WRITTEN QUESTION E-3275/00 by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission. Taranto.
Date: 2000-10-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Apulia, development region, eligible region, regional aid

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/71

(2001/C 163 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3274/00

by Vittorio Sgarbi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Air services to and from Pantelleria

Given that:

(cid:129) in view of Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 (1) the Italian state is to make provision for the establishment,
subject to public service obligations, of scheduled air services between Pantelleria and Palermo and
Pantelleria and Trapani, as these are vital for the economic development of the island;

(cid:129) in the course of the (cid:145)Conferenza di Servizi(cid:146) (consultation of bodies concerned) duly held on 21 June
1999, a project for the establishment of adequate scheduled air services was approved which mainly
concerned the standards to be met by carriers in terms of regularity and pricing.

Does the Commission consider that it would be appropriate for it to look into the delay in implementing
the projected introduction of adequate scheduled air services, given that such services are absolutely
essential for the island(cid:146)s inhabitants and for tourists?

(1) OJ L 240, 24.8.1992, p. 8.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2000)

The scope offered to the Member States to impose public service obligations as laid down by the
provisions of Article 4 of Council Regulation No 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air
carriers to intra-Community air routes (1) is left entirely to the discretion of the Member States concerned
provided that these follow the procedures provided for by those provisions and their scope. It is therefore
not for the Commission to examine or to state any views on the duration of the prior internal procedures
chosen by a Member State wishing to invoke those provisions article.

(1) OJ L 240, 24.8.1992.

(2001/C 163 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3275/00

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Taranto

Given that:

(cid:129) Taranto Sviluppo has been singled out by the EU as the intermediary body responsible for adminis-

tering the overall allocation of funds for the Taranto crisis area;

(cid:129) after the launch of measure 2 (Aid for investment in production), Taranto Sviluppo brought to the
attention of the EU and the Ministry of the Treasury the high casualty rate of projects that had been
declared eligible to receive funding, given the excessively short deadlines within which undertakings
were supposed to submit the copious documentation specified in calls for tenders;

(cid:129) Taranto Sviluppo has moved on to the next projects on the list while, with the approval of the Italian
Ministry of the Treasury, the EU has insisted that this procedure should be followed only up to
a maximum of 20 % of the overall funding for the measure in question, with the result that Taranto
Sviluppo will be able to draw on only part of the funds potentially available.

Does the Commission intend to authorise Taranto Sviluppo to continue processing the projects listed until
all the funds originally allocated for the communes of Taranto, Massafra, San Giorgio Jonico and Statte
have been committed?

C 163 E/72

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(22 December 2000)

The global grant for the Taranto crisis area was approved by the Commission Decision of 19 May 1998.
It fixed the deadline for commitments at 31 December 1999.

With regard to measures relating to aid schemes, as the Honourable Member mentions, the Commission
agreed to drop a maximum of 20 % of projects from the list. This limit takes account of the failure rates
for measures of this kind and the need to provide rigorous training to ensure that the best projects are
selected, in line with objectives.

The existence of higher failure rates is the responsibility of the managing body. As pointed out by the
Honourable Member,
the very tight deadlines for companies to submit documentation is the sole
responsibility of the intermediary organisation and is due mainly to the delay in implementing the
measure in question.

The Commission does not consider there to be a case for reviewing its position regarding the dropping of
projects from the list.

(2001/C 163 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3276/00

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Support for undertakings in the transport sector: Objective 1

The EU lavishes considerable resources on Objective 1 areas to enable them to emerge from their
marginalised socio-economic status in accordance with the provisions of Article 154(2) of the Treaty
establishing the European Community.

Transport services, and specifically air transport services, are an indispensable means of remedying such
marginalisation.

Alitalia, however, has decided to cut a large number of air services to southern Italy on the grounds that
they are unprofitable.

Given the powers conferred on the Commission by Article 76 of the Treaty, does it intend to provide any
form of support for companies operating in Objective 1 regions in view of the fact that, if no transport
services existed, any investment in such areas would be pointless?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(13 December 2000)

The Commission is aware of the difficulties concerning air transport in the Mezzogiorno.

Accordingly, projects to improve the facilities at various airports have already been part-funded by the
Structural Funds in the 1994-1999 programming period.

In the new period 2000-2006, various measures to improve transport infrastructure including air transport
facilities will be part-financed under Objective 1, either as part of regional operational programmes or as
part of the national operational programme devoted to (cid:145)Transport(cid:146) and covering all the regions of the
Mezzogiorno. These programming documents are currently being scrutinised by the Commission.

However, aid towards the operation of transport companies, including airlines, designed to increase the
profitability of specific routes is not eligible for Structural Fund support.