# CE2004084EN.01043601.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/436 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/436

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(2004/C 84 E/0508)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0605/04

by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 February 2004)

Subject:   Follow-up to question E-3005/02 on the European shipbuilding sector

Subject:

In respect of the aid of approximately EUR 700 million granted by the Spanish government to the Spanish shipbuilding sector, can the Commission answer following questions:

| 1. | Was the Commission notified of this aid by the Spanish government? |
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1.

Was the Commission notified of this aid by the Spanish government?

| 2. | Does the European Commission share the view that, given the scale of the Spanish shipbuilding industry, the amount has to be regarded as disproportionate? |
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2.

Does the European Commission share the view that, given the scale of the Spanish shipbuilding industry, the amount has to be regarded as disproportionate?

| 3. | Does the European Commission not agree that a thorough investigation is required into the action by the Spanish Government, which potentially involves a distortion of competition and, above all, into how the Spanish shipbuilding industry calculates its cost prices? Has the Commission already begun such an investigation and, if not, when will it do so? |
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3.

Does the European Commission not agree that a thorough investigation is required into the action by the Spanish Government, which potentially involves a distortion of competition and, above all, into how the Spanish shipbuilding industry calculates its cost prices? Has the Commission already begun such an investigation and, if not, when will it do so?

| 4. | In view of the seriousness of the general situation in the European shipbuilding sector, is the European Commission prepared to set up a crisis team that can respond quickly and monitor measures taken by Member States, in order to prevent unfair competition on the European internal market? |
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4.

In view of the seriousness of the general situation in the European shipbuilding sector, is the European Commission prepared to set up a crisis team that can respond quickly and monitor measures taken by Member States, in order to prevent unfair competition on the European internal market?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2004)

(1 April 2004)

| 1. | At this moment in time, Spain has not notified under the State aid rules the measures referred to by the Honourable Member. |
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1.

At this moment in time, Spain has not notified under the State aid rules the measures referred to by the Honourable Member.

| 2. | At this early stage it is not possible to say whether the measures constitute State aid, and if so, whether they are compatible or not. Furthermore, since the measures appear to be intended for a number of years, it is difficult to judge whether, as the Honourable Member states, they are disproportionate. |
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2.

At this early stage it is not possible to say whether the measures constitute State aid, and if so, whether they are compatible or not. Furthermore, since the measures appear to be intended for a number of years, it is difficult to judge whether, as the Honourable Member states, they are disproportionate.

| 3. | The Commission is closely following the issue and will request information from the Spanish authorities. In another file, in which proceedings were opened according to Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty (suspected State aid to Spanish public civil shipyards in the form of capital injections to IZAR) (1), the Commission requested Spain to clarify how overhead costs are distributed in IZAR and to clarify the costs for a civil ferry built in one of IZAR's military shipyards. |
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3.

The Commission is closely following the issue and will request information from the Spanish authorities. In another file, in which proceedings were opened according to Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty (suspected State aid to Spanish public civil shipyards in the form of capital injections to IZAR) (1), the Commission requested Spain to clarify how overhead costs are distributed in IZAR and to clarify the costs for a civil ferry built in one of IZAR's military shipyards.

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| 4. | Concerning the suggestion of a crisis team for shipbuilding, the Commission is not fully sure of how such a team could work from a practical or legal point of view. However, the Honourable Member can be assured that allegations of unfair competition in the EU shipbuilding market are taken very seriously in the Commission, and that adequate human resources are already used in the State aid departments to follow the shipbuilding industry. |
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4.

Concerning the suggestion of a crisis team for shipbuilding, the Commission is not fully sure of how such a team could work from a practical or legal point of view. However, the Honourable Member can be assured that allegations of unfair competition in the EU shipbuilding market are taken very seriously in the Commission, and that adequate human resources are already used in the State aid departments to follow the shipbuilding industry.

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(1)  OJ C 201, 26.8.2003.

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