WRITTEN QUESTION E-1163/02 by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission. State aid case concerning the Terra Mítica theme park: loan from the Spanish government.
Date: 2002-04-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Valencia, European Commission, State aid, control of State aid, interest rate subsidy, leisure park, loan

C 277 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

Finally, the ‘science and society’ section of the Community’s Sixth Framework Programme for research and
technological development will offer support for measures encouraging young people to follow a scientific
career, particularly through the development of better methods of presenting the sciences within or
alongside formal education.

(1) Report from the Education Council to the European Council on ‘The concrete future objectives of education and

training systems’ ’ Document No 5980/01 EDUC 18, 14 February 2001.

(2002/C 277 E/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1163/02

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(23 April 2002)

Subject: State aid case concerning the ‘Terra Mítica’ theme park: loan from the Spanish government

Over the last few days the Valencia press has been publishing reports on the interest-free government loan
of over € 4 million for the ‘Terra Mítica’ theme park in Benidorm (Alicante).

The loan was made by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology in 2001, as part of the Profit
programme aimed at supporting new businesses.

The apparent objective of the programme is to offer aid to render the productive sector more competitive,
by developing new technology and by incorporating new technology into businesses.

Bearing in mind the case opened by the Commission in relation to ‘Terra Mítica’ under Article 88(2) of the
Treaty, is the Commission aware of the loan from the Spanish government, and of the terms of the loan
opted for by the above-mentioned company? Does the Commission consider that this information alters
the case file profile and that it could be investigated?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 2002)

the interest-free loan to which the
The Spanish authorities have not notified the Commission of
Honourable Member refers. Accordingly, the Commission will contact the Spanish authorities with a view
to ascertaining whether this loan has actually been granted and, if so, to examine it in the light of the state
aid rules. It will inform the Honourable Member of its findings in due course.

(2002/C 277 E/179)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1164/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 April 2002)

Subject: Tourism volunteer project in Casina (Italy)

In the municipality of Casina (province of Reggio Emilia, region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy), young people’s
organisations and local councillors have drawn up a scheme for the training of ‘tourism volunteers’, with a
view to developing an open-ended model of culturally and socially oriented tourism. This scheme would
involve the training of groups of volunteers (the knowledge and skills concerned being in the areas of
history, culture, the environment and languages), who, between the months of May and September, would
accompany and guide tourists and visitors in the municipality. These guided visits would be completely
free of charge to groups wishing to visit the municipality of Casina and the surrounding area in the Reggio