WRITTEN QUESTION E-3248/00 by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Guidelines for state environmental aids and the existing energy premium system.
Date: 2000-10-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: State aid, energy diversification, environmental protection, investment aid, renewable energy

C 318 E/2

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

be submitted, the Commission would examine it, as it has already done in the past, taking account of both
the competition rules and the specific nature of the sporting activity.

(1) Speech given by Mr Mario Monti on the occasion of the meeting between the European Commission and the

European sporting federations in Brussels on 17 April 2000.

(2001/C 318 E/002)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3248/00

by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Guidelines for state environmental aids and the existing energy premium system

Renewable energy sources are undergoing a significant development in the Spanish state. In particular,
wind energy is no longer marginal, having achieved a total installation volume of 1500 megawatts by the
end of 1999, thus accounting for 2 % of current electricity production.

This development is based on the Spanish law governing the electricity sector, the plan for the promotion
of renewable energy sources, and a number of mechanisms which ensure preferential access to the
electricity grid for renewables and the preservation of premiums for this type of energy production.

According to the experts,
the incentive system needs to be continued if the objective of doubling
renewable energy production is to be achieved, thus complying with the Kyoto targets. The proposal for
a European Parliament and Council directive on the promotion of electricity from renewable energy
sources in the internal electricity market (1) favours continuing the existing support arrangements.

However, it appears that no system of incentives will be provided for under the Community guidelines for
state environmental aids which are being prepared by the Commission. In the case of Spain, this would
put a considerable brake on the development of renewable energy sources.

Does the Commission not believe that a suitable system of incentives should be maintained with a view to
the development of renewable energies?

Does the Commission consider that the new guidelines for state environmental aids should ensure the
continuation, under current conditions, of the renewable energy premiums system?

(1) COM(2000) 279.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 2001)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member on the need to create conditions conducive to the
development of renewable energy sources. That is why the new guidelines on state aid for environmental
protection, adopted by the Commission on 21 December 2000 (1), allow aid to be granted on the
following terms:

Investment aid is allowed at the basic rate of 40 % of eligible costs. A further 10 percentage points
may be added to the basic rate for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), where the investment
provides an entire community such as an island with energy, or for firms located in regions eligible
for regional aid.

Member States also have the folliwing options for granting operating aid:

(cid:129) Aid may be granted to cover the difference between the costs of producing renewable energy and the
market price of that energy. Such aid is not limited over time but must cease once the investment has
been written off. Where necessary, the amount of the investment may also take account of financial
costs and a fair return on capital.

13.11.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/3

(cid:129) Member States may also grant support using market mechanisms such as green certificates or tenders.

(cid:129) Aid may also be granted on the basis of external costs avoided.

(cid:129) Lastly, Member States may grant degressive operating aid for a period of five years.

The Commission considers this approach to be generous in terms of state aid but justified by the need to
allow Member States to take every step to develop environmentally friendly sources of energy. It is an
approach that
for a Parliament and Council Directive on the
promotion of renewable energy sources (2).

is fully consistent with the proposal

(1) OJ C 37, 3.2.2001.
(2) COM(2000) 279 final.

(2001/C 318 E/003)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3317/00

by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Allocation of EU funds to London

What is the total of European Union funds spent in or allocated to London for each of the last five years,
for which figures are available?

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2001)

Further to its answer of 3 November 2000 (1), the Commission is sending the information requested direct
to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(1) OJ C 103 E, 3.4.2001, p. 243.

(2001/C 318 E/004)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3361/00

by Barbara Weiler (PSE) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Discrimination against mother-tongue language teachers

In Hessen, mother-tongue language teachers are generally placed in a lower category on the public pay
scale for non-tenured employees than their German colleagues.

In the view of the Commission, are the German L(cid:228)nder entitled to make it a practice to place

1.
mother-tongue language teachers in a lower category than other teachers in non-tenured employment?

If so, would this lower categorisation still be tenable if a full teaching qualification from the country
2.
of origin were expressly required as a condition of giving mother-tongue language instruction and if, in
addition, the individual teaching qualification had been recognised in an equivalence decision?

3.

Does the Commission not take the view that such treatment violates the following rights:

(cid:129) the right to equal treatment (in this case as regards nationality)

(cid:129) the right to freedom of movement

(cid:129) the right to equal pay for equal work?