14 December 1998

COMPROMISE MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

With request for inclusion in the debate on topical And urgent subjects of major importance

Pursuant to Rule 47 of the Rules of Procedure

By FORD, MEETTEN On behalf of the PSE group

By PRONK On behalf of the EPP group

On the delocalisation of the Xerox Corporation

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Directive 751129/EEC, as amended by Directive 92/56/EEC, on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to collective redundancies; (l er tiret Verts)

- having regard to Directive 94/45/EC on the establishment of a European Works Council on a procedure in Community-scale undertaking and Community-scale groups of undertaking for the purpose of informing and consulting employees; (2ème tiret -Verts)

- having regard to its report on Restructuring and Relocation of EU Enterprises (Hautala report); (3ème tiret - Verts)

A. Concerned at the announced delocalisation of economic activity and jobs by Xerox Corporation from Mitcheldean England and Venray, Holland to Dundalk Ireland; (para. A - PSE)

B. Whereas both the Venray and the Mitcheldean plants have been known for years to be amongst Xerox's most efficient manufacturing operations and have enjoyed excellent industrial relations; (para. B - PPE)

C. Whereas Xerox is a major employer in the Venray area and the main employer in Mitcheldean and although no compulsory redundancies have yet been announced, the relocation will ultimately have a major impact on the local and regional economies; (para. C - PPE)

D. Whereas, on the other hand, Xerox Corporation announced an increase of up to 1 000 jobs in its total European manufacturing work force as a consequence of its new plant in Dundalk; (para. D - PPE)

E. Disappointed and concerned at the limited consultation with the employee representatives or local government in Mitcheldean; (para. D (mod.) - PSE)

F. Worried that EU financial support can on occasion enable Member States to attract companies from other parts of the Union with subsidies and extremely low taxes; (para. E (mod.) - PSE)

1. Calls on the Commission to end situations by which the Unionand Member States directly and indirectly subsidies delocalisation within the Union; (para. 1 (mod.) - PSE)

2. Asks the Commission to report to the Parliament whether the conditions offered to Xerox Corporation by the authorities in Ireland are in accordance with EU laws and regulations; (para. 1 - PPE)

3. Calls upon the Commission to report to the Parliament whether Xerox Corporation has fulfilled all requirements for worker information and consultation under EU law; (para. 2 - PPE)

4. Calls upon the Commission to indicate to what extent the proposals with regard to harmful tax competition may offer a solution in similar cases in the future; (para. 3 - PSE)

5. Welcomes the fact that Xerox has now agreed to consider individual requests from personal with appropriate skills in Mitcheldean and Venray to move to the Dundalk facility; (new)

6. Instructs the President to forward this resolution to the Council, Commission and UK, Dutch and Irish governments. (para. 4 (mod.) - PSE)