WRITTEN QUESTION E-2941/01 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. State aid for Ryanair at Charleroi airport.
Date: 2001-10-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, State aid, Walloon region (Belgium), air transport, carriage of passengers, competition law, exchange of information, restriction on competition

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/183

(cid:1) free handling for the third daily flight to Dublin; BSCA (Brussels South Charleroi Airport) staff are

placed at the disposal of Ryanair and paid for using public funds;

(cid:1) concealed subsidies through which the Region of Wallonia enables Ryanair to offer free tickets to

passengers.

After checking whether the information obtained earlier is still valid (relating to state aid from the Region
of Wallonia for the activities of Ryanair at Charleroi airport), does the Commission still consider that the
assistance provided by the Region of Wallonia is compatible with Community competition rules? If so, on
what arguments does the Commission base this view? If not, what steps will the Commission take to
ensure that the Region of Wallonia and Ryanair comply with Community competition rules as soon as
possible?

(1) OJ C 350 E, 11.12.2001, p. 222.

(2002/C 115 E/191)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2941/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 October 2001)

Subject: State aid for Ryanair at Charleroi airport

In answer to question P-1767/01 (1), the Commission says that ‘that in the light of recent press articles
(author’s note: concerning assistance from the Region of Wallonia for Ryanair’s operations at Charleroi
airport) it intends to check whether the information it obtained earlier is still valid’.

However, other regional airports are querying the aid from the Region of Wallonia; according to them,
there is a flagrant breach of Community competition rules. According to the newspaper the Echo (see De
Standaard of 5 July 2001), the support granted to Ryanair by the Region of Wallonia amounts to EUR 3
million a year. In total, Ryanair has apparently received EUR 12 million in subsidies and concessions at
Charleroi.

After checking whether the information obtained earlier is still valid (relating to state aid from the Region
of Wallonia for the activities of Ryanair at Charleroi airport), does the Commission still consider that the
assistance provided by the Region of Wallonia is compatible with Community competition rules? If so, on
what arguments does the Commission base this view? If not, what steps will the Commission take to
ensure that the Region of Wallonia and Ryanair comply with Community competition rules as soon as
possible?

(1) OJ C 350 E, 11.12.2001, p. 222.

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2877/01 and E-2941/01
given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2001)

Acting on information published in the press at the beginning of the summer concerning possible
advantages connected with the operation of air services allegedly enjoyed by Ryanair at Charleroi airport,
in September 2001 the Commission requested information from the Belgian authorities in order to assess
the nature of possible advantages enjoyed by Ryanair in relation to the rules of the EC Treaty on State aid.
On the basis of the information that it receives, the Commission will decide what action to take in this
connection.