WRITTEN QUESTION P-2569/99 by Luisa Morgantini (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Crisis in the SISMA (Società Industrie Siderurgiche Meccaniche) undertaking in Villadossola, Piedmont.
8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/169 (2000/C 225 E/186) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2569/99 by Luisa Morgantini (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Crisis in the SISMA (Società Industrie Siderurgiche Meccaniche) undertaking in Villadossola, Piedmont fifty years, For the last industrial undertaking in the Ossola Valley because of its high production capacity, the fact that it specialised in the production high-quality special steels, and the numerical strength of its workforce. the SISMA undertaking in Villadossola was the most important From 1947 to 1980 the undertakingís employment policy was one of expansion, so that it ultimately employed 1 800 people. In 1989, the undertaking was taken over by the Leali Group. In 1993, the Leali Group sold the hydroelectric power plants. The sale of those plants, which produced low-cost electric power, coincided with the start of a management policy which led to the dismantling of the undertaking. Nevertheless, a night shift and working on public holidays were introduced so as to save on the cost of electricity. At the same time, Dario Leali informed the local authorities of the commune of Villadossola that he also wished to take account of other factors affecting the steel industry and that he did not intend to put the SISMA undertaking in Villadossola on the list of undertakings to be restructured as provided for in the European plan for the restructuring of the steel industry. He nevertheless confirmed that the undertaking would be able to continue production In October 1999, the Leali Group announced that as it did not have the 200 thousand million lire necessary for the restructuring of the Villadossola undertaking, the latter would cease production on 31 October 1999. As a result of this unexpected decision, 320 workers immediately lost their jobs, but the Leali Group still owns all the production plants in Villadossola. It also appears that the Leali Group received aid from the Regional Fund and /or the Funds for the conversion of undertakings and /or the Funds for the restructuring of the steel industry. Can the Commission provide the following information: 1. What was the amount of that aid? 2. How did the Leali Group use that aid? 3. What checks does the Commission carry out with regard to aid which has been granted? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (17 January 2000) According to the information forwarded at this stage by the Italian authorities to the Commission, it appears that the Gruppo Lealií has not received aid from the European Regional Development Fund. The Commission has, however, requested additional information from the Italian authorities and will pass it on to the Honourable Member. (2000/C 225 E/187) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2571/99 by W. G. van Velzen (PPE-DE) to the Council (3 January 2000) Subject: Secretariat of the Energy Charter The Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad reported on 20 November that the Netherlands Government is concerned at in Brussels. A year ago the management consultancy firm of Arthur D. Little issued a report on the management of the Secretariat at the request of the then chairman of the Governmental Council of the Energy Charter, Mr Rutten. the Energy Charter Secretariat the poor management at