TheCommissiontooknamelyintoaccountthattherestructuringplanservedtorestorethelongterm
viability and health of the firm which had been making losses. Furthermore, the Commission alsoconsideredthattheaidedrestructuringprogrammeincludedmeasureswhichoffsetunduedistortionsofcompetition:itentailedthedefinitiveclosureofthecopperwireandtubefacilitiesofthecompany’splantlocatedinCordoba.Thisresultedinasignificantnetreductionof8000tonnesperannumintheoverallproductioncapacityofthecompanyand,therefore,madeasignificantcontributiontotherestructuringofthecopperindustryintheCommunity,whichwasaffectedbyastructuralexcessofproductioncapacity.Finally, the Commission took also into account that the aid would help to overcome the structuralproblemsoftheregionwheretheplantislocatedbycreatingsixtynewjobsandassuringaneconomicallyviablebusiness.
On9October1999theCommissionpublishednewguidelinesonStateaidforrescuingandrestructuring
firms in difficulty(
3) which in principle are in force until October 2004. These new guidelines have
tightenedtherulesnamelyasfarastheeligibilityofthefirmsforaidisconcerned.TheCommissiondoesnothavealltherelevantinformationthatwouldbeneededtoassesstodaywhetherthecompanycouldbeconsideredafirmindifficultyforthepurposesoftheapplicationoftheguidelines.
(1) Source:Company’sannualreport.
(2) OJC368,23.12.1994.
(3) OJC288,9.10.1999.
(2004/C58E/034) WRITTENQUESTIONE-0859/03
byRobertaAngelilli(UEN)totheCommission
(20March2003)
Subject:RequestforclarificationaboutfundingobtainedbytheCityofFrosinone
InconnectionwiththeallocationofEuropean fundinganumberofItaliandailynewspapersrecently
reportedthattheCityofFrosinonehasreceivedEUfundingamountingtoEUR30billiontocarryoutprojectsofvariouskinds.
ThesereportscontradictotherdataaccordingtowhichanumberofItaliancities,includingFrosinone,find
itdifficulttomaketheefforttoobtainthefundingavailabletothem,whichtheCommissionhasoftenpointedoutremainsunused,eventhoughitismuchneeded.
SuchdataincludetheCommission’sanswerstoquestionsE-3433/02(
1),E-3427/02(2),E-3429/02(3)and
E-3431/02(4)ontheuse,bythemunicipalityofFrosinone,ofthefollowingfunds:URBANII,Daphne,
EQUAL,theESFandtheFourthActionProgrammeonEqualOpportunitiesforWomenandMen,SAVEIIandAltenerII.
AlltheCommissioners’answersindicatethatthemunicipalityofFrosinonehasnotsubmittedprojectsfor
anyoftheprogrammesmentioned.
Inviewofallthis,cantheCommissionclarifythesituationwithregardtotheactualuseofEuropean
fundingbythemunicipalityofFrosinone?
(1) OJC137E,12.6.2003,p.207.
(2) OJC222E,18.9.2003,p.70.
(3) OJC137E,12.6.2003,p.206.
(4) OJC155E,3.7.2003,p.153.6.3.2004EN C58E/31 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
AnswergivenbyMrProdionbehalfoftheCommission
(16May2003)
The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to her Written Questions
E-0827/03(1),E-0828/03(2),E-0829/03(3),E-0860/03(4),E-0861/03(5),E-0862/03(6),E-0863/03(7)and
E-0864/03(8).
(1) OJC242E,9.10.2003,p.184.
(2) OJC242E,9.10.2003,p.192.
(3) OJC268E,7.11.2003,p.144.
(4) OJC11E,15.1.2004,p.148.
(5) Seepage32.
(6) OJC268E,7.11.2003,p.156.
(7) OJC268E,7.11.2003,p.157.
(8) OJC242E,9.10.2003,p.208.
(2004/C58E/035) WRITTENQUESTIONE-0861/03
byRobertaAngelilli(UEN)totheCommission
(20March2003)
Subject:UseoffundsundertheActionPlanonpromotingsaferuseoftheInternet
InSeptember2002,themonitoringcommitteeoftheItalianMinistryforEconomicAffairsissuedareport
onthespendingofEUfunds.ThereportrevealsthealarmingslownessandinefficiencywithwhichEUfundsareallocatedtoprojectsbysomeregionalauthorities.
ThegraveconcernsabouttheinadequateuseofEuropeanfundsbylocalauthoritieshavefrequentlybeen
echoedbytheCommission.
Bearinginmindthatsomelocalauthorities,suchastheCityofFrosinone,urgentlyneedtouseEuropean
fundstopromotethesafeuseoftheInternetandencourage,atEuropeanlevel,afavourableenvironmentforthedevelopmentoftherelevantsector,cantheCommissionstate:
1. whethertheCityofFrosinonehassubmittedprojectsfortheActionPlanonpromotingsaferuseof
theInternet?
2. whethertheCityofFrosinonehassecuredfundingfortheseprojects?
3. whetherthisfundinghasbeenused?
(2004/C58E/036) WRITTENQUESTIONE-0884/03
byRobertaAngelilli(UEN)totheCommission
(21March2003)
Subject:UseoffundsundertheActionPlanonpromotingsaferuseoftheInternetbythemunicipalityof
Fiumicino
InSeptember2002,themonitoringcommitteeoftheItalianMinistryforEconomicAffairsissuedareport
onthespendingofEUfunds.
ThereportrevealsthealarmingslownessandinefficiencywithwhichEUfundsareallocatedtoprojectsby
someregionalauthorities.
ThegraveconcernsabouttheinadequateuseofEuropeanfundsbylocalauthoritieshavefrequentlybeen
echoedbytheCommission.C58E/32 EN6.3.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion