WRITTEN QUESTION E-2180/00 by Jaime Valdivielso de Cué (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Shipbuilding.
Date: 2000-07-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, South Korea, agreement (EU), aid system, bilateral agreement, restriction on competition, shipbuilding, suspension of aid, terms for aid

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/167

technology training and retraining of postgraduates; and to set up public Internet access points in public
spaces and establish multimedia tele-centres in all communities using the structural funds where appro-
priate.

Regarding the Lisbon agenda, the European Council called upon the Community and the Member States to
prepare the transition to a (cid:145)competitive, dynamic and knowledge-based economy(cid:146), and to put the issue of
information and communication technologies (ICT) skills and digital literacy at the top of the European
agenda. Two issues should be highlighted in this context. The Lisbon conclusions draw attention to the
need to improve employability and to reduce skills gaps and suggest that this should be achieved in
particular by providing employment services with a Europe-wide data base on jobs and learning
opportunities and by promoting special programmes to enable unemployed people to fill skills gaps.
They also suggest giving higher priority to lifelong learning by encouraging agreements between the social
partners and by enhancing the complementarity between lifelong learning and adaptability (working time
flexibility etc.). In addition, a substantial annual increase in per capita investment in human resources is
needed.

(1) COM(2000) 48 final.
(2) COM(2000) 330 final.

(2001/C 81 E/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2180/00

by Jaime Valdivielso de CuØ (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: Shipbuilding

On 18 May 2000 the Commissioner responsible for competition, Mario Monti, stated once again that
shipbuilding aid will not extend beyond the year 2000.

In view of the unfair competition which is being practised by countries such as Korea (a fact which has
been mentioned in each and every one of the reports drawn up by the Commission on the subject of
shipbuilding and, in particular, its report of 14 April 2000), what action is to be taken in order to increase
the production and the competitiveness of the EU(cid:146)s shipyards?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2000)

that remarks of

The Commission would point out
the Commission in charge of
competition about aid at the Industry Council on 18 May 2000 related only to operating aid for
Community shipyards. In accordance with Council Regulation 1540/98 establishing new rules on state
aids for shipbuilding (1), this sort of aid will be abolished at the end of the year 2000. However the
Regulation also provides for a range of other aids that may be granted to shipbuilding subject to certain
conditions up until 2003, including closure and restructuring aids, aids for research and development, aids
for innovation, and regional investment aids for upgrading or modernising existing yards.

the member of

The Commission fully shares the concerns about
the unfair competition from Korea. The Council
welcomed the recent bilateral agreement with Korea as a first step towards restoring fair and competitive
conditions and considered that this and, if necessary, other appropriate bilateral and trade actions and
measures should be vigorously pursued to this end. The Commission has already initiated the consultation
procedures under the agreement and will report to the Council on the results by the end of September.

C 81 E/168

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

As for measures to improve the productivity and competitiveness of Community yards, the Commission
considers that the aids mentioned above are better geared towards helping Community yards to improve
their competitiveness than continued operating aid.

(1) OJ L 202, 18.7.1998.

(2001/C 81 E/214)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2182/00

by Paul R(cid:252)big (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 July 2000)

Subject: Ownership structure of Energie AG

The land of Upper Austria is 100 % owner of the energy-supply undertaking Energie AG. Liberalisation of
the electricity market is forcing energy suppliers to create larger units in order to retain customers for their
electricity by lowering costs and increasing market penetration.

The Upper Austria land assembly (Landtag) consequently decided to sell a 25,1 % share in Energie AG. At
the same time it was determined that suppliers who use nuclear power in electricity generation would be
excluded from submitting bids. As a consequence of that decision, only Austrian electricity undertakings
can submit bids for the 25,1 % and electricity undertakings in other EC countries are excluded from
bidding.

Does such a procedure comply with European law, and are contracts concluded under such conditions
valid in EU law?

Answer by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 2000)

The matter referred to by the honourable member is not covered by European directives on contracts by
invitation to tender. As a result, it is up to the owner of Energie AG, the Land of Upper Austria, to
stipulate the conditions for inclusion in the group of potential buyers that must be met by those seeking to
acquire a 25,1 % share. This must of course be in compliance with all the provisions of the contract.

(2001/C 81 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2183/00

by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Force-feeding for foie gras production

(3 July 2000)

The great suffering imposed on ducks and geese kept for foie gras production was highlighted by the
Report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare, Welfare Aspects of the
Production of Foie Gras in Ducks and Geese, adopted on 16 December 1998, which concluded that
force-feeding, as currently practised, is detrimental to the birds(cid:146) welfare.

Force-fed birds have a mortality rate 10-12 times higher than birds reared normally, and insertion of the
feeding pipe can result in bruising and even perforation of the oesophagus. Force-feeding results in the
birds(cid:146) liver swelling to 6-10 times its normal size.

What plans does the Commission have to publish a proposal for a Directive banning the force-feeding of
birds for foie gras production or to implement the recommendations of the Scientific Committee on
Animal Health and Animal Welfare on the Welfare aspects of the Production of Foie Gras in Ducks and
Geese?