WRITTEN QUESTION E-3276/00 by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission. Support for undertakings in the transport sector: Objective 1.
Date: 2000-10-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Mezzogiorno, Structural Funds, air transport, less-favoured region, transport company, transport infrastructure

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.