WRITTEN QUESTION E-2998/01 by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Measures in the air transport sector.
Date: 2001-10-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: State aid, air transport, economic consequence, terrorism

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/169

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.

C 134 E/170

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

Bearing in mind that many European airlines were already in crisis before the attacks, can the Commission
say whether it has carried out studies to ascertain which financial repercussions are actually attributable to
the terrorist attack in September?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 2001)

It can scarcely be denied that a number of airlines were already experiencing financial difficulties before
11 September 2001 and an economic downturn was already under way in the air transport sector. The
events of 11 September should therefore be seen as speeding up and aggravating a crisis that was already
manifest.

The Commission therefore drew its first conclusions from those events by giving its backing to
compensation payments for the closure of airspace, additional safety measures and coverage of risks
associated with terrorism.

in its communication of 10 October 2001 (1), that Article 87(2)(b) (former
It considered in particular,
Article 92) of the EC Treaty could be applied on the following conditions to compensation for losses
incurred by airlines due to the closure of airspace for four days:

A compensation is paid in a non-discriminatory manner to all airlines in a given Member State;

A it is only for costs incurred during the four days from 11 to 14 September 2001;

A the amount of compensation is calculated accurately and objectively.

The Commission did not think it should modify its policy on State aid lest this delay the restructuring
necessary in the air transport sector.

The Commission is,
information provided by the Member States and the main players in the field.

incidentally, closely monitoring the situation in air transport on the basis of

(1) COM(2001) 574 final.

(2002/C 134 E/173)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2999/01

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(5 November 2001)

Subject: Implementation of Regulation (EC) 2666/2000

Council Regulation (EC) 2666/2000 (1) provides for assistance to Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia,
Yugoslavia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

What stage has been reached in implementing this decision and, specifically, what amounts have already
been given to the above countries? In the event that the Regulation has not yet been fully implemented,
when is complete implementation envisaged?

(1) OJ L 306, 7.12.2000, p. 1.