WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2195/98 by Doeke EISMA European subsidy for Niederrhein airport
Date: 1998-07-14
Institutions: EISMA, European Parliament
Subjects: North Rhine-Westphalia, airport, civil aviation, economic policy, environmental impact, feasibility study, impact study, industrial conversion, military base, regional aid

C 289/2

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.10.1999

span. Naturally, in such cases the judges in the national courts are required to see that the rights conferred on
Community citizens by the EC Treaty are effectively protected. They are at liberty to request a ruling from the
Court of Justice, under Article 177 of the EC Treaty, about the provisions made to ensure effective protection
of and respect for the fundamental rights of persons who have exercised their right to freedom of
establishment under the EC Treaty, including the implications for the application or interpretation of a tax
convention to prevent double taxation concluded between two Member States.

(1999/C 289/002)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2195/98

by Doeke Eisma (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 July 1998)

Subject: European subsidy for Niederrhein airport

The German Land of North Rhine-Westphalia has subsidised to the tune of DM 850 000 the conversion of the
military airbase at Laarbruch into a civilian airport (Niederrhein airport).

1. Will the European Union also be providing financial support, and if so, how much?

Is the Commission aware that there is a great deal of opposition on the Dutch side of the border to the

2.
conversion of Laarbruch into a civilian airport?

3. What opportunities are there for Netherlands nationals to have a say in the matter?

Is the Commission aware whether an environmental impact assessment is being carried out, and if so,

4.
what procedure is to be followed?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(30 September 1998)

1. Military use of the airfield will cease by the end of 1999. The rural area around Weeze will face a loss of
up to 2000 direct and indirect jobs. As early as 1994 the region (Kreis Kleve and the commune of Weeze)
founded a development agency to tackle questions of civil re-use of the military air base, which has an area of
600 hectares. Within the Konver programme some 1,4 million DM have been made available for analyses of
residual soil pollutants and for feasibility studies. The third phase of feasibility studies has now been launched,
and includes further study of use of the base for civil purposes as a Euroregional Centre for air traffic, logistics
and business, as well as the preparation of conversion measures.

2.
The Commission is not aware of opposition on the Dutch side of the border. It has been informed that
Dutch partners such as ELC (European Logistics Centre Venlo) and Vereniging 5 MDN (Five Mode Distri
network Arnhem > Nijmegen) are involved in the development agency (Flughafen Niederrhein GmbH).

It is the intention of the region and the Land Nordrhein-Westfalen to carry out the conversion of the base

3.
for civil and economic purposes jointly with the Dutch border region and investors there.

4.
However, current ideas for the use of the airfield for civil purposes are only one option. The final choice
of a solution for the period from the year 2000 depends on market prospects. Issues such as environmental
impact assessments are therefore not yet on the agenda.