Question for written answer E-006243-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Christel Schaldemose (S&D)

A Danish Broadcasting Corporation television documentary has established that the Polish shipyard Crist has made use of North Korean forced labourers to build a Danish naval patrol vessel. The North Korean workers who, according to Dutch investigations and the UN, have been working in slave-like conditions, were hired by the Armex temporary employment agency via the state-owned North Korean firm Rungrado.

Parliament has previously made representations to the Commission about North Korean forced labour in Poland in questions E-013290/2015, P-004172/2016 and P-006692/2016. In its answer to the most recent question, the Commission stated that it would initiate infringement proceedings if it considered that Poland had breached EC law.

Can the Commission confirm that, by making use of North Korean forced labourers hired through Polish firms, Poland has breached EC law, in particular Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union (on fundamental rights), Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 5(2) of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights?

Are North Korean forced labourers still working in Poland or in other EU Member States and, if so, what will the Commission do to prevent forced labour and unfair competition, now and in the future, from third-country nationals with work permits?

Will the Commission initiate infringement proceedings against Poland accordingly?