Gdansk shipyard: Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes and Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Špidla meet workers' representatives

European Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes and European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Vladimir Špidla met a delegation of trade union representatives from the Gdansk shipyard in Poland, accompanied by a Member of the European Parliament, at the Commission's Berlaymont headquarters in Brussels on 31^st August. Commissioner Kroes assured the delegation that the Commission was working with the Polish authorities to ensure the long-term survival of the Gdansk shipyard, while Commissioner Špidla emphasised the importance of creating sustainable jobs at Gdansk shipyard, that will give workers a prospect for the future.

The delegation comprised Karol Guzikiewicz (Vice-Chairman of the "Solidarity" Trade Union in the Gdansk Shipyard), plus Fryderyk Radziusz and Jacek Dytkowski (also from Solidarity), together with Marcin Lucjan Libicki (MEP) and Roman Izdebski (representing Witold Tomczak, MEP).

Commissioner Kroes listened to the concerns of the delegation and told them that she was continuing to work with the Polish authorities to ensure the long-term survival of the Gdansk shipyard with a view to ensuring sustainable jobs for the future. "We do not want the Gdansk shipyard to close – if we did we would have already required the repayment of subsidies a long time ago", she explained.

Commissioner Kroes added that in recent decades, changes in the market have forced the shipbuilding industry all around Europe to restructure. For many yards and regions this has been a painful process. But restructured shipyards across Europe now have a bright future.

Gdansk shipyard, together with the shipyards in Szczecin and Gdynia, has received public money to help with the restructuring process. The Commissioner indicated that the Commission has no problem as such with the subsidies on condition that the Gdansk shipyard reduces its production capacity to ensure that there is no distortion of competition that would harm the shipyards in Szczecin and Gdynia or other shipyards in Europe. "We have an obligation to ensure that all shipyards - within Poland and within Europe as a whole - are treated equally", the Commissioner underlined. "The shipyards in Szezcin and Gdynia have already agreed to make capacity cuts and I remain confident that we will be able to reach agreement on Gdansk."

Commissioner Kroes underlined that "This does not mean closing the yard. On the contrary, I want to see Gdansk restructure and become a successful, company able to stand on its own feet without state support. That is in the interests of the shipyard, the workers, and the Polish economy as a whole. Gdansk Shipyard has played a crucial part in European history and the struggle for freedom and a reunited Europe. It deserves a sustainable and viable future and that is our goal."

Commissioner Špidla explained that "Restructuring is happening in several sectors all over Europe and it can easily create a feeling of distress of the workers and their families. I understand their sentiments. At the same time we see that successful restructuring creates sustainable jobs that will ensure a good future for workers. A constructive dialogue between the social partners will be crucial in this process. I am confident that Gdansk shipyards will emerge from this process as a competitive undertaking on the international market."

Background

The Commission' opened an investigation in June 2005 into state aid worth at least €1.3 billion to Polish shipyards (see IP/05/644). In July 2007, the Commission welcomed the proposal by Poland to reduce capacity in the Polish shipyards in Szczecin and Gdynia, as a necessary step forward in the restructuring process financed by state aid (see IP/07/1145).