WRITTEN QUESTION E-1131/02 by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission. Financial help being given to Alitalia, the Italian airline.
Date: 2002-04-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, Italy, State aid, aid to undertakings, air transport, control of State aid, financial aid, shareholding

6.2.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 28 E/73

For the purposes of this Directive ‘motorway’ means a road specially designed and built for motor traffic,
which does not serve properties bordering on it, and which:

(i)

is provided, except at special points or temporarily, with separate carriageways for the two directions
of traffic, separated from each other either by a dividing strip not intended for traffic or, exceptionally,
by other means;

(ii) does not cross at grade with any road, railway or tramway track, or footpath;

(iii) is specifically designated as a motorway.

(1) OJ L 187, 20.7.1999.

(2003/C 28 E/081)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1131/02

by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission

(22 April 2002)

Subject: Financial help being given to Alitalia, the Italian airline

Is the Commission aware that Air France is in the process of taking up shares in Alitalia in order to bail
out the Italian airline from its serious financial predicament? Is the Commission also aware that this
operation involves the Italian Government issuing convertible bonds to the value of 1-2 billion Euro?

Can the Commission therefore:

1.

give us its views as to the legality of this move?

2.

3.

indicate whether the conditions applied to two previous tranches of state aid to Alitalia in 1997 and
2000 were fully met?

give us an assurance that the principle of ‘one time, last time’ also applies in cases of convertible
bonds issued by Member States and subscribed to by public entities?

4.

inform Parliament of what action, if any, it intends to take in this case?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(31 May 2002)

The Alitalia recapitalisation the Honourable Member is referring to, has been notified to the

1.
Commission on 29 April 2002. The examination by the Commission is still ongoing.

In its Decision 2001/723/EC concerning the recapitalisation of the company Alitalia (1), of 18 July
2.
2001, Article 2, the Commission has allowed the Italian authorities to pay the second tranche of the aid
granted to Alitalia (Commission Decision 97/789/EC of 15 July 1997 concerning the recapitalisation of
the company Alitalia (2)). On December 2001 the Italian authorities have notified the Commission their
willingness to pay the third tranche as well. The Commission, having requested some complementary
information, has not completed its examination yet.

C 28 E/74

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

The Commission will examine the recapitalisation under the principles explained in the guidelines to
3.
State aids in the aviation sector (3) and in the guidelines on State aids for rescuing and restructuring firms
in difficulty (4). These guidelines include the ‘one time last time’ rule, thus implying that any additional
State aid element will not be accepted.

The Parliament will, of course, be informed of the Commission’s position through the normal

4.
channels, as soon as a decision is adopted.

(1) OJ L 271, 12.10.2001.
(2) OJ L 322, 25.11.1997.
(3) OJ C 350, 10.12.1994.
(4) OJ C 288, 9.10.1999.

(2003/C 28 E/082)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1136/02

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) and Eluned Morgan (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Trade in domestic dog and cat fur

(22 April 2002)

Would the Commission provide information on its policy concerning the importing into the European
Union of domestic cat and dog fur?

What plans does the Commission have to introduce a ban on the importing of these products into the
European Union?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(11 July 2002)

The Honourable Member is asked to see written question E-1203/02 on the same subject put by
Mr Whitehead (1) and the answer given on behalf of the Commission by the Member of the Commission
responsible for health and consumer protection.

(1) OJ C 301 E, 5.12.2002, p. 104.

(2003/C 28 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1140/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 April 2002)

Subject: Increasing dependence of the Polish economy on agriculture and international road transport

following contraction of the steel industry

Can the Commission confirm that the conclusion of accession negotiations with Poland on the
1.
competition chapter was linked to Poland’s willingness to merge the four existing blast
furnace
undertakings into a single undertaking, Polskie Huty Stali (Polish steel and blast furnaces) in May 2002,
then to sell the undertaking to interested parties from EU Member States (Usinor, Thyssen Krupp, Salzgitter
or Corus) or India (Ispat) and to shed a quarter of the 40 000 jobs which remain after earlier restructuring,
all of which would lead to the Commission having to approve a consolidation plan?

2.
Is the Commission aware that the Polish steel industry has already contracted considerably over the
past 15 years, that this sector now yields only 1,69 % of national income and that unemployment has risen
to about 18 %?