WRITTEN QUESTION E-3285/02 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Impact of enlargement on the EU's steel industry.
Date: 2002-11-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: State aid, accession to the European Union, aid for restructuring, competition law, competition policy, control of State aid, impact study, iron and steel industry

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/45

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(23 December 2002)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that it has received complaints relating to
tobacco products by Spanish authorities from outbound travellers. The Commission is
seizure of
investigating these complaints to ensure that Spanish law and practice are in line with Community single
market law and, in particular, with Council Directive 92/12/EEC of 25 February 1992 on the general
arrangements for products subject to excise duty and on the holding, movement and monitoring of such
products (1).

(1) OJ L 76, 23.3.1992.

(2004/C 11 E/046)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3285/02

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(20 November 2002)

Subject: Impact of enlargement on the EU’s steel industry

Would the Commission clarify how it will respond to concerns about the impact of enlargement on the
EU’s steel industry?

Does the Commission agree that the following points should be resolved satisfactorily:

(cid:1) there must be full transparency on past subsidies;

(cid:1) the competition chapter should not be closed until the Council has approved the restructuring plans

for each country;

(cid:1) after the competition chapter has been closed for each country, the Commission must guarantee that

the applicable state aid acquis will be applied in full;

(cid:1) all state aid must end on accession?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(9 January 2003)

The Commission is fully aware that in some candidate countries restructuring of the steal sector without
delay is crucial so that their industry will be able to withstand the competitive pressures of the internal
market when they enter the Union.

In the framework of the Europe Agreements as well as in the context of the Accession Negotiations, the
Commission has taken, in the course of the last months, initiatives that ensure the continued smooth
operation of the internal market whilst taking into account the specific circumstances in the Candidate
Countries where appropriate.

Particular attention has been given to achieving full transparency regarding subsidies given in the past by
the Candidate Countries.

The Commission and the Council will closely monitor the implementation of the commitments undertaken
by the Candidate Countries regarding the restructuring of the steel industry before and after accession, and
up until
the
restructuring stays on track to viability so that the steel sectors in the countries in question can survive on
market conditions without State Aid.

the end of the restructuring period. The monitoring will be designed to ensure that

The negotiations have been concluded with the 10 Accession Countries which are foreseen to enter the
Union on 1 May 2004. Negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania continue on the competition chapter.

The Commission is closely monitoring the applicable State Aid acquis to ensure that it will be fully
implemented well before accession.