WRITTEN QUESTION P-1801/00 by Christian Rovsing (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Unlawful provision of state aid to Post Danmark by the Danish government.
Date: 2000-05-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Denmark, control of State aid, intra-EU trade, postal service

C 72 E/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

(2001/C 72 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1799/00

by Jens-Peter Bonde (EDD) to the Council

(5 June 2000)

Subject: Withdrawal from EMU

Will the Council guarantee that any Member State may freely withdraw from Economic and Monetary
Union by giving 12 months(cid:146) notice, for example?

Reply

(26 September 2000)

As was stated in the reply to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s Written Question P-0771/00, the Treaty contains
no specific provisions concerning the withdrawal of a Member State either from the European Union in
general or from the third stage of EMU.

(2001/C 72 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1801/00

by Christian Rovsing (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Unlawful provision of state aid to Post Danmark by the Danish government

Is the Commission aware that the Danish government is providing state aid to Post Danmark for the

1.
postal distribution of newspapers and periodicals at especially low prices?

2.
Is it also aware that the rules governing the relevant aid scheme were substantially amended by the
Danish government in its Decree of 23 February 2000, which entered into force on 1 April 2000, the
result being that aid is now provided on a discriminatory basis, with some newspapers and periodicals
benefiting at others(cid:146) expense?

Can it confirm that the amendments to the aid scheme have been notified to it for approval in

3.
accordance with Article 88 (3) of the EC Treaty?

4.

If not, does it agree that the aid scheme is unlawful under the EC Treaty?

Does it also agree that the scheme, even if it has been notified, is incompatible with the common
5.
market, when it clearly and significantly distorts competition between newspapers and periodicals that
receive state aid and those that do not?

6. What action does it intend to take with regard to this aid scheme?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(28 June 2000)

The Commission is not aware of state aid being granted by Denmark to Post Danmark for the distribution
of press at reduced tariffs, nor is it aware of the amendments introduced by the Danish authorities by the
Decree of 23 February 2000, as reported by the Honourable Member.

The measure reported by the Honourable Member has not been notified to the Commission for prior
approval under the Article 88(3) (ex Article 93) EC Treaty procedure. As such, should it contain state aid
in the sense of Article 87 (ex Article 92) EC Treaty, such aid would have to be considered as illegal.

6.3.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/121

As regards the alleged presence of state aid and its compatibility with the common market,
Commission can not prejudge its position, as it is not aware of the nature of the reported scheme.

the

The Commission will write to the Danish authorities for more information.

(2001/C 72 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1802/00

by Marietta Giannakou-Koutsikou (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Ozgur case

territory under Turkish occupation, on the charge of

The Turkish Cypriot politician Ozker Ozgur is to be committed to trial on 26 May by the authorities of
In fact,
the Cypriot
proceedings are being taken against Mr Ozgur, together with the editor and staff of the newspaper
Avrupa, because in his articles he has repeatedly opposed the expulsion of citizens from their houses so
that these may be used by Turkish soldiers. Mr Ozgur states that he refuses to be tried by an (cid:145)occupation(cid:146)
court. This case forms one of a series of indirect interventions by the Turkish military establishment,
designed to maintain Mr Denktash as leader of the Turkish Cypriot people. As well as the wider issue of
the functioning of democracy, Mr Ozgur(cid:146)s case undoubtedly constitutes a flagrant violation of individual
rights and, of course, freedom of expression.

to rebellion(cid:146).

(cid:145)incitement

Does the Commission intend to examine the question of the continued violation of individual and human
rights in the sector of Cyprus occupied by Turkish troops, and how does it intend to intervene in order to
ensure a fair trial?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2000)

The Commission is well aware of the recent committal to trial of the Turkish Cypriot politician Ozker
Ozgur raised by the Honourable Member and will be following developments closely. The same is the case
for the editor and staff of the newspaper Avrupa. Each year the Commission produces a regular report on
each candidate country reviewing progress in the light of the Copenhagen criteria, including human rights.
In the case of Cyprus there is a special section dealing with the situation in the northern part of the
island (1). It is likely that the cases mentioned by the Honourable Member will be dealt with in this year(cid:146)s
report due to be published in autumn 2000.

(1) COM(1999) 502 final, 13.10.99, page 11.

(2001/C 72 E/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1803/00

by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Ferry services in remote areas

I am grateful to the Commission for its helpful and courteous answer to my Written Question E-0999/00
about island ferry services. Further to that, I now pose the following questions:

1.

Is the Commission aware of the geographical configuration of the west coast of Scotland, where long
sea lochs ((cid:145)fjords(cid:146)) create isolated peninsulas to which vehicular access is only possible over long and
twisting roads and mountain passes?