WRITTEN QUESTION E-3440/00 by Werner Langen (PPE-DE) to the Council. Distillation of potable alcohol.
Date: 2000-11-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Rhineland-Palatinate, State aid, alcohol, distillation

C 163 E/118

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

(2001/C 163 E/130)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3440/00

by Werner Langen (PPE-DE) to the Council

(8 November 2000)

Subject: Distillation of potable alcohol

The Rhineland-Palatinate Government has announced that it wishes to grant DEM 15 million in aid at
Land level to boost potable alcohol distillation.

1. What form of procedure is used in principle to grant national aid in an area covered by an EU
programme?

2. What options are available to the Ministers of Agriculture as regards approval or rejection of national
aid when a specific case arises?

3. What is the basic legal status of national aid of the above type, i.e. granted in addition to an EU
programme?

Reply

(26 February 2001)

In reply to the first two questions, the Council would remind the Honourable Member that Article 88(2) of
the Treaty establishing the European Community stipulates:

in its first subparagraph that if the Commission finds that aid granted by a State is not compatible
with the common market in the sense that it distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring
certain undertakings or the production of certain goods, it shall decide that the State concerned shall
abolish or alter such aid. Article 87(2) and 87(3) specify the types of aid which are compatible or may
be considered to be compatible with the common market;

in its third subparagraph that the Council may, acting unanimously, decide that State aid shall be
considered to be compatible with the common market if such a decision is justified by exceptional
circumstances. If, however, the Council has not made its attitude known within three months of the
said application being made, the Commission shall give its decision on the case.

Generally speaking, as regards products covered by a common organisation of the market, national aid
cannot be considered to be compatible with the common market, except in so far as it complies with the
the Treaty. Nevertheless, within the framework of certain agricultural
provisions of Article 87 of
regulations, some national aid may be granted under certain conditions if it is intended to meet precise
objectives. One such Regulation is Commission Regulation (EC) No 1227/2000, which provides that
Member States may grant national aid if it is intended to meet objectives similar to those pursued by
Chapter II of Title II of Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 on the common organisation of the market
in wine, as regards production potential with a view to grubbing-up and abandonment of wine-growing.

In the case of agricultural products not covered by a common organisation of the market, it is imperative
for the Commission to be informed of national aid granted by the Member States.

(2001/C 163 E/131)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3443/00

by Carmen Fraga EstØvez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 November 2000)

Subject: Fourth fisheries protocol with Greenland and Council mandate

On 13 September 2000 the Commission signed a new (fourth) fisheries protocol with Greenland, Article 11
of which provides for financial compensation on the Community side of € 42 820 000. However, the text
of the protocol does not differentiate between the part of that amount corresponding to payment for the