WRITTEN QUESTION P-1767/01 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Charleroi Airport: compatibility of state aid and competition law.
Date: 2001-06-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, State aid, air transport, airport, competition law, control of State aid, ground handling, transport company

C 350 E/222

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

(2001/C 350 E/249)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1766/01

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 June 2001)

Subject: Accession of Cyprus

The Helsinki European Council concluded that a political settlement would facilitate the accession of
Cyprus to the EU but that if no settlement had been reached by the completion of negotiations the
Council(cid:146)s decision on accession will be made without this being a precondition.

However, the Council added the enigmatic words that,
account of all relevant factors.(cid:146)

in reaching a decision, the Council

(cid:145)will take

What decisions have been made by the Commission regarding the interpretation of these words, or by
what date does the Commission propose reaching such a decision?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(28 June 2001)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to his Written Question E-2101/00 (1).

The Commission is fully in line with the Union position of strongly supporting the United Nations(cid:146) (UN)
efforts for a political settlement in Cyprus. In the event that no political settlement is reached before the
completion of accession negotiations, it will be for the European Council to determine which factors to
take into account in the decision on accession.

(1) OJ C 81 E, 13.3.2001.

(2001/C 350 E/250)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1767/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(12 June 2001)

Subject: Charleroi Airport: compatibility of state aid and competition law

According to press reports, the Region of Wallonia grants the following assistance to Ryanair at Charleroi
Airport:

(a)

funding of training for cabin and check-in staff;

(b) a fee of BEF 5000 per aircraft is charged for handling (sorting of baggage, accompanying passengers
etc.) which does not even cover costs whereas other airlines were previously charged BEF 60 000 per
aircraft;

(c)

free handling for the third daily flight to Dublin;

(d) BSCA (Brussels South Charleroi Airport) staff are placed at the disposal of Ryanair and paid for using

public funds;

(e)

concealed subsidies through which the Region of Wallonia enables Ryanair to offer free tickets to
passengers.

Can the Commission confirm these reports of state aid and if so, whether such aid is compatible with
Community competition law. Should that not be the case, what action the Commission intend to take to
remedy the situation?

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/223

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(13 July 2001)

In 1998 and 1999 the Commission investigated the conditions in which Ryanair operates scheduled air
services at Charleroi airport. In the course of its investigation it looked at the contracts concluded between
Ryanair and BSCA, the company which manages Charleroi airport.

The examination failed to reveal any infringement of Community competition rules. It is true that Ryanair
enjoyed favourable operating conditions at Charleroi airport in respect of groundhandling services, but it
was also, by a long way, the main company operating at the airport. The discounts it received appeared to
be standard commercial practice.

Nonetheless, the Commission can inform the Honourable Member that in the light of recent press articles
it intends to check whether the information it obtained earlier is still valid.

(2001/C 350 E/251)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1768/01

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Cooperation with Latin America over drugs

(12 June 2001)

After six years of existence, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA),
which has undergone a far-reaching review of its objectives and working methods, has become a fully-
integrated information system on drugs and drugs policies in the Member States.

This monitoring centre is now called on to provide services not only for the EU applicant states but also
for other third countries, in view of its remarkable potential for exporting expertise and experience in the
field. It is certainly now in a position to satisfy the requirements of the applicant states, since its internal
rules have been amended with that in mind and the necessary human resources under the PHARE
programme have been placed at its disposal. This is not the case, however, for other third countries,
notably those in Latin America, which also need as much information as possible on drugs as a priority for
their co-operation with the EU. The EMCDDA has neither the legal capacity nor the resources to meet this
demand for direct co-operation with Latin America.

Given the above:

(cid:129) What action does the Commission intend to take to ensure that such co-operation with third
countries can include not only contract relations with external bodies but also the EMCDDA(cid:146)s own
accumulated expertise?

(cid:129) Does the Commission intend to make such measures possible with the support of the EMCDDA itself?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2001)

The Commission welcomes the Honourable Member(cid:146)s interest
in issues relating to the European
Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), particularly as regards international co-
operation.