No C 171/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 7. 85 
Recapitulation of current tenders, published in the Supplement to the Official Journal of the 
European Communities, financed by the European Economic Community under the European 
Development Fund (EDF) or the European Communities budget 
(week: 2 to 6 July 1985) 
(85/C 171/02) 
don to 
tender 
No 
2264 
2267 
2268 
2269 
2258 
2270 Number and date 
of 'S' Journal 
No S 122, 2. 7. 1985 
No S 122, 2. 7. 1985 
No S 122, 2. 7. 1985 
No S 123, 3. 7. 1985 
No S 125, 5. 7. 1985 
No S 125, 5. 7. 1985 Country 
Zaire 
Angola 
Cape Verde 
Zambia 
Zimbabwe 
Thailand Subject 
ZR-Kinshasa: office equipment and 
handtools 
B-Brussels: technical assistance for an 
integrated fisheries project 
CV-Praia: power supply and equipment 
ZM-Kitwe: face shovels 
ZW-Harare: hospital equipment 
TH-Bangkok: plant, vehicles and 
equipment Final date 
for submission 
of bids 
3. 9. 1985 
19. 8. 1985 
23. 9. 1985 
12. 9. 1985 
4. 10. 1985 
2. 9. 1985 
STATE AIDS 
Aids to the Community synthetic fibres industry 
(85/C 171/03) 
The Commission has examined the situation in the synthetic fibres industry in the light, in 
particular, of the question of surplus capacity and the code for limiting aid introduced in July 
1977, the latest extension of which expires on 19 July 1985. 
This examination has revealed that despite considerable restructuring and conversion out of 
synthetic fibres and yarns, production capacity on a Community-wide basis still exceeds 
requirements. 
Although the industry showed a cyclical upswing in 1983 and 1984, which primarily resulted 
from the recovery of the EC textile and clothing industry and the higher value of the dollar, 
capacity utilization rates remain on average between 79 and 80 °/o, which is still insufficient for 
economically and financially viable operation. 
Even taking into account the remaining closures agreed upon by the EC industry, a further 
adjustment of considerable magnitude will be required after the end of 1985, particularly as the 
EC demand for synthetics for textile utilization will at best be stagnant in the next few years. 
In these circumstances the Commission decided to extend the system of control of aid set up in 
1977 for a further two-year period ending on 19 July 1987. 
Furthermore, the Commission on the basis of the abovementioned analysis has concluded that 
the system of control which until now has covered the production of acrylic, polyester and 
10.7.85 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 171/3 
polyamide needs to be enlarged in order to include polypropylene fibre and yarn. Capacities 
for these products in the EC are only utilized to a level of 70 % and although prospects for 
polypropylene are slightly better than for the other synthetic fibres and yarns, the existing 
capacities will continue to be largely out of balance with demand for a considerable number of 
years. 
Consequently, and after having informed the Member States, it points out to parties other than 
Member States, under Article 93 (1) of the Treaty and on the basis of the Community 
guidelines concerning aid to the textile, clothing and man-made fibre industry defined in 1971 
and 1977, that it will continue to express an unfavourable a priori opinion with regard to 
proposed aids by Member States, be they sectoral, regional or general, which have the effect of 
increasing the net production capacity of companies in the synthetic fibres sector (acrylic, 
polyester, polypropylene and polyamide fibre and yarn). 
Furthermore, it will continue to give sympathetic consideration only to Member States' 
proposals to grant aid for the purpose of solving serious social or regional problems by 
speeding up or facilitating the process of conversion away from synthetic fibres into other 
activities or restructuring leading to reductions in capacity. 
The Commission also wishes to inform third parties that it requires the prior notification of all 
aid proposals, of whatever form, in favour of companies in the synthetic fibres sector under 
Article 93 (3) of the EEC Treaty, as any such national measure may not be implemented unless 
and until the Commission approves it. 
STATE AIDS 
(Articles 92 to 94 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community) 
Notice to interested parties other than the Member States, pursuant to the first subparagraph of 
Article 93 (2) of the Treaty, of a decision by the Belgian Government to award aid of at least 
Bfrs 400 million to a ceramic sanitary-ware manufacturer at La Louviere 
(85/C 171/04) 
On 16 February 1983 the Commission took a negative decision on a previous aid of Bfrs 
475 million to a manufacturer of ceramics for sanitary use situated at La Louviere (OJ No L 
91, 9 April 1983). More recently, it took a negative decision on further assistance amounting to 
Bfrs 83 million (OJ No L 59, 27 February 1985) and it has initiated the procedure provided for 
in Article 93 (2) EEC in respect of the plan for a third aid of Bfrs 295,3 million to that firm 
(OJ No C 269, 9 October 1984). 
The repeated assistance given by Belgium to the ceramic sanitary-ware sector has enabled 
exports of Belgian products to other Member States to increase considerably, despite the fact 
that for a number of years the sector in question has been in difficulty. 
It is the Commission's view that, by making it possible to continue production of sanitary 
ceramic ware through the creation of a new legal entity, the new aid is likely to distort 
competition and affect trade to an extent contrary to the common interest, and that none of 
the exceptions provided for in Article 92 EEC are applicable. Furthermore, the aid was not 
notified in advance.