WRITTEN QUESTION E-2519/99 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Bankruptcy of the IMEG company (Lucca).
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/75 A letter adding to the information given in the answer to Written Question E-3800/97 was sent to Mr Tamino in the spring of 1998. (2000/C 303 E/065) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2519/99 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission (22 December 1999) Subject: Bankruptcy of the IMEG company (Lucca) The IMEG company (marble and granite industry) is one of the worldís largest companies in the sector of marble excavation and processing. The firm holds a concession for quarries covering 60 % of the territory of Apuo-Versiliese and employs 180 workers in the districts of Carrara, Manciano and Massarosa. On 2 April 1999 the company was declared bankrupt and the workers made redundant. No bids were received at the two auctions designed to sell the industrial complex as a single unit and on 30 November 1999 the company will be auctioned off as two separate lots. 1. Will the Commission say whether there are any Community rules to protect the unity of an industrial production cycle, with particular reference to the need to ensure that jobs are maintained? 2. Are there any financial instruments to assist the development and conversion of industrial concerns? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (16 February 2000) Three directives might apply to the situation described in the question. Directive 77/187/EEC of 1. 14 February 1977 amended by Directive 98/50/EC of 29 June 1998 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the safeguarding of employeesí rights in the event of transfers of under- takings, businesses or parts of businesses (1) provides for the protection of employees in the event of a change of employer, in particular by ensuring that their rights are safeguarded. Directive 98/59/EC of 20 July 1998 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to collective redundancies (2) aims at protecting employees in the case of collective dismissal by providing that workersí representatives have to be informed and consulted before a decision on the dismissals is taken and that the authorities have to be informed about those planned dismissals. The overall purpose is to avoid collective dismissals. Directive 80/987/EEC of 20 October 1980 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer (3) guarantees payment of outstanding claims to employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. 2. The Structural Funds can part-finance industrial conversion projects as mentioned by the Honourable Member provided they are located in eligible zones, and also training of unemployed workers to help them re-enter the labour market. For Objective 2 embracing such aid the Commission awaits a revised proposal from the Italian authorities under the regulatory provisions (4) in force for the 2000-2006 programming period. (1) OJ L 201, 17. 7. 1998. (2) OJ L 225, 12. 8. 1998. (3) OJ L 283, 28. 10. 1980. (4) OJ L 161, 26. 6. 1999