WRITTEN QUESTION E-3425/01 by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission. Regasification plant in Sagunto (Valencia).
Date: 2001-12-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, electrical industry, intervention policy, monopoly, power plant, restriction on competition

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/35

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2002)

Fortunately the humanitarian catastrophe widely predicted last autumn for Afghanistan did not materialise.
The ousting of the Taliban and the scaling down of the bombing made it possible to resume large-scale
humanitarian aid operations and reach those most in need. The number of refugees that fled Afghanistan
in the wake of 11 September was ultimately fairly modest compared to the numbers that had already left
the country.

The Commission is continuing to provide financial support, both in the form of emergency humanitarian
aid via ECHO, the European Community Humanitarian Office, and under its budget line for aid to
uprooted people in Asian countries, to the UNHCR (Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
and a number of non-governmental organisations working with Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran. As
the Member of the Commission responsible for External Relations recently stated at the Tokyo Conference
on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan, the Commission is now embarking on the long-term process
of reconstruction. This should make it easier for Afghan refugees or displaced persons to return to their
home areas as soon as possible.

(2002/C 205 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3425/01

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(21 December 2001)

Subject: Regasification plant in Sagunto (Valencia)

In the Region of Valencia there were two projects to build regasification plants, which were basically
intended to meet the needs of the tile industry, located almost exclusively in the province of Castellón. The
first was to be in Sagunto (Valencia) to be run by Unión Fenosa. The second was to be located in the port
of Castellón and would be run by Iberdrola, although ASCER (Association of Tile Industries) would be
involved and Endesa was negotiating its inclusion.

In response to these two projects the Secretary of State for the Economy, Mr Folgado, said that the Region
of Valencia ‘only had room for one regasification plant’, a recommendation which the Generalitat of
Valencia blindly followed.

In this situation,
in which the competent authorities opted for a regional monopoly rather than free
competition, and in view of the fact that the Unión Fenosa project was more advanced, Iberdrola chose to
abandon its project and join in the Sagunto project. Endesa will probably join as well, which means that
the three most important electricity companies operating on the Spanish market, which between them
have cornered almost the whole market, will share the monopoly.

Regasification plants do not have any particular environmental impact and therefore do not justify the
interventionist attitude of the Spanish and Valencian governments, who have opted for a single plant
instead of allowing a number of competing projects.

In view of this situation, can the Commission say whether:

9 it considers that the decision to allow only one regasification plant in the Region of Valencia promotes

competition or constitutes an unjustified monopoly;

9 it considers that the creation of a subsidiary belonging to the three main (and almost the only)

electricity companies constitutes an anti-competition move;

9 it considers it appropriate to take some action in this connection;

9 it upholds its traditional view that firms which collectively occupy a dominant position should not set

up joint subsidiaries?

C 205 E/36

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(19 February 2002)

Directive 98/30/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 concerning common rules for
the internal market in natural gas (1) has opened up the natural gas market in Europe. According to this
directive, natural gas customers above a certain level of consumption are free to choose their supplier of
natural gas.

Under these circumstances, the Commission fails to see why the creation of a new regasification plant in
Sagunto would prevent eligible customers (presumably including customers from the tile industry) to
source their gas needs from the supplier of their choice. Currently, there are more than 20 authorised
suppliers of natural gas in Spain. Additionally, the Sagunto regasification plant is not and will not be the
only plant of this kind in Spain. Indeed, Spain is the Member State where the number of regasification
plants is the highest in Europe: three already are in operation and at least three others are planned.

The Honourable Member further inquires whether the creation of a subsidiary by the three largest
electricity companies in Spain to build and run the regasification plant constitutes a restriction of
competition and whether the Commission will take some action in this case.

Given the absence of precision as to the project at this early stage, the Commission is unable to consider
whether it is appropriate to take some action in this case under the EC competition rules.

(1) OJ L 204, 21.7.1998.

(2002/C 205 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3468/01

by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Council

(18 December 2001)

Subject: Nuclear power plant safety standards

Is the Council prepared:

1.

2.

3.

4.

to take steps to review the safety standards of all Europe’s nuclear power plants?

to grant the International Atomic Energy Agency more safety inspection powers?

to give the public comprehensive information about the outcome of such inspections?

to agree to an amendment to the Euratom Treaty which would result in greater democratisation and
greater involvement of the European Parliament?

Reply

(13 May 2002)

The Council would firstly like to stress that a clear distinction needs to be made between the rules
governing the safety of nuclear power plants and those governing their security.

In general, the Laeken European Council undertook to maintain a high level of nuclear safety in the Union.
It stressed the need to monitor the security and safety of nuclear power stations. It called for regular
reports from Member States’ atomic energy experts, who would maintain close contact with the
Commission.

Chapter 7 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community includes provisions relating
to security checks (safeguards).