WRITTEN QUESTION E-0311/02 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Scrutiny of Sävsjö municipality's sale of the town sanatorium.
Date: 2002-02-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: State aid, Sweden, control of State aid, local government, restriction on competition

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/37

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(25 March 2002)

The comment by the Member of the Commission responsible for Trade was expressed as his personal
political assessment of 50 years of the story of European integration. The President’s spokesman was
referring to one of the basic principles of the Union, i.e. the equal treatment of Member States. The two
positions are expressed in two different contexts and for two different purposes and, therefore, they do not
need to be reconciled.

(2002/C 301 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0311/02

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 February 2002)

Subject: Scrutiny of Sävsjö municipality’s sale of the town sanatorium

According to reports in the media (Dagens Nyheter of 27 January 2002), the Commission is to look into
Sävsjö municipality’s sale in 1999 of the town’s former sanatorium, the surrounding park and what used
to be a doctor’s residence.

The sale price and local authority grants together with many other advantages a private purchaser secured
to convert the sanatorium into a hotel and conference centre upset other local businesspeople. The latter
considered they had been beaten with the help of taxpayers’ money, and legal proceedings are still ongoing
in this connection. The Administrative Court of Appeal, however, found in the municipality’s favour, but
the objectors are now said to have approached the Commission.

It is not certain what political decisions a municipality can take to promote business locally without
affecting free competition in the internal market in the process.

Does the Commission intend to deliver an opinion on this matter? How many times a year does it make
inquiries of the various Member States’ governments concerning similar decisions that have been taken by
local and regional political bodies, on the grounds that they could adversely affect free competition in the
internal market?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2002)

The Commission welcomes the decentralisation process which takes place in several Member States and
whereby local authorities are entrusted with the task to conduct economic policy and promote business.

However, local as well as central authorities are subject to the EC Treaty competition rules. In particular,
‘aid granted by regional and local bodies of the Member States, whatever their status and description, must
be scrutinized to determine whether it complies with Article 87 §1 of the Treaty’ (1).

Thus, the Commission should be informed, in sufficient time to enable it to submit its comments, of any
plans to grant or alter aid put forward by the local authorities. The proposed measures should not be put
into effect until this procedure has resulted in a final decision.

It has to be reminded in that respect that the prohibition of State aids laid down in Article 87 §1 of the EC
Treaty concerns only selective advantages to entities having an economic activity and which distort or
threaten to distort competition and trade between Member States.

According to the Commission Regulation (EC) No 69/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of
Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to de minimis aid (2), aid measures are deemed not to meet all the
criteria of Article 87 §1 of the EC Treaty, if they don’t exceed EUR 100 000 over a period of three years.

C 301 E/38

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

The Commission does not dispose currently of any statistical data concerning inquiries on similar decisions
that have been taken by local and regional political bodies.

(1)

Judgment of the Court of 14 October 1987, Federal Republic of Germany v Commission, Case 248/84, ECR (1987)
p. 4013).

(2) OJ L 10, 13.1.2001.

(2002/C 301 E/039)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0313/02

by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 February 2002)

Subject: ACP resolution on the rights of disabled people and older people in the ACP States

What action has the Commission taken on the resolution on the rights of disabled people and older people
the ACP-EU Joint
(ACP-EU/3313/01/fin.) which was adopted unanimously at
Parliamentary Assembly in October 2001? Has the Commission now appointed a specialist officer in that
area?

the third session of

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 2002)

The general objective of
sustainable development leading to a reduction of poverty in developing countries.

the Development Co-operation Policy of

the Community is to encourage

The Commission sees social policies and improved access to, and quality of, basic social infrastructures and
services (health and education in particular) as one of the best means to take account of specific demands
of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.

The Commission considers that the rights of disabled people and older people should be taken in
consideration in this context. However, it does not specifically target these groups as beneficiaries from
development co-operation activities. The Commission has nevertheless financed specific programmes for
the benefit of handicapped people, especially in post-conflict situations and countries.

The Commission does not intend to appoint a specialist officer in this area.

(2002/C 301 E/040)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0399/02

by Feleknas Uca (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 February 2002)

Subject: Proceedings to ban HADEP (cid:1) wave of arrests in Turkey

The proceedings to ban HADEP, instituted in 1999 by the Turkish public prosecutor, have started. HADEP
is charged with wanting to destroy the unity of the country. The court delayed the proceedings for one
month to allow the HADEP President, Murat Bozlak, time to prepare a defence statement. The proceedings
to ban HADEP will resume on 1 March.

Resumption of the legal proceedings has sparked off a new wave of repression against Kurds. Members and
staff of HADEP have been arrested. The Kurdish Institute in Istanbul was placed under official seal without
a court order. 500 students at the University of Van were arrested at the beginning of January 2002 when
they wanted to hand the Rector of the University a petition in connection with a country-wide campaign
for voluntary Kurdish courses at universities. As a result, other students who had signed the petition were
detained throughout the country. According to some leading politicians, the students were accused of
terrorism and charged.