European Commission for Competition, promises protesting shipyard workers to analyse the presented restructuring plans objectively realising the importance of the decision for their future.
Agnieszka Bielawska reports
Several hundred Polish shipyard workers protested in Brussels on Tuesday demanding a positive decision on part of the European Commission, which is now analysing the restructuring plans of Polish shipyards.
'It is important to mark our presence here and show that we care about the future of our workplace,' said one protester. It was the third protest of Polish shipyard workers in Brussels this year, in defence of the shipbuilding industry and their workplaces. Job cuts seem inevitable since the EC demands limiting production in exchange for the financial state aid. Such plans are comprised in the restructuring proposals sent to Brussels by Poland. The Commission has already begun a thorough analysis of the document and the decision can be expected in several weeks. 'We came to ask the European Commisison for a positive solution that is a chance for us and our living,' said another protester.
Neelie Kroes, the EU Commissioner for Competition who met with the protesting workers to hear their postulates, assured that she fully understands the importance of the shipbuilding industry in Poland. She added that she will judge the plans objectively fully aware that the EC decision will have an impact on the future of the shipyard workers: 'I know it is very important for you to get the decision as soon as possible,we will do our utmost to be as quick as we can but I want to say that we cannot go on without viable businesses so we have to find out if the plans presented are viable , sustainable. You deserve a future of which you can be sure, of the jobs you are going to do.'
However Neelie Kroes also firmly underlined that the issue of Polish shipyards has been going on for four years, and Brussels cannot be blamed for the current situation , say Beata Plomecka polish radio correspondent in Brussels: 'She said she started looking into this case in 2004 and she repeatedly asked all Polish governments to submit restructuring plans. She said that either the governments missed the deadline or presented plans that could not be accepted. That is why she said 'do not blame us for the situation' . She also meant that the shipyards should have gone through the painful restructuring process at the very beginning, in 2004. According to the Commissioner that would be easier for them to be viable and stand on the market on their own.'
If the plans are accepted the shipyards will be saved, if not then bankruptcy looms over the yards since they will be obliged to pay back the state aid received after Poland's EU entry: 'This does not concern the shipyards only , bankruptcy would also affect all the smaller and bigger enterprises cooperating with the yards. It is over 80 thousand people. Maybe half of them would find jobs, but what about the rest?We need to protect work places.'
The protest and talks with commissioner for employment Vladimir Szpindla and Neelie Kroes, commissioner from competition did not change much in the situation of the shipyard workers. There are strict rules to be observed by Poland Beata Plomecka says: 'The restructuring plans must grant long term viability of the shipyards. The shipyards must cut production capacity and the restructuring process must be financed mainly by the investors and the state aid must be limited to the necessary minimum. These are the rules that must be obeyed and the commissioner said she would stick to them.'
Winding up the meeting the EU commissioner made a bow towards the Polish workers, which many saw as a positive sign for the future of the Polish yards... 'I will of course be in touch with you, and since some of you came here already three times I promise that the next time I will come to you,' she said.