WRITTEN QUESTION E-0095/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Construction of vessels by the Astano shipbuilding company.
Date: 2000-01-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU industrial policy, Spain, cessation of trading, control of State aid, shipbuilding, terms for aid

C 280 E/176

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.10.2000

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(8 February 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question E-2488/99 by
Mr Evans (1).

(1)

See page 54.

(2000/C 280 E/200)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0094/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(26 January 2000)

Subject: Possible merger between the Astano and Bazan state shipbuilding companies in Galicia

The chairman of the Astano state-owned shipbuilding company in Galicia has said that one way of
safeguarding the shipyard(cid:146)s future would be to arrange a merger with Bazan (another state-owned
company), which also has a shipyard in the Ferrol area. This would enable Astano to resume constructing
conventional vessels. Can the Commission confirm this possibility?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2000)

The possibility of a merger between Astano and Bazan is a matter for the Spanish government. However
the Commission would need to ensure that the Community(cid:146)s state aid rules for shipbuilding were
respected.

As regards the possible impact of such a merger on Astano(cid:146)s activities, the current limitations on the yard
would remain unaffected. As the Commission has explained in its reply to written question E-0095/00 (1)
and previous similar questions by the Honourable Member, the continued closure of the Astano yard to
shipbuilding was one of the conditions for approval by the Commission in 1997 of substantial state aids
for the publicly-owned shipyards in Spain.

(1)

See page 176.

(2000/C 280 E/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0095/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Construction of vessels by the Astano shipbuilding company

(26 January 2000)

Could the Commission set out the conditions required for the Astano shipbuilding company in Galicia to
be able to resume operations and thus escape the discrimination to which it has fallen victim?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2000)

As the Commission explained in its replies to written questions E-1432/99 (1) and E-2051/99 (2) by the
Honourable Member, the continued closure of the Astano yard to shipbuilding was one of the conditions
of substantial state aids for the publicly-owned shipyards in Spain approved by the Commission in 1997.

3.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 280 E/177

It should be noted that under the terms of the Commission(cid:146)s decision approving the aid, the combined
total shipbuilding capacity of all the yards involved was limited to 210 000 compensated gross registered
tonnes (cgrt)
for a period of 10 years. The Astano yard formerly had a shipbuilding capacity of
135 000 cgrt. Against that background it is very difficult to see under what circumstances the restrictions
on Astano(cid:146)s activities could be relaxed.

(1) OJ C 27 E, 29.1.2000, p. 66.
(2) OJ C 170 E, 20.6.2000, p. 141.

(2000/C 280 E/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0097/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(26 January 2000)

Subject: Involvement of the Spanish Autonomous Communities in Union institutions

In answer to my general question on the above subject tabled on 12 October 1999 (E-1823/99) (1), the
Commission indicated on 25 November 1999 that, under Article 203 (former Article 146) of the
EC Treaty, Member States were permitted to choose their representatives in the Council according to
their specific circumstances.

The Spanish Government has recently refused to allow the Autonomous Communities to play a direct role
in the EU institutions by representing their people in matters falling under their responsibility, although
the Congress of Deputies gave its endorsement for them to do so as long as two years ago.

In view of the plain fact that the Autonomous Communities are thus being prevented from exercising their
constitutional powers (cid:129) even when, like Galicia, they are recognised to constitute nations in their own
right (cid:129) will the Commission undertake to secure and guarantee their involvement in the reform of the
Treaties to be tackled by the Intergovernmental Conference in the year 2000, bearing in mind, moreover,
that a privilege along these lines has already been granted to countries such as Austria, Belgium, and
Germany?

(1) OJ C 203 E, 18.7.2000, p. 58.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2000)

The Commission would point out that Article 203 (formerly Article 146) of the EC Treaty states that the
Council must consist of a representative of each Member State at ministerial level, authorised to commit
the government of that Member State. The Community institutions have no role to play in the choice of
this representative, who is selected by the individual Member States in accordance with their constitutional
law. The Commission sees no reason to propose an amendment to this provision.

(2000/C 280 E/203)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0101/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(19 January 2000)

Subject: EU asylum policy

In reply to my oral question H-0722/99, the Council explains that there are no common definitions in the
EU of what constitutes a (cid:146)safe country of origin(cid:146) and a (cid:145)manifestly unfounded(cid:146) request for asylum.