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F.E.C.C.I.A.
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Paris, on 7 September 1998
Press release The Executive Committee of the FECCIA, European Federation of Managers in the Chemical and allied Industries, member of the CEC, European Confederation of Managers, was held in Rome on 5 September 1998. The new President is François VINCENT (FCC / CFE-CGC, France), who replaces the President Klaus Alberti (VAA / ULA, Germany) and Götz von Bredow (VAA) becomes the General Secretary. The other Europeans members remain unchanged. Economic situation (chemistry, pharmacy, glass, plastics , rubber) European Chemicals concluded an excellent exercise 1997 (rise of the turnover of 7,1% to 384,9 Billions of ECUS, +5,4% in volume), followed by American Chemicals (+17,6% to 345,3 Billions of ECUS, because of the dollar exchange rate, +4,4% in volume), while Japanese Chemicals progresses moderately (+5% to 178,6 Billions of ECUS, +3,2% in volume). Out of the United Kingdom (-0,6% in volume), all countries of the European Union signaled a rise of production. The palm of the growth returns to Ireland with 31,8%. European Chemicals has showed a strong resumption on its domestic market (rise of 5,2% of the apparent consumption to 339,6 Billions of ECUS). The balance of trade is in excess of 45,3 Billions of ECUS in 1997, against 36 Billions of ECUS in 1996. Investments have represented 22,3 Billions of ECUS in 1997, in rise of 7,8%. But staffs did not follow, with a new decline of 1,5% under the bar of 1,7 million of persons. Preoccupations Europe is the leader of world chemical industry. The productivity improves, and however, the image of chemical industry becomes again degraded. The slogan of core-business on Life Sciences make students of Chemical Universities to escape, while pharmaceutical industry is, in all European countries, under supervision and accused to increase expenses of Health. Restructuring of some world and European Groups to separate sectors of activity (Life Sciences, Specialty Chemicals, etc.) or to regroup some Companies in big mergers have social consequences for managers and all the personnel. The FECCIA attracts the attention of the European Commission and Employers of chemical sectors on the necessary dialogue between the different actors of the enterprise (direction, managers, social partners) before to take decisions that commit the future, to take into account the capacity of the management to lead these changes of strategy. Indeed, two-thirds of the biggest mergers do not succeed. The Commission communication on 20/05/1998 on " adapting and promoting the social dialogue at Community level " is an opportunity for the different European partners of the Chemical Industry to show their capacity of innovation to commit the future with dialogue of all the actors of the enterprise. |