The Development Of The European Telecommunication Systems Sector

Dear President Barroso,

The European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF) would like to note a certain problem that we hope the European Commission could play a more active role in solving; namely the development of the European telecommunication systems sector.

European companies still play a leading role in this sector on the global market. The sector is undergoing immense change and is highly dependent on skilled labour.

Therefore, the EMF and its affiliated unions are very concerned by the latest developments, which are threatening European employment. Alcatel-Lucent has informed the EMF of their intention to make approximately 12000 employees redundant and Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) some 9000 employees. The main part of these redundancies takes place in Europe influencing several Member States. The side effects of redundancies are yet unknown in supply and customer networks, which multiplies the effect. Most of the employees under threat are highly skilled and it is vital to safeguard their employability.

In the Lisbon Agenda, and according the European Commission ICT Task Force and e-Skills Forum, the European Commission has published its will to maintain the European ICT sector as one of the core sectors for European competitiveness and employment. The EMF has given its contribution to both of these exercises and therefore we would now like to see that the European Commission, together with its stakeholders, implement the policy declared by the ICT Task Force and e-Skills Forum and safeguard the future of the European ICT industry.

The EMF endorses the European Commission’s will for a more competitive Europe with higher employment and would like to see that you as the President of the European Commission exercise your authority and reinforces the European Commission activities in the sector according the European Commission policy:

• Invite all relevant stakeholders (companies, industry federations, trade unions, academics and Member States) to analyze the current employment and employability situation on the sector.
• According to the results organise activities to maintain high employment, employability and competitiveness in the sector and safeguard European competitiveness according to the Lisbon Agenda.

All in all, the European telecommunication systems sector is under great de-constructing influencing several Member States and companies. Because of the important role of the sector to the European economy and the fact that there is no single Member State or company able to manage the de-constructing the EMF calls upon the European Commission to take an active role and lead stakeholders and Member States in an anticipative action for a more competitive Europe and better employment.