WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SCM/Q2/EEC/54 
6 August 2008 
 (08-3742) 
Committee on Subsidies and 
Countervailing Measures Original:   English 
 
 
 
SUBSIDIES  
 
Questions from the UNITED STATES Regarding the New and Full  
Notification of the EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES1 
 
  The following communication, dated 4 August 2008, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of the United States.    
_______________ 
 
 
A
USTRIA  (G/SCM/N/155/EEC/Add.1) 
 
 Lower Austria Innovation, Technolo gy and R&D Promotion Programme 2005 
 Lower Austria Innovation, Technolo gy and R&D Promotion Programme 2006 
 
 For both of the above-listed programmes, please describe the eligibility criteria and the types 
of industries that have benefited from th e programme during the reporting period.   
  Promotion of Market Exploration 
 
While the policy objective is stated to be "i nvestment", the title of the programme seems to 
indicate that the programme is for the developm ent of new markets.  Please clarify the policy 
objective and purpose of this programme.    B
ELGIUM  (G/SCM/N/155/EEC/Add.2) 
 
 Order of 13 January 1994 on Promotion of Foreign Trade 
 
 Under this programme, interest free loans ar e provided for "prospecting and market presence 
outside of the European Union".  Please explain fu rther the eligibility require ments for companies to 
qualify for such incentives.  Please also explain how this programme conforms with Article 3 of the 
Subsidies Agreement.    Please describe what is meant by the term "documentation subsidy".   
 
 Aid to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector 
 
Does this programme take into consideration over-capacity prior to providing assistance?   
                                                     
 
1 G/SCM/N/155/EEC & Adds. 1, 2, 6, 9, 21, 24 and 25.   G/SCM/Q2/EEC/54 
Page 2  
 
  D
ENMARK  (G/SCM/N/155/EEC/Add.6) 
  Fishing from the Coast (hauling up vessels)  Construction of Vessels  Modernization of Fishing Vessels 
 Subsidies in the Form of Reduction/Cancellation of Stamp Duty  
 Do these programmes take into consideration over-capacity prior to providing assistance?   
 
 Laying up of Fishing Vessels 
 
 The purpose of this measure is "compensa tion for lost fishing possibilities due to an 
extraordinary closure of the fisheries in the Baltic ".  Please explain how it is determined who is 
eligible for compensation, how the level of compen sation is determined and whether the recipients 
will return to fishing.   
 
 Rescuing and Restructuring of Distressed Enterprises 
 
 Please explain further the industries that have benefited from this programme.   
  Please provide further information regarding th e eligibility criteria for companies to receive 
benefits under this programme.   
 
 Grant scheme for Reimbursement of CO2-Tax Expenses to Enterprises with a High 
Energy Consumption 
  Please provide information regarding which industries have received benefits under this 
programme during the reporting period.    
F
RANCE  (G/SCM/N/155/EEC/Add.9) 
  Industrial Development Company (SODIE) 
 
 Please explain the nature of the subsidy.  The statement that "The loans may not be cancelled" 
is not clear.  Is the subsidy in the form of a loan?    
 Industrial Innovation Fund (FII) (Currentl y the Fund for Enterprise Competitiveness) 
 
 What are the specific eligibility criteria for r eceiving benefits under this programme?  As to 
the form of the subsidy, please elaborate on what is  specifically meant by "subsidies".  Please describe 
the types of industries that have recei ved benefits under this programme.   
 
 National Agency for the Promotion of Research (ANVAR) 
 
 Please describe the types of industries that have received benefits under this programme.    
R
OMANIA  (G/SCM/N/155/EEC/Add.21) 
 
 The National Multiannual Programme to Support the SMEs to develop the Export 
for 2002-2006 
 
 What is the policy objective of this programme?     G/SCM/Q2/EEC/54 
 Page 3 
 
 
   Government Emergency Ordinance No. 26/2005 on Repealing the Legal Provisions 
Regarding Fiscal Facilities for Certain Outstanding Budgetary Debts 
 
 Please describe the industrial sectors that have benefit from this programme.     Government Ordinance No. 65/2001 on Estab lishing and Functioning of the Industrial 
Parks 
 
 It appears that one of the eligibility criteria for this programme is to increase exports.  Please 
explain how this is consistent with Ar ticle 3 of the Subsidies Agreement.   
 
S
PAIN  (G/SCM/N/155/EEC/Add.24) 
  Fisheries 
  It is our understanding that in 2005 Spain offered fuel subsidies to its fisherman in order to 
offset the increased cost of diesel fuel.  Could Spain further clarify if it is currently providing a fuel 
subsidy to its fisherman?  If so, please explain why this programme does not qualify as a notifiable 
under Article 25 of the SCM Agreement?  If the prog ramme is notifiable, please provide all relevant 
information as stipulated under Article 25 (i.e., eligibility, amount of subsidy, objective).   
  Technical Research and Development Programme 
 
 Spain's notification states that, "the compe titive application process is open to anyone who 
wishes to carry out research and development project s or activities in the various technological areas 
already defined as of interest by the programme".  Please explain which "technological areas" are 
defined as being of interest by the programme.   
 
S
WEDEN  (G/SCM/N/155/EEC/Add.25) 
  CO2 Tax Relief for the Manufacturing Sector (0,8 Rule) 
  Please provide further information on whic h industries primarily benefit from this 
programme.      
__________