付録5 EU産業閣僚理事会決定(2000年5月18日)
572/00 (Presse 157) (OR.fr)
PRESS RELEASE
Subject:
2262nd Council meeting
- INDUSTRY -
Brussels, 18 May 2000
**********************************************
<Extract of the press release>
SHIPBUILDING
The Council held a debate on the situation in world shipbuilding on the basis of the Commission's second report on the matter.
The Commission report recorded that the world market for merchant ships was still in crisis, with supply clearly outstripping demand and few indications that the situation might improve. Prices were continuing to decline as a result of the very low offer prices from South Korean yards.
The Commission's efforts to persuade the South Korean Government to participate in introducing conditions of fair competition, as called for by the Industry Council meeting on 9 November 1999, had culminated in the signing of "Agreed Minutes" by the Commission and the South Korean Government.
Following the debate the Council adopted the following conclusions:
"THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
RECALLING the Council Conclusions of 9 November 1999 on the situation in world shipbuilding, notably calling on the Commission to engage the Republic of Korea in constructive consultation with a view to halt the unfair competition.
CONSIDERING the progress made by the Commission in reaching "Agreed Minutes" with the Government of Korea relating to the world shipbuilding market, which are focused on the issues of subsidies, banking and financial transparency, and commercial pricing practices, and which provide for a consultative mechanism.
HAVING EXAMINED the 2nd report of the Commission on the situation in World Shipbuilding:
Shares the Commission's view that the sector continues to face a critical situation world-wide with very low prices and a serious over-capacity caused mainly by Korean shipyards, which severely affects the European shipbuilding industry.
Reiterates its serious concern on the results of the Commission investigations which indicate that contracts continue to be awarded, in the Republic of Korea, at prices below costs, thus causing damage to the interests of EU yards.
Welcomes the "Agreed Minutes" as a first step towards restoring fair and competitive market conditions and considers that this and, if necessary, other appropriate bilateral and trade actions and measures should be vigorously pursued to this end.
CALLS ON:
- The Commission to continue to closely monitor developments with the Member States and industry and to exercise pressure on the Republic of Korea to fully implement the "Agreed Minutes" as well as to assume responsibility to work towards an improvement of the market situation, in particular concerning price levels and new building capacities;
- The Commission to request immediately, and in accordance with the consultation mechanism provided by the "Agreed Minutes", "ad hoc" consultations with the Korean Government in order to achieve a speedy follow up of the principles laid down in these "Agreed Minutes"; (4)
- The Industry and the Commission to collect further detailed evidence on possible injurious pricing and other non-market oriented behaviour in order to launch and support, respectively, a complaint under the Trade Barrier Regulation if required;
- The Commission and Member States to keep the International Monetary Fund (IMF)and the World Bank informed about the findings and to request that the implementation of the conditions under which IMF led assistance was granted to the Republic of Korea, is closely monitored and assessed with particular reference to shipbuilding;
- The EU Shipbuilding industry to continue improving its competitiveness;
- Member States and the Commission to pursue their efforts to establish a level playing field for the shipbuilding industry, in the appropriate international fora.
The Council welcomes the determination of the Commission to continue to fulfil its obligations under Article 12 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1540/98 of 29 June 1998 (5) and requests the Commission to proceed accordingly by the end of September 2000."
Footnotes:
(4) The Commission stated that it intended to submit to the Council in June 2000 a proposal making those Minutes official in accordance with the Treaty.
(5) OJ L 202, 18.7.98.
