WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1077/99 by Glenys KINNOCK Grant aid to the floorcovering industry in Europe
Date: 1999-04-21
Institutions: European Parliament, KINNOCK
Subjects: State aid, building industry, control of State aid, floor coverings

21.12.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 370/161

implementation. The Commission considers that Hungary’s steady progress will, if sustained, enable it to
take on the obligations of membership in the medium term provided the pace of transposition in
environment picks up.

Poland continues to fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria. It can be regarded as a functioning market
economy, and it should be able to cope with competitive pressure and market
forces within the
Community in the medium term, provided that it strengthens the pace of economic restructuring and
continues to avoid reversals in trade policy. Its rhythm of transposition is uneven and there are gaps in
administrative and institutional capacity in certain key areas, in particular environment, standardisation
and state aid control. Progress to date in industrial restructuring and justice and home affairs should be
maintained. Nonetheless the Commission considers that Poland’s progress will, if sustained, enable it to
take on the obligations of membership in the medium term.

The Czech Republic continues to fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria, although continued attention
needs to be focused on the situation of the Roma in Czech society. The Czech Republic can be regarded as
a functioning market economy, and it should be able to cope with competitive pressure and market forces
within the Community in the medium term, provided that
improves corporate governance and
accelerates enterprise restructuring. The Czech Republic should be able to take on the obligations of
membership provided that the momentum in the adoption of the acquis and the strengthening of related
administrative structures is resumed rapidly so as to make up for the slow progress in the last year,
particularly in the areas of internal market, agriculture and justice and home affairs.

it

(1999/C 370/228)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1077/99

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(21 April 1999)

Subject: Grant aid to the floorcovering industry in Europe

Would the Commission clarify what levels of grant aid have been awarded to the floorcovering industry in
other Member States?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1999)

The Commission regrets that it does not have sufficient information to be able to answer the question.
Most aid granted by Member States is granted in application of aid schemes approved by the Commission
and Member States are under no obligation to inform the Commission on individual applications of these
schemes in the specific sector of floorcovering.

(1999/C 370/229)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1085/99

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission

(13 April 1999)

Subject: Petroleum-products suppliers

According to my information, Austrian petroleum-products suppliers differentiate very strongly between
their customers. Whereas fuel is supplied on favourable terms to their contract distributors, those retailing
at a discount are required to pay an additional premium. The practice has once again become apparent
subsequent to the price reduction conceded under pressure of public opinion. Contract distributors are
now taking deliveries of fuel at savings of up to 40 groschen per litre. In the circumstances known to me,
prices to discounting distributors have, however, been increased by 57 groschen per litre of super plus.
With distributors now forced to choose among a more than restricted range of suppliers, they have no
option in most cases but to accept the prices on offer. I believe the tactics of the petroleum-products
suppliers are extremely dubious in terms of competition law.