WRITTEN QUESTION E-1353/00 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Delay by the EU in reaching a decision on an increase of capital for the Santana Motor company.
Date: 2000-05-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Andalusia, Spain, aid for restructuring, application of EU law, control of State aid, financial loss, motor vehicle industry

13.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 46 E/175

There is a huge resistance campaign in Britain to these measures with tens of thousands of traders openly
defying the government(cid:146)s metrication regulations. The reason for the resistance is that British people see
no good reason to give up their traditional weights and measures which have many advantages over the
metric system.

The Commission is asked:

1. What are the procedures for reversing the 1989 directive, or any other directives dealing with
compulsory metrication, in the light of the manifest wish of the majority of people not to go metric?

2. Does the European Union in fact insist that the British Government should completely metrify the
sales of loose goods, or does the British Government have any option, according to the European
Union, to delay the implementation of these measures?

3. Does the European Union approve of criminal penalties for those British traders selling in British,

imperial measures, in order to achieve compulsory metrication?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(22 June 2000)

1.
Amendment of Council Directive 89/617/EEC of 27 November 1989 amending Directive 80/181/
EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement (1) would
require a new directive.

The Commission has received no representations from the British Government proposing any

2.
reversal of metrication policy.

The enforcement mechanisms to ensure implementation of the United Kingdom legislation putting

3.
the Directive into effect are of course a matter for the British authorities.

(1) OJ L 357, 7.12.1989.

(2001/C 46 E/204)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1353/00

by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 May 2000)

Subject: Delay by the EU in reaching a decision on an increase of capital for the Santana Motor company

The Spanish car manufacturer Santana Motor registered a loss of ESP 2 986 million in 1999, in excess of
all forecasts, whether those of the Andalusian regional government or those of the company(cid:146)s own
strategic plan.

This company is owned by the Andalusian Development Institute (Instituto de Fomento de Andaluc(cid:237)a),
which is an organ of the Andalusian regional government. The Institute believes that these losses have
arisen owing to the appreciation of the yen and to the delay by the EU in reaching a decision on an
increase of capital for the company and on its requests for aid.

Can the Commission state whether the Institute(cid:146)s complaint as regards the Union in this respect is in fact
justifiable, and explain to what extent it believes the Union can be considered responsible for the prejudice
for which it is being blamed by the owners of Santana Motor?

C 46 E/176

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.2.2001

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(15 June 2000)

The company in question carried out a restructuring plan between 1995 and 1997, which was supported
by state aid approved by the Commission in its Decision 97/17/EC of 30 July 1996 (1). The aid to Santana
was approved under certain conditions, such as the provision of an annual monitoring report and the
prohibition of any new restructuring aid. The Commission points out that the restructuring plan on which
the above Commission decision from 1996 was based should have lead to the viability of Santana. It takes
note of the information submitted by the Honourable Member that the losses incurred by Santana in 1999
amount to PTAS 2 986 million.

In 1998, the Commission learned through the press that a credit of PTAS 3 800 million was granted to
Santana Motor by a consortium of five banks, which was accompanied by a public guarantee of the
the Commission asked the Spanish
regional government of Andalusia. Following this information,
authorities for additional information which was provided only in part. Documents such as the company(cid:146)s
medium-term strategic plan made reference to investment aid as well as a capital injection by a public
body. The measure was registered as non-notified aid. In order to be able to assess the public financing
measures, the Commission required further information, which was gradually submitted by the Spanish
authorities.

The Commission is currently examining the measures; it is therefore too early to arrive at any conclusions
regarding the nature of the measures and the compatibility with the Community competition rules or the
need for proceedings under Article 88 (2) (ex-Article 93) of the EC Treaty.

(1) OJ L 6, 10.1.1997.

(2001/C 46 E/205)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1354/00

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Research on the work of Estanislao SÆnchez Calvo

(4 May 2000)

A century after the decease of the eminent philosopher and linguist Estanislao SÆnchez Calvo, a native of
the Asturias region in Spain, his work as a scholar and teacher is still remembered in Central European
intellectual circles, especially in Germany.

In view of the modernity of his thought in relation to the European linguistic tradition as a whole, it
would seem of major interest to promote a study, which should be as wide-ranging and extensive as
possible, of the work of this illustrious citizen of AvilØs, with a view to establishing which of the various
facets of his thought are of relevance to the new linguistic realities generated, in the intellectual context of
the European Union, by the Union(cid:146)s very existence.

Can the Commission state whether, if it endorses the interest of a detailed study of the linguistic and
philosophical influence of this Asturian intellectual on the European dimension of contemporary thought,
it would be willing to promote such a study with its support and cooperation?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2000)

The Commission can support cultural initiatives through patronage, which consists of moral rather than
financial support, and through grants.

Commission patronage may be granted for an event that meets the criteria set by the Commission. It must
be a European event dealing with a subject closely connected with Community priorities. It must not place
the Commission under any financial obligation. It must be for a single specific event. It may not be for