WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3203/98 by Honório NOVO to the Commission. Situation at AUTOEUROPA
Date: 1998-10-27
Institutions: European Parliament, NOVO
Subjects: Portugal, Structural Funds, co-financing, investment project, motor vehicle industry

C 96/166

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.4.1999

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(11 November 1998)

The Commission is conducting a detailed investigation of the problem raised by the Honourable Member and will
inform him of the outcome as soon as possible.

(1999/C 96/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3203/98

by Hon(cid:243)rio Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(27 October 1998)

Subject: Situation at Autoeuropa

Autoeuropa is a joint Ford/Volkswagen investment in Portugal, which has received considerable cofinancing
from the Structural Funds. This investment appears to have been based on the assumption that the factory will
remain in operation up to 2001 and on a commitment that every effort will be made to continue production over
the period 2001-2014.

The programme for the production chain agreed in the contract provided for the opening of a third shift, which
has not materialised to date.

It is now known, however, that Ford has withdrawn from the project. Following this, the Commission has decided
to ask Ford and Volkswagen to state their intentions concerning the future of Autoeuropa.

Given these circumstances, can the Commission answer the following questions:

1. What reasons have been invoked by Autoeuropa for not opening the third shift for the production chain, as

initially provided for? Does it intend to do so in the future? If so, when?

2. Does the information supplied by Autoeuropa to the Commission include an undertaking to comply with all
the conditions required in return for Community cofinancing, and, in particular, the requirement that no
changes should be made as regards production and employment? If so, until when › 2001 or 2014?

3. What concrete political action does the Commission intend to take against Ford and Volkswagen › both in
the present case of Autoeuropa and in the case of fresh investment projects on the part of either of those
transnational companies › should it become clear that the contractual agreements have not been complied
with?

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

(4 November 1998)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible.

(1999/C 96/243)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3208/98

by Arlindo Cunha (PPE) to the Commission

(16 October 1998)

Subject: BSE in Portugal

At its meeting of 7 October 1998 the Commission announced that a special plan to combat BSE in Portugal will be
introduced shortly. The feeling in Portugal is that the Commission(cid:146)s reaction is out of proportion, considering that
Spain, which has imposed an embargo on Portuguese beef exports, appears to have refused to allow any mission
of Community specialists on its territory.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1.

2.

Is the state of affairs now identified in Portugal by the most recent mission of specialists more serious or less
serious than that identified by the mission sent in May?

In view of the geographical position of Spain and the nature of some of its production systems for milk and
meat, how many missions has the Commission sent to Spain recently, and what were their conclusions?