WRITTEN QUESTION E-2733/02 by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Financial assistance for the European refining industry.
Date: 2002-09-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, energy policy, environmental protection, new technology, oil refining, security of supply

C 161 E/34

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

10.7.2003

(2003/C 161 E/036)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2733/02

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(30 September 2002)

Subject: Financial assistance for the European refining industry

The answer given in 2000 to question E-2126/99 (1) stated that since 1975 some EUR 750 million of
financial assistance has been granted to the hydrocarbons sector.

In the last two decades the Commission’s energy policy has been increasingly concentrated on three
aspects: adequate energy supplies, environmental friendliness, and consolidating a competitive position.

1.

Does the EU still provide financial assistance to the oil sector?

If so, could the Commission give a full account of financial assistance granted to the European oil

2.
sector since 1973, broken down by Member State?

3. What are the Commission’s reasons for providing such financial assistance to the European oil
sector?

Following the Johannesburg summit, does the Commission still believe that financial assistance to the

4.
oil sector is compatible with measures to prevent CO2 emissions?

(1) OJ C 170 E, 20.6.2000, p. 145.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2002)

The Commission provides a limited support to short-term research and technological development
1.
(RTD) activities in the Oil Sector under the 5th Framework Programme 1998-2002. Under the 6th
Framework Programme it will not provide any support to short-term RTD activities in the Oil Sector. As
indicated in the Commission’s Green Paper on Security of Supply (1),
in future, all new available
technologies (clean cars, fuel cells, insulation, solar energy, etc.) sould benefit from Community support:
this support sould be geared more to the needs of potential users than to the support of technologies
which have existed for some time.

2.
Since 1998, support for short-term demonstration of innovative oil and gas technology has been
gradually decreased and redirected towards renewable energies and projects for energy savings. However,
the Commission promotes a balanced approach to the promotion of innovative energy technology and
therefore a limited amount of support has also been granted to technology for conventional energy
sources, such as oil and gas. It should be added that, when granting support to oil and gas technology,
preference was always given to projects reducing the environmental impact of the use of fossil fuels. The
Commission does not publish a breakdown per country of the research funds.

3.
The Community has supported projects which were technologically innovative and were able to
demonstrate new technologies that contributed to a more efficient exploration and production of oil and
gas, especially in the North Sea increasing therefore security of supply in Europe, while respecting the
environment. From this Community-support between 1975-1998, the main beneficiaries were not the oil
producers but mainly small and medium-sized enterprises of the Service and Supply sector of the Oil
Industry who without the Community support could have not developed those innovative technologies.
Successful environmentally friendly technologies have emerged from this Community support on Platform
Decommissioning and Water Purification.

It should be noted that this support is not a subsidy but a financial contribution for the demonstration of
innovative and efficient energy technology. As a matter of fact, no subsidies were given to oil and gas
companies, as this is contrary to Community competition legislation.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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There is no financial support foreseen for the short-term RTD activities in oil sector in the future.
4.
However, an example of the possible contribution of hydrocarbon technologies to the reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions is a technique called underground storage of CO2. By means of this technique,
greenhouse gases can be safely and permanently disposed of in underground reservoirs.

(1) COM(2000) 769 final.

(2003/C 161 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2754/02

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 October 2002)

Subject: Illegal immigration

Eleven months ago Greece and Turkey announced that they had reached an agreement on the co-
ordination of measures and the return of illegal immigrants arriving in Greece from the Turkish coast. As
part of this agreement the Greek Government purchased twelve entirely new patrol boats to improve
patrollling of the Aegean. According to publications in the Greek press none of these vessels has become
operational and they remain unused in storage, having been deemed ‘unseaworthy’. It should be pointed
out that the maritime area of Lesbos (which covers a significant section of the Northern Aegean and from
where thousands of illegal immigrants enter the EU every year) is patrolled by only two patrol boats, while
a third vessel held by the Lesbos Port Authority is plagued by technical problems, which means that it is
essentially not being used.

Will the Commission say what is the total amount of Community funds given to Greece over the last three
years to upgrade its patrolling capability in the Aegean? Does it know what use the Greek authorities have
made of these funds? Are Community funds being given to the prefectures of the Aegean islands to return
illegal immigrants to Turkey and from there back to their countries of origin? Have the Greek authorities
given it the full text of the Greek-Turkish agreement on the return of illegal immigrants? What is the total
number of illegal immigrants returned by Greece to Turkey and from there to their countries of origin
over the last eleven months? Is the Commission aware of the precise situation as regards the purchase of
the twelve new vessels which are remaining unused? Does it have any information from the Greek
authorities about whether they intend to purchase any other vessels?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 2002)

The purchase of 10 patrol boats and related equipment for Greece was partly funded by the Interreg II
programme, which contributed with EUR 9 340 000. According to information given by the Greek
Ministry of National Economy all boats are in full operation and none have been taken out of service. On
the contrary, the operating hours of each boat are reportedly very high. This is apparently also the case for
the boats located in Lesbos.

The prefectures of the Aegean islands have not received Community funds available for migration
management purposes in order to return illegal residents to Turkey.

The Greek authorities have not transmitted to the Commission the text of their readmission agreement
with Turkey. This agreement is not yet in force since ratification by both parliaments is pending.

The Commission has no data available on the returns from Greece to Turkey for the last 11 months.