WRITTEN QUESTION E-2653/99

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(12 January 2000)

Subject: Events at Malpensa

In order to forestall the accusation that the decrees of 5 July 1996 and 13 October 1997 transferring all flights from Linate to Malpensa did not comply with the provisions of Community law, an Italian Government decree provided that 34 % of European flights would remain at Linate until access infrastructure had been fully completed and notification had been received that the work was finished.

Is the Commission aware of the inconveniences which users of the Malpensa hub still experience, especially through the lack of suitable buildings, the fact that the train shuttle still does not serve terminal 2, forcing passengers to drag their baggage along and to use the taxi or bus shuttle service between terminals 1 and 2 (services that stop, what is more, at a certain time of day) and the fact that there are still not even enough baggage-trolleys, all of which confirm the need to guarantee the survival of Linate as an airport providing connections to the 15 Member State capitals? How does it view the fact that the Italian Government has not yet sent the information which the Commission had asked to receive by 15 November?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 April 2000)

The Commission has paid and continues to pay special attention to the situation concerning Malpensa airport, particularly as regards access and airport infrastructures. This issue is closely linked with the problem of Italian traffic distribution rules for the various airports of the Milanese airport system complying with Community law.

The Commission, with the help of specialised consultants, carried out several in-depth inspections in 1998 and 1999 of the state of the above infrastructures, particularly concerning their suitability for the volume of traffic that was due to move to Malpensa when the above-mentioned traffic distribution rules were applied. The Commission used the information from these sources to intervene in 1998, declaring the immediate application of the rules which were initially adopted as incompatible with Community law(1). The Italian authorities took the results of the inspections on board and decided to delay applying the rules until October 1999, subsequently delayed to December 1999.

The Italian authorities responded to the inspections carried out by specialist consultants by deciding in October 1999 to undertake work and improvements, particularly focusing on aspects of airport infrastructure (providing additional departure gates, implementing an Apron Management Control system,

improving the capacity for luggage and passport control etc.). Contrary to the view held by the honourable Member, the Italian authorities have indeed sent the information which the Commission had asked to receive on carrying out work and improvements. The Commission is currently checking this information.

(1) Commission Decision of 16 September 1998 on a procedure relating to the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 (Case VII/AMA/11/98 Italian traffic distribution rules for the airport system of Milan). OJ L 337, 12.12.1998.