WRITTEN QUESTION E-2571/99 by W.G. van Velzen (PPE-DE) to the Council. Secretariat of the Energy Charter.
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 C 225 E/170 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 1. What progress has been made on the Energy Charter Protocol? Is the Council aware of the Arthur D. Little study on the operation of the Secretariat of the Energy 2. Charter? 3. What is the status of this report, and when can it be made available to the Member States and the European Parliament? Is it true that the Finnish Presidency has requested Mr Schütterle, Secretary-General of the Energy 4. Charter, to communicate the report to the Member States? 5. Is it true that Germany considers it inappropriate to publish this report? Reply (28 February 2000) The Energy Charter Treaty and the Energy Charter Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Related Environ- mental Aspects were signed in 1994. In accordance with Article 44 of the ECT, the Treaty and the Protocol entered into force on 16 April 1998, i. e. on the 90th day after the date of deposit of the 30th instrument of ratification with the Portuguese Republic, acting as depositary of the Treaty. At this stage, 40 countries have ratified the Energy Charter. As far as the European Union is concerned, all the Member States and the European Communities have ratified it. With regard to the report drawn up by the management consultancy firm Arthur D. Little on the operation of the Secretariat of the Energy Charter, this report falls within the internal management remit of that organisation. It is therefore not for the Council to comment on whether and when the report mentioned could be made available to the Member States and the European Parliament. However, in connection with the preparation of the last session of the Energy Charter Conference which was held in Brussels on 7 December 1999, the Finnish Presidency did express the desire to have this report. It should be noted that the Conference unanimously decided to appoint a new Secretary-General to replace Mr Schütterle. The person in question is Ms Ria Kemper, who took up her duties on 1 January 2000. (2000/C 225 E/188) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2573/99 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (11 January 2000) Subject: Commission reports on veterinary missions carried out in Belgium and Ireland On 22 February 1999, the Commission published a Mission Report on a veterinary mission to Belgium. The Report revealed serious breaches in Belgium of Council Directive 91/628/EEC (1) on the protection of animals during transport, including the transport of unfit animals and the acceptance by the Belgian authorities of route plans for long journeys for pigs, even though the plans made no provision for the pigs to be rested, fed and watered after 24 hoursí travel, as required by Directive 91/628/EEC. On 18 August 1999, the Commission published a Mission Report on a veterinary mission to Ireland. This revealed serious breaches in Ireland of Council Directive 91/628/EEC. What steps is the Commission taking to require the Belgian and Irish authorities to ensure compliance with the requirements of Council Directive 91/628/EEC? (1) OJ L 340, 11. 12. 1991, p. 17