WRITTEN QUESTION E-2991/01 by Sir Robert Atkins (PPE-DE) to the Commission. State aids to Aer Lingus.
Date: 2001-10-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Ireland, State aid, air transport, control of State aid

C 134 E/168

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

(2002/C 134 E/169)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2990/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 October 2001)

Subject: Increased cost of the Attica Highway

The original agreement, signed in 1996, for the construction of the Attica Highway (73 kilometres in
length) anticipated a total cost of the order of 480 billion drachmas, funded by the second and third CSFs.
Five years later the final cost is calculated at over 1 trillion drachmas.

The Greek Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works and the contracting firm’s
representative believe that the cost overshoot is due to the parallel projects, the changes which were added
to the original plan, and the doubling in the cost of estimates for compulsory purchases.

Can the Commission give details, for each of the parallel projects, of the additional amounts which

1.
have increased the cost? Is the enormous increase in the project’s budget justified?

2. Was the direct awarding of additional parallel projects conducted in accordance with the legislation
in force?

For the self-financed section, the yield on private capital has been estimated at 11 %. Do European

3.
data on self-financed projects indicate that this yield should be considered reasonable?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2001)

For the first part of the question, the Commission would like to refer to its answer to written question
E-2894/01 by Mr Hatzidakis (1).

According to the Greek authorities additional parallel projects were assigned to the concessionaire in
conformity with national and European legislations.

The 11 % rate of return referred in the question is not a guaranteed rate. It is the maximum rate provided
in the bid and the contract. When, and if ever, this rate of return is achieved, the concessionaire should
give ownership of the project back to the Greek State.

(1) OJ C 115 E, 16.5.2002, p. 189.

(2002/C 134 E/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2991/01

by Sir Robert Atkins (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 October 2001)

Subject: State aids to Aer Lingus

What consultations has the Commission had with the Irish Government about the proposed State aids to
be offered to Aer Lingus and will it make a statement as to the illegality of such a subsidy?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(10 January 2002)

Officials of both the Irish Ministry of Transport and the Commission have met on 19 October 2001 in
Brussels and regular contact takes place between the services.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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During this meeting the representatives of the Irish Transport Ministry outlined the situation faced by Aer
Lingus, and some possible measures that were being considered to address this issue. No final decisions
have, however, as yet been reached by the Irish Government on this issue.

Once such decisions have been taken the Commission will decide on the legality of any proposed
measures.

(2002/C 134 E/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2992/01

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 October 2001)

Subject: Crisis loans to airlines

On 3 October 2001 the Belgian government promised to arrange a short-term loan to the tune of some
EUR 125 million for the national airline Sabena in order to forestall the immediate prospect of its
bankruptcy. As soon as it heard of the emergency loan to Sabena, the Commission immediately asked the
Belgian government for an explanation.

Does the information received by the Commission indicate that
the decision was contrary to EU
competition law? What measures does the Commission propose to take in relation to the decision? What
is the Commission’s general line of action regarding the granting of state aids to airlines and routes?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(8 January 2002)

On 5 October 2001 the Belgian Government notified the Commission of aid to rescue Sabena in the form
of a € 125 million loan to meet the company’s cash requirements for a maximum period of three months.
The Commission examined this measure as a matter of urgency, given the difficult position of the
company. On 17 October 2001 the Commission decided to authorise the aid, considering that all the
conditions laid down in the Community guidelines on state aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in
difficulty (1) were met in this case.

The Commission does not intend to change its policy on state aids. The general principles underlying its
action are expounded in the guidelines applicable to air transport adopted by the Commission in 1994 (2)
and have been applied consistently. With regard to restructuring aid, these guidelines lay down the single
aid principle according to which ‘the Commission will not allow further aid unless under exceptional
circumstances, unforeseeable and external to the company’.

(1) OJ C 288, 9.10.1999.
(2) Application of Articles 92 (ex-98) and 93 (ex-99) of the EC Treaty and Article 61 of the EEA Agreement to state

aids in the aviation sector; OJ C 350, 10.12.1994.

(2002/C 134 E/172)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2998/01

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Measures in the air transport sector

(29 October 2001)

In a statement to the Commissioner responsible for transport, Mrs de Palacio, the Association of European
Airlines pointed out that the measures announced by the Commission on 10 October 2001 are inadequate
to overcome the crisis created in the air transport sector following the events of 11 September 2001.