Copenhagen, 12/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt expressed regret on Thursday 12 January at the decision of Vestas, Denmark's own global wind energy leader, to lay off more than 2,300 people when the Danish Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers has made green Europe one of its priorities. Though this is a huge setback for green technology it will not alter the Danish strategy said Thorning-Schmidt. She went on to say that this setback must not be allowed to cast any doubt on the commitment to creating green growth, adding that Europe had to be the leader in this area. “It's good for the environment and for Europe. It's a new way to create jobs”, she argued.
“These redundancies are not as a result of the green agenda but of the crisis”, stated European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. He said the green agenda was an important issue and it had to be properly addressed “so that we can provide the incentives to create green jobs”. Thorning-Schmidt said European states must continue to invest in research, innovation and education and that European legislation relating to these areas was being drafted.
While fiscal discipline is essential, according to Barroso, growth is also “important for restoring confidence among citizens and investors”. Copenhagen wants to put internal market reform and green growth at the heart of its presidency. Barroso made the point that that it was “vital that we succeed” in this.
Wind turbine manufacturer Vestas announced that it was to cut 2,335 jobs, some 10% of its workforce, in an effort to return to profitability, after a sharp rise in its costs saw its profits tumble in 2011. The company hopes the decision will cut its fixed costs by around €150 million by the end of 2012. (CG/transl.rt)