WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1086/98 by Dietrich ELCHLEPP to the Commission. Distortions of competition due to the subsidization of Strasbourg airport
Date: 1998-04-07
Institutions: ELCHLEPP, European Parliament
Subjects: Alsace, State aid, air transport, airport, control of State aid, restriction on competition

C 13/18

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.1.1999

Representatives from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany had been tasked with compiling annual
reports on football hooliganism throughout the EU. The aim is threefold: to give an accurate overview of the
current situation in all Member States, to identify current weaknesses as well as to increase international co-
operation and mutual assistance between Law Enforcement Agencies.

It should be noted that a seminar on football hooliganism was held in Blackburn on 27/28 February 1998. The
report submitted to the Council takes account of the conclusions drawn at that seminar.

(1) OJ C 316, 27.11.1995, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 62, 20.3.1995, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 342, 31.12.1996, p. 4.

(1999/C 13/025)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1086/98

by Dietrich Elchlepp (PSE) to the Commission

(7 April 1998)

Subject: Distortions of competition due to the subsidization of Strasbourg airport

The French Government uses tax revenue to subsidize certain scheduled flights from Strasbourg airport.
The operators of the nearby Baden airport at S(cid:246)llingen in Germany believe this causes distortions of competition.
The authorization granted by the Commission in 1995 for the subsidization of Strasbourg airport for a period of
three years expires in 1998.

Are certain scheduled flights from Strasbourg still being subsidized? Is it true that most of the flights concerned
are unprofitable? Is this continued subsidization after the three-year period compatible with the provisions of
European competition law?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(29 May 1998)

The third package on liberalisation of air transport entitles Member States to impose public service obligations on
certain routes to or from regional and peripheral airports. In the event that no air carrier announces its intention to
operate the route in accordance with such obligations, as published in the Official Journal, the Member State may
launch a call for tender to select an individual air carrier to operate the route for a period of up to three years.
The selected carrier is entitled to be compensated for the deficit incurred for fulfilling the public service
obligations.

The guidelines for the application of Articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty in the aviation sector (1) recognise the
compatibility of such compensation with the state aid rules.

The public service obligation mechanism has already been applied by Member States on several occasions. In
1995, France imposed obligations in terms of frequency and capacity on a number of routes out of Strasbourg. In
view of the evolution of the market, France decided in December 1997 to maintain the obligations for only five
routes out of Strasbourg; the Commission published the corresponding call for tenders in accordance with the
applicable provisions of Community law (2).

The Commission does not have precise data on the profitability of the routes concerned.

(1) OJ C 350, 10.12.1994.
(2) OJ C 385, 19.12.1997.