WRITTEN QUESTION E-1027/02 by Helmuth Markov (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Repayment of subsidies.
Date: 2002-04-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Germany, State aid, control of State aid, record, sanction (EU)

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/77

(2002/C 301 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1020/02

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Execution of budget items B2-1411 and B5-3003

(12 April 2002)

The Community budget for 2002 includes the following items: B2-1411 (Support for regions bordering
candidate countries) and B5-3003 (Pilot project on the impact of enlargement for the regions bordering
the candidate countries).

Can the Commission state what measures have been funded and what actions it has undertaken or intends
to undertake, and specify the percentage rate of execution for these items for both commitment and
payment appropriations?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 2002)

line B2-1411)

The Commission intends to allocate EUR 30 million for support for regions bordering candidate countries
to the fourteen existing Interreg III Community initiative programmes with
(budget
candidate countries by adding a new priority. According to the objectives laid down in the different actions
proposed by the Commission’s Communication on the impact of enlargement on regions bordering
candidate countries (1), this priority could cover projects in the following fields: strengthening of transport
systems, supporting small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) particularly affected by enlargement, as
well as supporting training and inter-cultural co-operation actions including those favouring the
integration of different language and cultural groups. Special attention should be given to projects in the
transport and SME sectors directly linked to the improvement of the environment.

The Commission intends to amend the above mentioned programmes by a single Commission decision.
The budgetary commitment will therefore be made following the Commission decision, and payments will
be made afterwards within the existing rules for Interreg III programmes.

As regards the pilot project on the impact of enlargement for the regions bordering the candidate
countries (budget line B5-3003), the Commission intends to allocate EUR 2 million to finance measures in
favour of young people in border regions according to the criteria and modalities applied in the YOUTH
programme. An amount of EUR 18 million shall be used to launch measures to support SMEs in order to
improve their capacity to react to the opportunities and challenges resulting from the enlargement process;
employment, social and cultural actions focusing on information and awareness raising, employment
promotion and cross border socio-cultural activities; assistance to local or regional bodies to prepare for
the administrative and economic effects of increased migration and facilitate the development of contacts
and networks between the representatives of these bodies across the border.

The Commission is currently preparing calls for proposals which will be published soon. In terms of
financial support to the three above mentioned topics priority will be given to SME support.

(1) COM(2001) 437 final.

(2002/C 301 E/084)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1027/02

by Helmuth Markov (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(15 April 2002)

Subject: Repayment of subsidies

Pursuant to its Decision (C42/98) of 21 June 2000 relating to subsidies paid by Germany to CDA Compact
Disc Albrechts GmbH, Thuringia, the European Commission required the Federal Republic of Germany to

C 301 E/78

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

request repayment of the following subsidies: DEM 260,57 million from Pilz Albrechts GmbH, DEM 166,3
million from CD Albrechts GmbH and DEM 426,87 million from Logistik Center Albrechts GmbH.

Is it possible that part of that sum has already been repaid from the bankrupt’s assets of one of the

1.
undertakings referred to above?

2.

If so, what was the amount repaid and in respect of which demand (i.e. from which undertaking)?

3. What explanation did the German authorities give when the sum was repaid?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(23 May 2002)

Different recovery amounts in relation to the Pilz Albrechts GmbH, the CD Albrechts GmbH (hereafter
‘CDA’) and the Logistic Center Albrechts GmbH (hereafter ‘LCA’) were distinguished by the Honourable
Member. Therefore, it needs to be clarified that Commission Decision 2000/796/EC of 21 June 2000 on
State aid granted by Germany to CDA Compact Disc Albrechts GmbH, Thuringia (notified under
document number C(2000) 1728 (1)) foresees in its Article 2(3) that for the purpose of recovery ‘the
include CDA Datenträger Albrechts GmbH and LCA Logistic Center Albrechts
term’beneficiaries‘shall
the
GmbH as well as any other undertaking to which R.E. Pilz GmbH & Co. Beteiligungs KG’s,
Pilz & Robotron GmbH & Co. Beteiligungs KG’s and Pilz Albrechts GmbH’s assets and/or infrastructure
have been transferred or will be transferred in such a way as to evade the consequences of this Decision’.
This means that all companies are jointly and severally liable for the recovery of all illegal aid amounting
to DEM 426,87 million. The recovery obligation further includes the payment of interest calculated on the
basis of the reference rate used for calculating the grant-equivalent of regional aids.

On the basis of the information submitted by Germany the current situation is the following:

(cid:1) Up to now repayments of LCA amounting to EUR 3 138 million as well as of CDA amounting to
EUR 7,06 million were made, i.e. altogether EUR 10 194 million have been recovered. Aid amounting
to EUR 208 062 million still needs to be recovered.

(cid:1) With the exception of CDA all companies involved are in bankruptcy. Except for an amount of
EUR 10.89 million all outstanding recovery amounts were registered into the insolvency estates of the
insolvent companies. Up to now, a repayment from the insolvency assets was not made, since the
relevant procedures are not completed. Vis-a-vis CDA the repayment of the outstanding amount of
EUR 208 062 million has not yet been claimed by the German authorities.

(cid:1) The Commission believes that with respect to the amount of aid to be recovered as well as the joint
and several liability of the beneficiaries the negative decision of 21 June 2000 does not leave any
ambiguity. Therefore, the Commission has asked Germany to pursue the recovery of all amounts
which in the decision were classified as incompatible aid against all companies referred to as
beneficiaries, i.e. also against CDA. The Commission will continue to seek that Germany effectively
pursues recovery of all amounts against all beneficiaries.

(1) OJ L 318, 16.12.2000.

(2002/C 301 E/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1047/02

by Elisabeth Schroedter (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(17 April 2002)

Subject: Extraction of gravel in Area 49 under the Habitats Directive: Nordrügensche Boddenlandschaft

(Neuendorfer Wiek) in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Over the next 30 years, 5,1 million tonnes of gravel is to be industrially extracted from a 29 ha site in an
inland lagoon on the island of Rügen (Neuendorfer Wiek). The Stralsund Mining Authority granted