WRITTEN QUESTION P-3329/02 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Procedure for examining state aid to Olympic Airways.
Date: 2002-11-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, State aid, air transport, control of State aid

C 155 E/136

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.7.2003

Moreover, the Commission issued a Communication entitled More Research for Europe: Towards 3 % of
GDP (2) on 11 September 2002. The action plan that will follow the Communication will address the issue
of Research and Technological Development (R & D) financing, taking into account the impact of Basel II
on the European economy.

(1) OJ C 240, 6.8.1997.
(2) COM(2002) 499 final.

(2003/C 155 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3320/02

by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Council

(19 November 2002)

Subject: EU competency

the implementation,
Regarding development policy can the European Union implement or support
including with financial assistance, of activities carried out by organisations working in non-EU countries
on matters in which the EU does not have any legal competence?

Reply

(20 February 2003)

The Council would refer the Honourable Member to Articles 3(1)(r) and 177 to 181 of the TEC, which set
out the Community competences in the sphere of development cooperation.

(2003/C 155 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3329/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Procedure for examining state aid to Olympic Airways

(19 November 2002)

In its oral reply of 11 June 2002 to my question (H-0369/02) concerning developments regarding its
investigations into Greek state aid to Olympic Airways, the Commission indicated that its final decision
would follow a detailed examination of observations by the Greek authorities and other interested parties.

Given that the Commission decision is particularly important, not to say critical, to the future of Olympic
Airways and that six months have elapsed since the parties concerned submitted their observations, when
will the Commission formulate its final opinion regarding aid granted to Olympic Airways? Can it
comment on the facts already at its disposal?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2003)

On 6 March 2002, the Commission initiated the formal investigation procedure laid down in Article 88(2)
of the EC Treaty (1) with regard to the possible payment of State aid to the Greek air carrier Olympic
Airways and the potential misuse of aid authorised for it by the Commission in 1998 (2).

On 11 December 2002, the Commission concluded that the aid previously granted by Greece to Olympic
Airways was not compatible with the EC Treaty (3). Olympic Airways had misused the aid authorised by
the Commission in 1994 and 1998 and had also received new unlawful aid. The aid had given Olympic
Airways an unjustifiable advantage over its competitors. The Commission asked the Greek authorities to
recover the incompatible aid granted after 1998.

3.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/137

However, the Commission also decided that other measures taken by Greece in favour of Olympic Airways
did not constitute State aid (4), and consequently had no objections to the EUR 19,5 million loan granted to
Olympic Airways by Greece in February 2002. The Commission was also able to check that the air carrier
had not benefited from advantages associated with the fuel distribution infrastructure and that there was
no aid in the compensation received by Olympic Airways for transferring its operations to the new Spata
airport or in the measure enabling payment of a reduced rate of VAT (8 %) on domestic flights and the
commercial debt to Olympic Catering.

(1) OJ C 98, 23.4.2002.
(2) OJ L 128, 21.5.1999.
(3) Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty.
(4) The procedure for investigating these measures was initiated on 6 March 2002 following two complaints lodged in

October 2000 and July 2001.

(2003/C 155 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3334/02

by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE), Jan Dhaene (Verts/ALE)
and Josu Ortuondo Larrea (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(26 November 2002)

Subject: The Eurovelo Network and Transport TransEuropean Networks (T-TENs) revision

The Commission is supposed to initiate a substantial revision of the Transport TransEuropean Networks
(T-TENs) by 2004. The Eurovelo Network (http://www.ecf.com) is a TransEuropean Cycling Network of
63 505 km through the whole of Europe, with six north-south and six west-east Routes.

Does the Commission intend to take up the Eurovelo Network into the proposal for revision of the T-TENs
in 2004, as this would contribute to the integration of environmental friendliness and intermodality (see
Citizens’ Network) into transport infrastructure policy?

(2003/C 155 E/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3486/02

by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 December 2002)

Subject: T-TENs review

Does the Commission intend to include the EuroVelo Network in the proposal for revision of the T-TENs
in 2004, as this would contribute to the integration of environmental friendliness and intermodality into
transport infrastructure policy?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3334/02 and E-3486/02
given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2003)

The trans-European networks policy is designed to facilitate the establishment of the internal market and,
to this end, focuses on infrastructure which routes traffic over long distances (cid:1) clearly not applicable in
the case of the bicycle. Accordingly, there are no plans to include a Europe-wide network of cycle paths in
the forthcoming review of Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport
network.

On the other hand, as part of the effort to promote clean urban transport and the ‘Civitas initiative’, the
Commission is backing innovatory measures to encourage urban mobility, including the promotion of the
bicycle. The Commission is also currently preparing a thematic strategy on the urban environment, in
accordance with the Sixth Environment Action Programme. Urban transport, which includes cycling, will
be looked at in connection with this work.