WRITTEN QUESTION No. 146/98 by Brian SIMPSON to the Commission. Dresser-Rand (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
Date: 1998-02-02
Institutions: European Parliament, SIMPSON BRIAN
Subjects: European Regional Development Fund, France, State aid, United Kingdom, economic consequence, industrial region, job cuts, regional aid, transfer of businesses

9. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 310/27

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 1998)

The  action  (C-239/96R)  which  the  United  Kingdom  filed  against  the  Commission  challenges  the  legality  of
certain spending on budget line B3-4103.

On 24 September 1996, the President of the Court of Justice granted interim relief to the United Kingdom, which
allowed for commitments to be made but required payments to be frozen until the judgment. Following that
interim order of the President of the Court, applications for funding were evaluated and the selection of projects
deserving support was concluded. Successful applicants were informed of the conditions fixed by the Court of
Justice and invited to sign an agreement on those conditions. No payments have yet been made pursuant to any of
these  agreements,  since  the  Court  has  not  yet  delivered  its  final  judgment.  Having  regard  to  this  uncertain
situation, most applicants have delayed implementation of the projects concerned.

As a result of the pending Court of justice case, no new commitment credits were allocated to the concerned
budget line during 1997. The budget line concerning the elderly, although affected by a similar Court case, did
receive fresh commitment credits in 1997 which have also been allocated conditionally until the final judgement
is known. No other budget lines are affected.

(98/C 310/30)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0146/98

by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission

(2 February 1998)

Subject: Dresser-Rand

Is the Commission aware that the Dresser-Rand Company based in Wythenshawe, United Kingdom, is to transfer
its production to Le Havre in France with the loss of 300 jobs from an ERDF Objective 2 area?

Can  the  Commission  investigate  whether  this  move  resulted  from  illegal  subsidies  or  sweeteners  paid  to  the
company by the French authorities?

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 1998)

After being contacted by the Commission, the French authorities assured it that they were so far unaware of any
plans to grant aid for the transfer by Dresser-Rand of its reciprocating compressor production activities from
Wythenshawe to Le Havre, where production is already carried out.

Moreover, if any aid were envisaged, the French authorities have undertaken to inform the Commission of the
details.

The Commission would then be sure to ascertain whether the Community rules on state aid were being complied
with and to inform the Honourable Member of its conclusions.

(98/C 310/31)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0148/98

by Graham Mather (PPE) to the Commission

(2 February 1998)

Subject: Telecoms liberalization (accounting rates charged by dominant operators)

On 19 December 1997, the Commission announced an investigation into the cost orientation of accounting rates
charged by dominant operators, based on Article 86 of the Treaty and Directive 97/33/EC (1).