5. Notes that manroland before its insolvency employed 6,500 workers and that it was a modern manufacturer of machinery with modern know-how and attractive pay rates; considers that the break-up of this enterprise (with a loss of one third of its workforce) will cause a loss of skills, potentially affecting other employers and the regions concerned; considers that workers finding a new job will have to accept a lower wage level, which will in turn reduce their purchasing power and the cash-flow within the local economy; considers that the three regions will in addition lose one of the most influential employers, with no immediate prosp ...[+++]ect of an equivalent successor arising in the near future;

- Supporting consumer purchasing power through improved market functioning: policies that improve the functioning of key markets can help sustain demand by helping bring down prices, thus supporting the purchasing power of households.

19. Points out that any meaningful 'Social Package' promoting social progress must be complemented by supportive economic and structural policy measures; considers that the monetary policy of the ECB must be relaxed in order to counter the effects of the current economic slowdown in Europe; calls on the Commission and the Council to draw up a 'European Investment Programme for Sustainable Development, Employment and Social Inclusion' of at least 1 % of EU GDP, which should be complemented by similar public investment programmes of the Member States in order to stabilise the economy and counter climate change; proposes that Member Stat ...[+++]es also introduce measures to stabilise and enhance the purchasing power of low-income people (rising prices for food, energy, transport), e.g. by introducing social default tariffs for gas, electricity, telecommunication, public transport etc.;

Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) are currency conversion rates that both convert to a common artificial currency (Purchasing Power Standards, PPS) and equalise the purchasing power of different currencies.

5. Notes that manroland before its insolvency employed 6,500 workers and that it was a modern manufacturer of machinery with modern know-how and attractive pay rates; considers that the break-up of this enterprise (with a loss of one third of its workforce) will cause a loss of skills, potentially affecting other employers and the regions concerned; considers that workers finding a new job will have to accept a lower wage level, which will in turn reduce their purchasing power and the cash-flow within the local economy; considers that the three regions will in addition lose one of the most influential employers, with no immediate prosp ...[+++]ect of an equivalent successor arising in the near future;

The Commission concluded that, “As regards regional policy, with a level of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita at about 28.5 % of the EU25 average at purchasing power standards, close to the level of Bulgaria and Romania (29% and 30% respectively), Turkey would - based on current rules and were it already a Member State - be eligible for significant levels of structural operations expenditure”.