Written declaration No. 538 | Doc. 13116 | 25 January 2013
Relocation, economic efficiency and social responsibility
A few days ago, industrial production data for the Eurozone was published. The figures were disappointing and reflected a year-on-year decline which amounts to 3.7%, figures which contrast with the strength of the United States, where a growth rate of 2.5% was registered in 2012.
This decline may be partly due to the crisis. But all in all, the greatest contributor to our industrial decline has been the inability to react to industrial relocation phenomena.
More and more companies are taking decisions in this line. As a society, we have the right to be informed of the reasons, the benefits they expect to obtain and the cost that the breakdown of our industrial fabric entails. We must compel companies to undertake a transparency policy on the one hand, and publish detailed accounts on the other. The former demands knowledge of the calculations on which the company has based its actions, whilst the latter means that we must be aware of how much we have contributed to the development of such companies, to their growth and expansion. Therefore, both companies and societies must have a clear idea of their contribution to a company’s success. Frequently, we are told an unbalanced story which only reflects part of the data.
Europe is a mature territory whose growth must be based on its own resources, and human and technological capital, and on a robust specialisation in products with a greater quality and technological power. However, at the same time, we are faced with the challenge of redefining public policies and new governance in full respect of the European Social Charter.
Europe is a society admired the whole world over for having been able to combine economic efficiency, social justice and individual freedom. We shall continue to do so in the future. This is the ambition that Europe needs to continue being one of the most complete societies of the world.