Trentatré istituzioni regionali europee sollecitano l'UE ad aiutare l'industria navalmeccanica

Ieri una dichiarazione sottoscritta da 33 istituzioni regionali europee, che pubblichiamo di seguito, nella quale evidenziano come il futuro dell'industria navalmeccanica europea debba essere considerato quale assoluta priorità per lo sviluppo economico di queste regioni per i prossimi decenni, è stata inviata al presidente del Parlamento europeo, Jerzy Buzek, ai rappresentanti del Consiglio europeo e della Commissione Europea e al presidente del Comitato delle Regioni. Nel documento le istituzioni regionali esprimono estrema preoccupazione per l'impatto determinato dalla crisi mondiale della navalmeccanica.

«Il sostegno unanime di tutte le principali regioni della cantieristica navale dell'Unione Europa - ha commentato il segretario regionale dell'associazione dei cantieri navali europei CESA (Community of European Shipyards' Associations), Reinhard Lüken - sottolinea l'urgenza del problema e l'importanza di trovare soluzioni comuni alle comuni preoccupazioni. Le regioni si rivolgono alle istituzioni europee e noi francamente auspichiamo che le istituzioni dell'UE rispondano a questa chiamata sollecitamente. Abbiamo bisogno di decisioni!»

«A causa della crisi - ha ricordato il presidente del Shipbuilding Social Dialogue Group dell'European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF), Ruud van den Bergh - si sono perse già decine di migliaia di posti di lavoro. Questo è un settore industriale high-tech d'interesse. Non vogliamo che paghi il prezzo di una concorrenza sleale proveniente dall'Asia o degli sbagli delle banche e degli speculatori. Noi crediamo nell'Europa!»

La CESA ha ribadito la necessità di introdurre senza alcun indugio misure di sostegno all'industria navalmeccanica. «Innanzitutto - ha precisato l'associazione - il comparto ha bisogno di nuovi ordini per limitare al minimo l'impatto sull'occupazione. A tal fine, per superare l'attuale carenza di domanda, potrebbe essere particolarmente efficace il concetto di un eco-bonus per la rimozione dalle acque europee di tonnellaggio vecchio, non sicuro e inquinante. Temporanee misure complementari per l'occupazione contribuirebbero a scongiurare una crisi sociale e a trattenere forza lavoro esperta».

JOINT DECLARATION BY REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS
ON THE FUTURE OF
THE EUROPEAN SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY

For the undersigning 33 regions, the future of the European shipbuilding industry is top priority for the economic development in the coming decades. As responsible representatives for our regions, we jointly speak on behalf of a population of more than 60 million people.

Shipbuilding is a high tech sector providing thousands of high skilled jobs at shipyards countless suppliers of equipment and services to the yards. Shipbuilding forms a keystone in the regional maritime clusters with its tight network including many SMEs and invaluable scientific excellence. In our regions, shipbuilding is an essential sector for the prosperity of our people.

Shipbuilding has been severely affected by the global economic crisis in combination with global structural imbalances and market distortions. Demand for new ships has collapsed since summer 2008. Due to long production lead-times, shipbuilding is a late-cycle industry. The impact of the demand collapse on employment will be felt with an 18 months delay. At the end of 2009 on average about 20% of the jobs at shipyards were affected. This figure could dramatically increase in 2010. Without new contracts before summer 2010, an employment crisis with half the jobs at stake could be unavoidable.

During the LeaderSHIP High Level Meeting in September 2009 chaired by Vice-President Verheugen, urgent action measures were proposed to decisively counteract against irreparable damages to this industry with its outstanding capabilities. We strongly support the proposed action programme including fleet investment stimulus, financing means, level playing field and expanded and accelerated research and innovation efforts.

The European institutions are urged to establish, without delay, appropriate conditions for an emergency programme, generating orders for markets, which are in need for new, safe and clean ships. A targeted fleet renewal programme is expected to boost regional investments and industrial activity, improve the infrastructure, reduce significantly dangerous emissions from ships and thus contribute to a healthy environment.

Shipbuilding has been and will be an attractive growth market. European yards have successfully developed from a labour intensive to a know-how intensive industry. While demand for standard shiptypes is expected to remain weak for several years, a number of new markets for European yards are anticipated. These include in particular new designs for low emission ships, deep sea off-shore support vessels, ocean energy related hardware and a number of highly specialised fields of maritime activities. In addition, well established growth market such as the cruise industry will continue to develop positively.

Shipyards are taking all necessary measures on their side to adjust to the changed business environment. The proposed support for the European industry aims at bridging the temporary demand gap and improving key framework conditions for technologically advanced and competitive companies. The measures are not considered as attempts to delay structural change. However, they will give this future growth sector the means to successfully face the challenges arising from the distorted conditions of the global market.

The EU must demonstrate its ability to jointly and effectively address the challenges of the shipbuilding sector. To this end, we request the European Commission and Member States to take all necessary decisions for swift implementation in line with the LeaderSHIP proposals. We count on the European Institutions to take its full responsibility in this context.


Brussels, 8th April 2010

Signatories:
-	Mrs. Eva M. Vazquez Sanchez, Director General for Industry Energy and Mines of Andalucía
-	Mr. Graciano Torre González, Governor of the Principality of Asturias
-	Mr. Bernabé Unda Barturen, Minister of Industry, Innovation, Trade and Tourism of Basque Government
-	Mr. Emil Dichev, Mayor of Municipality Beloslav
-	Mr. Aurel Gabriel Simionescu, Mayor of Braila
-	Mr. Martin Günthner, Minister of Economic Affairs and Ports of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen
-	Mr. Dimitar Nikolov, Mayor of Burgas
-	The Campania Region
-	Mr. S. Galema, Member of the Provincial Executive Council of Friesland
-	Dr. Renzo Tondo, President of Autonomous Friuli Venezia Giulia Region
-	Mr. Dimitru Nicolae, Mayor of Galaţi
-	Mr. Ángel Bernardo Tahoces, Director General for Industry Energy and Mines of Galicia
-	Dr. J. C. Gerritsen, Member of the Provincial Executive Council of Groningen,
-	Mr. Axel Gedaschko, Senator of Economic and Labour Affairs Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg
-	Mr. Ivan Jakovčić, President of the Istria Region
-	Mr. Arūnas Burkšas, Governor of Klaipėda County
-	Mr. Claudio Burlando, President of Liguria Region
-	Mr. Gian Mario Spacca, President of the Marche Region
-	Mr. Jürgen Seidel, Minister of Economics, Labour & Tourism of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
-	Mr. Jörg Bode, Minister for Economics, Labour and Transport State of Lower-Saxony
-	Mr. Constantin Adrian Bragaru, Mayor of Orsova
-	Mr. Mieczyslaw Struk, Marshal of Pomorskie Voivodeship
-	The Primorsko-Goranska County
-	Mr. Bojidar Jotov, Mayor of Regional Government of Ruse
-	Mr. Joël Batteux, President of La Carene, Mayor of Saint-Nazaire
-	Mr. Jost de Jager, Minister of Science, Economic Affairs and Transport of Schleswig-Holstein
-	The Sicily Region
-	The Splitsko-Dalmatinska County
-	Mr. Constantin Hogea, Mayor of Tulcea
-	Mr. Mikko Pukkinen, Lord Mayor of Turku
-	The Veneto Region
-	Mr. M. Wiersma, Member of the Provincial Executive Council of Zeeland
-	Dr. J.W.Asje van Dijk, Member of the Provincial Executive Council of Zuid-Holland