WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2997/98 by Franz LINSER to the Commission. Implementation of the Brenner base-level tunnel project
21. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 142/65 (1999/C 142/080) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2979/98 by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission (8 October 1998) Subject: Clothing sector Is the Commission aware of the continuing decline in the clothing sector because of the industry relocating to developing countries, (a recent example of which is the ‘Fruit of the Loom’, an American company based in Co. Donegal, Ireland deciding to relocate to Morocco − with the loss of 300 jobs and 1500 employees put on short time) and is the Commission considering any plans to arrest this trend? Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (13 November 1998) The relocation of industrial activities from Europe to third countries is taking place against the background of strong economic growth and competition at world level. Over the last few years, textile and clothing companies have come up with strategies for the internationalisation of their production so as to better serve their worldwide interests. This has been happening more in the clothing sector than in the textile sector. The Commission is convinced that this trend cannot be slowed down by administrative action. Furthermore, protectionist measures would be neither a truly feasible nor a profitable way of eliminating the causes. Relocation could be reduced by applying the Community measures aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the textile and clothing industry. The Commission’s ‘Plan of action to increase the competitiveness of the European textile and clothing industry’ (1) in particular provides a framework for coordinating all Community schemes to boost the competitive advantages of European companies in this sector. With regard to economic cooperation strategy (e. g. Asiainvest, Alinvest, JOP, MEDA projects, ECIP and the Centre for Industrial Development), the Commission encourages projects aimed at strengthening the European sector in third country markets in terms of their potential impact on Community employment. As regards the company ‘Fruit of the Loom’, the Commission is not aware of any Community assistance having been granted. (1) COM(97) 454 final. (1999/C 142/081) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2997/98 by Franz Linser (NI) to the Commission (8 October 1998) Subject: Implementation of the Brenner base-level tunnel project In its White Paper ‘A strategy for revitalising the Community’s railways’ the Commission stressed that greater use of the railways as an economic alternative to road transport would be an effective way of combating the problem of heavy traffic volumes. The province of Tirol is the region of the European Union most heavily affected by Alpine transit. It is planned in the framework of the TENs to build a Brenner base-level tunnel, which should enable a large part of the goods and passenger traffic that passes through the Tirol to be moved to the railways. In the view of the Commission, has the time now come to start building the Brenner basis-level 1. tunnel? 2. If so, how are the access routes leading through Italy and Germany to the tunnel to be created? If not, what are the reasons not to begin construction as soon as possible, and when will building 3. begin?