WRITTEN QUESTION E-0365/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Support for Member State company interests overseas.
28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/59 prostitution. The Community sees the adoption of the Convention as a major step forward and calls for its early ratification and effective implementation. The International Labour Organisation has well-established mechanisms for supervising the application of international labour standards, including the ILOís Conventions on forced labour (29) and on the worst forms of child labour (182). It is recalled that the 1999 International Labour Conference examined a very critical report on Myanmar and decided to suspend the benefits of ILO technical assistance for this country. It is, however, clear that there is no basis for trade measures preventing the import of goods produced using bonded or child labour in any international instrument at present. The Community follows an approach based on the offer of positive incentives and other forms of assistance, as opposed to the use of sanctions, in order to promote or enhance the ability of poor countries to adhere in practice to accepted standards in the area of core labour standards. However, in extreme and well-specified cases, the Communityís generalized scheme of preferences (GSP) system allows the suspension of benefits accruing to countries where severe violations of human rights have been found. This provision has been applied to Myanmar and still is in force. Considering the case of Pakistan, its government has introduced legislation to outlaw bonded labour and child labour and keeps the Commission informed of the efforts of its authorities to implement this legislation (investigations, convictions, rehabilitation). The Commission uses all appropriate occasions to impress on Pakistan its concerns in this area. In addition, the Honourable Member will be aware of the considerable importance for India and Pakistan of the International programme for the elimination of child labour (IPEC) programme under the ILO aegis for the education of children which helps children to go to school and families to get a job or some money to survive. The Community is a major contributor to this innovative instrument to fight against poverty as well as bonded and child labour. (2000/C 374 E/069) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0365/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission (14 February 2000) Subject: Support for Member State company interests overseas Does the Commission consider that companies with overseas interests supported by certain Member States have an unfair advantage over companies in those countries that do not offer such support? Is the Commission able to give detailed information on each Member Statesí contribution to supporting the overseas interests of companies from their own country? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (10 April 2000) The Honourable Member refers to possible support from certain Member States for the interests of their companies overseas. If these measures appear to provide the beneficiaries with an economic advantage and moreover if they are only available to certain enterprises or certain activities and if they potentially distort intra-Community trade, they may well fall under the discipline of the Treaty state aid rules. The Commission, in a recent decision, has adopted a strict approach as far as aid to outward foreign direct investment of large enterprises is concerned (see Commission Decision of 14 October 1998 on a proposal by Austria to grant aid to Lift GmbH (1)). The Commission is regrettably not able to provide the Honourable Member with detailed information on the amount of each Member State contribution to support overseas interests of companies. (1) OJ L 142, 5. 6. 1999