza·lez A· lvarez (GUE/NGL) and Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (21 January 1998) Subject: Failure to provide information to European works councils The Swiss multinational Ericsson produces technology for the most powerful sector of the world economy, telecommunications. Most if its resources are in Europe, mainly in Sweden, with its main market being the European Union. The company has reached agreements with two United States companies for the latter to take over manufacture of all Ericssonís communications equipment worldwide. This decision may have serious consequences for thousands of European workers employed by the Ericsson Group and the imposition of this plan in Spain would involve the transfer of numerous workers to other companies. This operation offers no guarantees of industrial stability or of employment with the new company and, in addition, jeopardizes other jobs in auxiliary and service industries currently working for Ericsson in Spain. Bearing in mind that the European works council representing workers at Ericsson was neither informed nor consulted on this decision and that trade union representatives in both countries were notified unofficially after it had been carried out: 1. 2. Is the Commission aware of this situation? Is the Commission aware that Ericssonís main global market is in the EU and that, if this policy is carried out, this multinational company will no longer be meeting the responsibilities incumbent upon it in terms of maintaining jobs and creating an industrial fabric, given the scale of the benefits it reaps in Europe? 3. Does the Commission not consider that the abandonment of industrial activities by major companies can lead to the loss of tens of thousands of jobs in a very important sector employing unskilled workers in the European Union? 4. Does the Commission consider that Ericsson has violated the right to information and consultation of workers laid down in Directive 94/45/EEC? (1) Will the Commission ensure that Ericsson complies with the directive as regards the establishment of a European Works Council and an information and consultation procedure for workers in Community-scale undertakings and groups of undertakings? (1) OJ L 254, 30. 9. 1994, p. 64. (98/C 187/203) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4218/97 by Laura Gonza·lez A· lvarez (GUE/NGL), Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) and Alonso Puerta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Lack of information supplied to European Works Councils (21 January 1998) Ericsson, a Swedish multinational, produces technology for the leading sector of the world economy › telecommunications. It has most of its resources in Europe, mainly in Sweden and its main market is the European Union itself