Activities of Paul MURPHY related to 2013/2177(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on an Action Plan for a competitive and sustainable steel industry in Europe
Amendments (11)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Shares the Commission’sis of the view that a strong and competitivsustainable steel industry is important for Europe’employment in Europe and its industrial base; the EU is the second largest producer of steel in the world, with an output of over 177 million tonnes of steel per year, accounting for 11 % of global output;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. DeplorNotes the fact that some trading partners have imposed unjust trade barriers, such asntroduced export restrictions and export duties on raw materials, which contribute to unduly raising steel production costs in the EU;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Is of the opinion that, in the interest of a sustainable and publicly run steel industry, the EU must invest in increasing its recycling capacities instead of predominantly focusing on access to raw materials;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Deplores the factNotes that some of ourEU trading partners apply unfair, restrictive measures, such as investment limitations to foreign investment and public procurement preferences that protect domestic steel industries, which unduly hamper EU steel exportin order to protect and advance domestic interests as well as steel and related industries;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Is of the opinion that fiercer competition on the world market and lower energy costs vis-à-vis the production of steel in third countries must not act as a precursor to increase pressure for nor act as an incentive for shale gas production in the EU;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Takes the view that EU standards regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR) and employee participation should also be implemented by European companies in third countries, and that regional development should be promotedIs of the strong opinion that EU based companies and institutions like the EBRD must adhere to binding, transparent and enforceable principles with regard to corporate social responsibility (CSR), reflecting the highest labour, social and environmental standards, including the principle of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of local communities before engaging in or supporting steel production related mining activity in third countries;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Asks the Commission to regularly assess the cumulative impact of agreements, both those currently in force and those under negotiation, on the basis of specific, defined criteria, including on the way in which stakeholders, in particular trade unions, local community organisations as well as other civil society organisations (CSOs), are involved;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Insists that a genuine and sustainable industrial policy for the EU needs to follow a holistic approach and needs to address all shortcomings and failures of EU and Member States' policies; these include the urgent need to reverse its austerity policies and focus on so called budgetary discipline which leave little space for public investment programmes in infrastructure and furthermore undermines the purchasing power of working class people in Europe;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Stresses that overcapacities in China and other steel producing and exporting countries also hint at a general slow-down of the economies in emerging countries which is bound to have severe repercussions for the world economy, including further adverse sectoral impacts on inter alia the steel and related industries;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Points out that a recent report by research group IHS found that in order to bring European car production in line with current overcapacities, estimated at 30% in the sector, another 18 automobile plants in Europe need to close, inevitably causing negative repercussions for the steel industry in Europe;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7d. Is of the opinion that the private sector and current pro free-market, neo-liberal policies of the EU and its Member Dates have failed with regard to providing a sustainable industrial policy in the EU; points out that tax breaks provided by Member States' governments to multinational steel giants such as ArcelorMittal with a view to keeping production sites in Europe and maintaining employment have dramatically failed working class people and tax payers in the EU; concludes therefore that the only sustainable and viable solution for the steel industry is the nationalisation of the industry under democratic workers' control in order to conduct massive and socially useful and meaningful public investment programmes in infrastructure in order to create decent jobs and stimulate the economy;