WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1791/98 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Social dialogue and police measures
C 50/94 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 22. 2. 1999 requirements on the limitation of exposure of workers to non-ionising electromagnetic radiation. In addition, the Commission has now proposed a Council recommendation on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields 0 Hertz (Hz) › 300 Gigahertz (GHz) (7). (1) OJ C 102, 3. 4. 1998. (2) OJ C 373, 9. 12. 1997. (3) OJ C 173, 17. 6. 1996. (4) OJ C 60, 26. 2. 1997. (5) OJ C 356, 25. 11. 1996. (6) OJ C 77, 18. 3. 1993. (7) COM(98) 268 final. (1999/C 50/136) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1791/98 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (11 June 1998) Subject: Social dialogue and police measures In his answer (dated 19. 1. 1998) to my Written Question No 3605/97 (1) Commissioner Flynn states: The dialogue between the social partners greatly contributes to shaping the economic and social environment and has become one of the cornerstones of our model of society. í In the same answer he goes on to say: á. the Luxembourg guidelines (21. 11. 1997) recommend close involvement of the social partners at all stages of the process. í This is intended to promote social cohesion. The Greek Government has refused to hold a dialogue with employees regarding the sale of the Ioniki Trapezaí (the Ionian Bank), a subsidiary of the Emboriki Trapezaí (Commercial Bank), thereby violating the principle of the social dialogue, and on 24 May 1998 sent in the police to deal with bank employees at the Computer Centre in Piraeus, thereby opting for direct confrontation. Will the Commission give its official views on this unprecedented action by the Greek Government which constitutes a flagrant violation of the commitments it has assumed within the framework of the EU regarding the social dialogue? (1) OJ C 174, 8. 6. 1998, p. 85. Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (10 July 1998) The Commission has the task of promoting the social dialogue at Community level. These responsibilities are set out in Article 118b of the EC Treaty and in Article 3 of the Agreement on Social Policy. The Commission has also put forward numerous proposals for fleshing out the Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers. For example, it takes the view that worker information and consultation form an essential part of a very widely shared culture of industrial relations in Europe. The model of industrial relations that the Commission is responsible for promoting at European level therefore draws its inspiration from an approach based on dialogue and partnership. As regards the events mentioned by the Honourable Member relating to an industrial dispute at national level, they are the responsibility of the Member States alone. The Commission is therefore not in a position to judge national practices in these areas