WRITTEN QUESTION E-0111/02 by Sami Naïr (PSE) to the Commission. Usinor merger involving closure of French plant at Biache Saint-Vaast.
Date: 2002-01-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, France, cessation of trading, economic concentration, iron and steel industry, merger control, restrictive-practice authorisation

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/57

(2002/C 229 E/061)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0111/02

by Sami Naïr (PSE) to the Commission

(29 January 2002)

Subject: Usinor merger involving closure of French plant at Biache Saint-Vaast

The Usinor Group is at present embarking on a merger process which will result in the closure of an
efficient production plant at Biache Saint-Vaast, France. The closure will have a particularly serious effect
on employment, with the loss of 440 jobs.

Will the Commission therefore state whether the proposed merger is compatible with the administrative
and competition rules in force within the EU?

Will it also state whether the Usinor Group, which is both partner and player in the deal, has received any
public aid under European programmes during the last 15 years? If so, precisely how much, and under
precisely what conditions?

Given that Usinor’s strategy involves the closure of a major production plant in an area which is already
severely affected by unemployment, what means does the Commission have for demanding that any such
aid received by the company be repaid?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 2002)

The Commission was notified of the planned merger involving the steel producers Usinor and Arbed/
Aceralia on 16 June 2001, in accordance with Article 66 of the ECSC Treaty and the Regulation on the
control of concentrations (1). Following an in-depth study, the Commission authorised the merger on
21 November 2001, subject to a number of commitments. These commitments did not refer to any plant
closures, but rather to the transfer of a number of steel production and distribution undertakings. Certain
obligations were attached to these transfers, so as to safeguard in full the present and future economic
viability and competitiveness of the undertakings transferred in the context of the accepted commitments.
The Commission will ensure that
these
the purchasers are themselves viable undertakings with the
undertakings prior to transfer and that
financial resources, expertise and motivation needed to maintain and develop their activities and market
presence. Nevertheless, the Commission does not in principle have any authority with regard to possible
restructuring within the new group following the merger.

the parties maintain the viability and competitiveness of

Concerning the granting of Community aid to the Usinor Group, the Commission reminds the Honourable
Member that, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the Member States are responsible both for
the selection of projects and the implementation and management of programmes that are part-financed
by the Structural Funds.

According to the information received from the French authorities, no aid from the European Regional
Development Fund has been given to the production site at Biache Saint-Vaast.

As regards the repayment of aid received from the Structural Funds during the previous programming
periods, the Commission makes the point that : in as far as projects have been duly implemented and
wound up on the basis of the Community legislation in force : there is no mechanism for recovering
assistance granted.

Concerning the present programming period (2000-2006), both the guidelines on national regional aid (2)
and Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the
Structural Funds (3) now make the granting of Community aid subject to the assets invested or jobs created
being maintained for a period of five years.

C 229 E/58

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

The Usinor Group has benefited from research programme funding for projects involving multiple
partners. The funding of such projects is strictly linked to their technological and scientific benefits. The
recovery of any advance payments is possible only where the project participants have not complied with
the contract terms.

(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 of 21 December 1989 on the control of concentrations between

undertakings (OJ L 395, 30.12.1989; corrigendum: OJ L 257, 21.9.1990).

(2) OJ C 74, 10.3.1998.
(3) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2002/C 229 E/062)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0162/02

by Jan Wiersma (PSE) and Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Council

Subject: Nuclear attack on Israel

(5 February 2002)

Is the Council aware of statements made by the former President of

1.
concerning a possible nuclear attack on Israel?

Iran, Mr H. Rafsanjani,

2. What credence does the Council give to such statements?

3. What steps is the EU taking in an attempt to discourage Iran from developing nuclear weapons?

Reply

(25 June 2002)

The Council has received reports of the speech by former President Rafsanjani to which the Honourable
Members refer.

the region.

In its dialogue with third countries,

The strengthening of international rules and mechanisms to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction is of prime importance to the EU and an essential goal of its foreign policy. Likewise, the EU
believes that threats to Israel are unacceptable and undoubtedly damage the Peace Process and the stability
of
the EU actively promotes the
universalisation and effective implementation of multilateral instruments in the field of non-proliferation,
disarmament and arms control. During the eighth EU-Iran political dialogue in Madrid on 4 February, the
Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Miquel Nadal has expressed deep concern about President
Rafsanjani’s speech which he strongly rejected. The EU for its part has urged Iran to ratify the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and to conclude without delay an Additional Protocol with the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

including Iran,

In the context of its efforts to promote a resolution of the Middle East conflict, the Council also sees any
threats of an escalation in regional violence as unhelpful in the current situation of extreme gravity. This
has been stressed in contacts with Iran.

(2002/C 229 E/063)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0168/02

by Emilio Menéndez del Valle (PSE) to the Council

(5 February 2002)

Subject: Inhuman treatment of the prisoners of war at the US base of Guantánamo

The Taliban and Al-Qaeda prisoners of war transported by the US authorities from Afghanistan to
Guantánamo in conditions which clearly did not meet the criteria of humanitarian law are now being held
in degrading and humiliating conditions of imprisonment which should not be inflicted on any human
being.