on prospects for transit-related jobs in border areas in the

context of the 1993 single market

The European Parliament,

A. whereas the Community's internal borders will be officially

open throughout the Twelve from 1 January 1993,

B. having regard to the hopes, but also the legitimate fears,

which this raises, in view of the serious problems it will

create for forwarding agents and their staff and for the

local communities concerned,

C. mindful also of the current increase in trade in the run-

up to the single market,

D. whereas the heads of the undertakings concerned cannot be

blamed for not introducing retraining schemes earlier, as

any action to retrain employees for other agencies or

organizations, or any redeployment course, would have

entailed recruiting new staff to carry out the existing

work,

1. Expresses concern at some of the economic and social

implications of the forthcoming opening of the Community's

internal borders, particularly for border areas and

forwarding agencies and their staff;

2. Believes that, like customs officials, the staff of private

undertakings should also benefit from Community measures;

3. Calls on the Commission to set up an ad hoc programme as

a matter of urgency, in the framework of Community action

programmes, to respond to the worrying situation of the

undertakings, employees and local communities concerned

before 1 January 1993, and also requests the Commission to

consider the possibility of extending the scope of

Objective 2 of the Structural Funds to the affected border

areas;

4. Requests the Commission shortly to propose a package of

specific measures in the context of this programme with the

aim essentially of providing

for employees:

- substantial aid for training with a view to providing

paid and individually tailored retraining to create an

efficient workforce, taking account of each person's

needs and abilities;

- special aid to set up businesses and compensation for job

losses;

for employers:

- help in converting forwarding agencies to other work;

for local communities:

- help to redevelop sites;

5. Expresses its grave concern at the threatened closure of

a large number of firms and the risk of a high number of

job losses, estimated at 70 000;

6. Refers to its approval of a considerable increase in the

resources allocated to budget Item B3-4010 'Labour market

and employment' and its amendment to ensure that the

appropriations against this item are also made available

for the retraining of customs officials;

7. Calls for measures to enable effective action to be taken

by the Community to assist the regions concerned within the

framework of the Structural Funds and Community

initiatives;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the

Commission.