WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3338/98 by Anita POLLACK to the Commission. Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI)
C 118/186 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 4. 1999 Concerning the Commissionís position on the early closure of Kozloduy nuclear power plant units 1 to 4, the Honourable Member is referred to the answer the Commission gave to his written question E-2174/98 (2). The importance of closing these units at realistic dates in accordance with the nuclear safety account agreement with Bulgaria was emphasised again on the occasion of the meeting between the President of the Commission and the Prime Minister of Bulgaria on 8 October 1998. (1) OJ L 82, 29. 3. 1990. (2) See page 38. (1999/C 118/240) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3207/98 by Livio Filippi (PPE) to the Commission (16 October 1998) Subject: Closure of Solvay plant in Ferrara Solvay has decided to close a plant employing 200 workers in Ferrara, prompting justified protests by local trade unions and organizations. It has become all too frequent for multinational companies to lay off workers or close down plants with no concern for the social effects of their actions. Will the Commission therefore ascertain whether the company has complied with the obligation to consult its workers laid down in the directive on the European works council and say what steps it plans to take to ensure that the basic rights of workers are respected with a view to safeguarding jobs? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (16 November 1998) The Commission is aware of problems in relation to the closure of a Solvay production plant in Ferrara (Italy). Article 13 of Council Directive 94/45/EC on the establishment of a European works council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees (1) gave the social partners the possibility to conclude a voluntary agreement on the establishment of a European works council in order to fulfil the obligations set out in the Directive. Such an Article 13 agreement exists in the Solvay group, but the Commission has no information for the time being as to whether or not this agreement was fully respected in the context of the closure of the plant in Ferrara. More information is being sought. It must be emphasised that, in the first instance, the Member States are responsible for the implementation, application and enforcement of Community directives. (1) OJ L 10, 16. 1. 1998. (1999/C 118/241) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3338/98 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission (10 November 1998) Subject: Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) Given that negotiations in the OECD have resumed with a view to reaching agreement on the MAI, what role does the Commission now intend to play, and will Parliament have a further opportunity to make its views known when a revised text is being drawn up?