WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3840/98 by Luigi MORETTI to the Commission. Italy's Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca di Stato (national mint and stationery office)
Date: 1998-12-22
Institutions: European Parliament, MORETTI
Subjects: Italy, State aid, aid for restructuring, aid to undertakings, capital increase, financial institution, monopoly, paper, public administration, supplies contract

15.10.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 297/107

(1999/C 297/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3840/98

by Luigi Moretti (NI) to the Commission

(22 December 1998)

Subject: Italy’s Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca di Stato (national mint and stationery office)

It was recently reported that Mr Van Miert, the European Commissioner, had written to the Italian Minister of
Finance to raise with him various issues relating to the Italy’s Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca di Stato (national mint
and stationery office), including its monopoly over supplies of paper to government departments.

Could the Commission provide more precise information on this subject, specifying the facts alleged and the
conclusions reached by Mr Van Miert?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(14 January 1999)

The Commission started to investigate possible state aid to Poligrafico in April 1997. The information
submitted by the Italian authorities, upon request of the Commission, on several occasions did not reassure the
Commission as regards the absence of state aid.

The Commission, by decision of 28 October 1998, thus decided to start the procedure under Article 93(2) of
the EC Treaty. The decision was notified to the Italian government by letter of 26 November 1998. The Italian
government has to submit its observations and the required information within one month from the receipt of
the letter.

The procedure will allow the Commission to assess the presence of state aid, and, if there is state aid, its
compatibility with the common market, in the capital increases in favour of Cartiere Miliani di Fabriano,
controlled by Poligrafico, and in the exclusive contract granted to Poligrafico itself for the provision of
products and services to the state. The Commission will further evaluate additional aid measures to be granted
by the state in connection with the restructuring of the group.

The measures will be evaluated in accordance with the state aid rules of the EC Treaty, and in particular with
the guidelines on state aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty.

(1999/C 297/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3846/98

by José Valverde López (PPE) to the Commission

(22 December 1998)

Subject: Stage reached in the transposition of the directive on the disposal of PCBs and PCTs

Directive 96/59/EC (1) on the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls was to be
incorporated into the national laws of the Member States by the end of March 1998.

What is the situation as regards the Member States’ compliance in the transposition of this directive?

(1) OJ L 243, 24.9.1996, p. 31.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 1999)

Eight Member States (Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Sweden) have
communicated to the Commission implementing measures for Council Directive 96/59/EC of 16 September
1996 on the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCB/PCT). The Com-
mission has opened infringement proceedings under Article 169 EC Treaty against the seven Member States
which have not communicated their implementing measures.