(2004/C 70 E/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3019/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(14 October 2003)

Subject:   Community funding and maintaining jobs

Soflusa is a river transport company operating between Lisbon and Barreiro/Moita, and is proceeding to modernise its fleet with an eligible global investment of Euro 9 819 608, for which joint funding of 50 % from the ERDF was scheduled, and partially paid in 2002.

In the project submitted with the purpose of obtaining the funding, the undertakings given by Soflusa included maintaining their 254 existing jobs and creating a further 50.

Now, according to a statement issued by the company's workers' trade unions, Soflusa's administration has stated that this undertaking to maintain the jobs and create new ones is not going to be met, claiming in the media that this undertaking was an oversight, and thus rubbishing the social undertakings given in order to obtain Community funds, which is simply inadmissible.

What measures is the Commission going to take to ensure that Soflusa's administration meets its social commitments, and specifically those concerning job creation, which were taken as read when the Community funding was awarded?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(25 November 2003)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that the President of the Commission is already aware of the problem, following a letter dated 6 October 2003 from the employees' trade union representatives. As mentioned in the reply to the trade unions, the Commission requested further information from the national authorities on 3 November 2003.

In addition, the Commission can confirm that no European Social Fund assistance was granted to the firm Soflusa.