91997E4218

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4218/97 by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL), Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) and Alonso Puerta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (21 January 1998)

Subject: Lack of information supplied to European Works Councils

Ericsson, a Swedish multinational, produces technology for the leading sector of the world economy - telecommunications. It has most of its resources in Europe, mainly in Sweden and its main market is the European Union itself.

This company has concluded agreements with two US companies whereby the latter are to take over totally the manufacture of Ericsson public communications equipment worldwide. This decision may have serious consequences for thousands of Europeans working for the Ericsson group and the implementation of the plan in Spain would mean the transfer of many workers to other companies. The operation does not ensure industrial stability or employment in the new company and, furthermore, endangers other jobs in auxiliary and service industries which now work for Ericsson in Spain.

In view of the fact that the European Works Council of Ericsson employees was neither informed nor consulted about this decision and the trade union representatives in each country received the news through unofficial channels after the decision had been implemented, can the Commission say:

1. whether it knows about this situation;

2. whether it knows that Ericsson's main world market is the EU and that after this policy is implemented there will be no coherence between the responsibilities that the multinational will have as regards maintaining jobs, generating business, etc., and the volume of profit which Europe brings it;

3. whether it considers that the abandonment of industrial activities by major companies will lead to the loss of tens of thousands of jobs in a sector of great importance to workers in the EU who are not highly qualified;

4. whether it considers that Ericsson has infringed workers' right to be informed and consulted as laid down in Directive 94/45/EEC? Can it guarantee that Ericsson will comply with this Directive on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting workers?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-4141/97 and E-4218/97 given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (25 February 1998)

No complaint or request for action has been made to the Commission by the interested parties concerning the facts described by the Honourable Members.

At present the Commission is carrying out a global evaluation of the transposition into national law of Council Directive 94/45/EC of 22 September 1994 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. Infringements by firms of the rules laid down in this Directive must be assessed in the light of the national provisions transposing the Directive into national law. It is first and foremost for the national authorities to ensure compliance with these provisions.