Brussels, 31/08/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 31 August, European Commissioners Neelie Kroes (competition) and Vladimir Spidla (social) received the Solidarnosc trade union representatives from the Gdansk shipyards, who were demonstrating against the threat of job losses at the site (see EUROPE 9491). Job cuts would be caused by the closure of two of the shipyard's three docks, in line with Commission demands, and over 1,000 workers would then find themselves out of work. During their meeting, in an attempt to be reassuring about the Commission's intentions, Ms Kroes told trade unionists of the Commission's close collaboration with the Polish authorities on the question of subsidies and on the absolute necessity to ensure workers have sustainable employment. Generally speaking, the Commission recognises the important role played by the Gdansk shipyards in European history, solidarity and a united Europe, the Commission spokesman said.
In a press release dated 31 August, the European Metalworkers Federation (EMF) states that the Commission is calling on the Polish government to close two of the three docks, or, if it fails to do so, to reimburse the €51 million in State aid that was provided to carry out the restructuring plans. However, as the EMF states, both these options would lead to bankruptcy at the Gdansk yard. Answering press questions as to what the exact situation was, the Commission said it was unable to reply. Ms Kroes takes the view that it is above all necessary to avoid competition distortion with other European sites (Gdynia, Sczecin). The outcome of this affair will, however, not be known until after the meeting with the Polish authorities, the spokesman added, specifying the Commission's position, namely that it would be viable to maintain the Gdansk activity with a single dock and that there must be fairness with the Gdynia and Sczecin shipyards where restructuring has been extremely painful. To the question of whether the Korean or Chinese shipyards (rival to the European shipyards) receive subsidies, the spokesman pointed out that, when shipyards receive unauthorised subsidies, the question must be studied at the WTO.
Will European funding be made available to offset painful job losses?, one journalist asked. The spokesman replied that the question of European funding comes under the Commissioner responsible for regional policy, Danuta Hübner. If there are indeed to be job cuts, then the European Structural Funds could intervene as it is intended to compensate unemployment in such cases, he concluded. (gb)