WRITTEN QUESTION E-2682/99 by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission. Decision on an unresolved case concerning state aids.
Date: 2000-01-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, State aid, competition policy, control of State aid, electrical industry

8.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 225 E/191

against the decisions of a supervisory authority is possible before the courts is left to Member States. The
proposed directive does however contain guidance on how to police cross-border take over bids which
involve supervisory authorities in more than one Member State.

(1) OJ C 378, 13.12.1997.

(2000/C 225 E/214)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2681/99

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(12 January 2000)

Subject: Statements by the Spanish government on the unresolved issue of state aid to the electricity sector

The Spanish government, and in particular the Minister for Industry and government spokesman,
Josep PiquØ, have stated on numerous occasions that the Commission is to adopt a decision on state aids
to the Spanish electricity sector in respect of the costs of transition to competition by the end of 1999.

Can the Commission confirm the Spanish government(cid:146)s assertions?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(8 February 2000)

In discussions between the Spanish Minister and the Member of
the Commission responsible for
competition policy the intention was indeed to reach a decision on this case before the end of 1999.
However, the search for an independent consultant and the complexity of the case made it impossible to
meet this target. The Commission still hopes to be able to adopt a decision shortly.

(2000/C 225 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2682/99

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(12 January 2000)

Subject: Decision on an unresolved case concerning state aids

The Spanish press has published information taken from the Ministry for Industry(cid:146)s Bolet(cid:237)n de Energ(cid:237)a
ElØctrica (electricity newsletter), stating that electricity companies have already received a total of
PTA 387 223 m in the form of state aids. Spanish consumers are paying for this through higher electricity
bills.

In reply to an earlier question of mine, the Commission reported that it had not considered it appropriate
to rule that payment of the aid be suspended, given,
(cid:145)the absence of a pre-existing framework, the
complexity of the issue and discussions currently taking place(cid:146). Meanwhile, consumers continue to foot the
bill for what is in principle considered unlawful state aid, and companies have received approximately
30 % of the total amount, which will be difficult to recover, should a decision be made to that effect.

Does the Commission agree that the time has now come to rule that payments be suspended?

C 225 E/192

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.8.2000

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(8 February 2000)

The Commission feels that, should it prove necessary, it could recover the aid already paid under Article 14
of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application
of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (1). For the moment, and for the same reasons set out in the answer to
written question E-2681/99 (2) by the Honourable Member, the Commission considers that there are no
grounds for exercising the power conferred by Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999.

(1) OJ L 83, 27.3.1999.
(2)
See page 191.

(2000/C 225 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2684/99

by Carlos Ripoll y Mart(cid:237)nez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 January 2000)

Subject: Air transport

In the view of the Commission, what conditions must regional inter-island flights fulfil for the purposes of
the public service obligation declaration? In general, what are the Commission(cid:146)s views on this type of
declaration?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(1 February 2000)

Under Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air
carriers to intra-Community air routes (1), a Member State may impose a public service obligation in
respect of scheduled air services to an airport serving a peripheral or development region in its territory or
on a thin route to any regional airport in its territory, any such route being considered vital for the
economic development of the region in which the airport is located.

The services to the islands are particularly well suited to treatment under those provisions. Indeed, the
islands frequently emerge as peripheral or development regions. In addition the traffic to them is often of
low density. Finally, the routes in question are as a general rule considered to be vital to the economic
development of the islands in question.

Under those provisions France, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom have imposed public service
obligations on several routes serving islands in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

(1) OJ L 240, 24.12.1992.

(2000/C 225 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2687/99

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(12 January 2000)

Subject: Composition and funding of the Commission President(cid:146)s communications team

The Commission President has called in a communications team to put across his political message. This
approach (cid:129) not unintentionally (cid:129) displays many similarities with the British prime minister(cid:146)s methods.
One of Mr Prodi(cid:146)s advisers is apparently a former press secretary of Tony Blair.