WRITTEN QUESTION No. 731/98 by Sören WIBE to the Commission. Negotiations on transport subsidies to Volvo in northern Sweden
Date: 1998-03-18
Institutions: European Parliament, WIBE
Subjects: State aid, Sweden, motor vehicle industry, transport policy

9. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 310/119

to later checks. The Commission was given a solemn assurance that the finalised level of milk production for the
two periods in question would be notified as soon as possible. It should be pointed out that, should final figures
not be supplied, the Commission cannot fulfil a Member State(cid:146)s obligations for it.

The Commission does not share the opinion of the Honourable Members. Since 1992, the Commission has
2.
been  following  the  evolution  of  the  quota  system  in  Italy  very  closely.  The  volume  of  correspondence  and
numerous inspection visits are proof of this. The outcome was several amendments to [national] Law No 468/92
of 26 November 1992. When the national legislation was found not to be in conformity with Community law, the
Commission reacted with all the means at its disposal. In particular, the Commission started two infringement
procedures against Italy, the first on 9 March 1995 and the second on 12 January 1998. Under the latter, the
Commission  decided  on  25  March  1998  to  send  Italy  a  reasoned  opinion.  The  Commission  also  reduced  its
advances on agricultural expenditure each time Italy failed to comply with the deadline for payment of the levies
due to the Community.

The Commission has never made a formal proposal in the Council on the use of tracers in skimmed-milk

3.
powder.

(1)  OJ L 57, 10.3.1993.

(98/C 310/158)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0731/98

by So¤ren Wibe (PSE) to the Commission

(18 March 1998)

Subject: Negotiations on transport subsidies to Volvo in northern Sweden

The Commission and the Swedish Government have been involved in negotiations on the rules for government
transport subsidies for a considerable time now. The Commission has been particularly critical of the transport
subsidies to the Volvo plant in Ume(cid:229).

Many  people  in  Ume(cid:229)  are  reliant  on  a  positive  outturn  to  the  negotiations.  When  can  an  outcome  to  the
negotiations be expected?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 1998)

The  Honourable  Member  refers  to  negotiations  between  the  Commission  and  the  Swedish  government
concerning the regional transport aid and, in particular, to the transport aid granted to Volvo(cid:146)s plant in Ume(cid:229).

The Commission initiated a formal investigation procedure pursuant to Article 93(2) of the EC Treaty in respect
of the transport aid to Volvo(cid:146)s Ume(cid:229) plant in September 1997. The Swedish government was informed of the
Commission(cid:146)s enquiry by letter dated 30 September 1997.

In the course of the procedure, the Commission concluded that the aid in question qualified as an existing aid.
Consequently, the procedure provided under Article 93(2) of the EC Treaty is not appropriate, but instead the
procedure under Article 93(1) should have been used and appropriate measures taken. In this context, by letter
dated 3 March 1998, Sweden accepted to take certain measures that had been suggested to it, which represent
conditions to the application of the transport aid scheme to Volvo Truck Corporation in Ume(cid:229). On 25 March
1998, the Commission therefore decided to close the Article 93(2) procedure and to accept that the measures that
Sweden is to take constitute sufficient appropriate measures under Article 93(1).