WRITTEN QUESTION P-0124/03 by Seán Ó Neachtain (UEN) to the Commission. Special tax designated areas and the west of Ireland.
Date: 2003-01-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Ireland, State aid, control of State aid, derogation from EU law, fiscal policy, industrial free zone, less-favoured region, regional aid, rural development, tax system

21.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 280 E/37

(2003/C 280 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0124/03

by Seán Ó Neachtain (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Special tax designated areas and the west of Ireland

(21 January 2003)

Will the Commission state what its position is on the designation of new special tax areas in general and,
in particular, taking into account the very positive advantages that have been experienced in such specially
designated tax areas in urban locations, will the Commission state if it will support the designation of new
special tax areas in remote rural areas such as the west of Ireland with a view to helping such communities
to develop their economies and create important employment opportunities?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(13 February 2003)

Special tax areas are likely to involve State aid in the meaning of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty. In the case
of fiscal advantages not linked to the creation of jobs or to investment or to other purposes recognised as
presenting a Community interest, it would involve operating aid, which is in principle incompatible with
the common market and is only exceptionally considered compatible under very strict conditions in some
specific areas eligible for assistance under Article 87(1)(a) or 87(1)(c) (1). Where such a link does exist, the
Commission does not exclude the possibility that such a new policy measure, as outlined by the
Honourable Member, could be considered to be compatible with the common market, or might even be
exempted from notification pursuant to one of the Commission Exemption Regulations (2). However, on
the basis of the information provided, and in the absence of a formal notification pursuant to Article 88,
paragraph 3 of the EC Treaty, or of a formal
information pursuant to the transparency requirements
included in the above-mentioned exemption regulations, the Commission is unable to pronounce itself.

As to Ireland, the Regional Aid Map for the period 2000-2006 for Ireland provides that the ‘Border,
Midlands and Western (BMW) region’ qualifies entirely for assistance under the Article 87(3)(a) derogation
and the rest of Ireland: South-East, Mid-West, South-West, Mid-East and Dublin qualifies for assistance
under Article 87(3)(c). Any notified regional scheme for the West of Ireland would be examined by the
Commission according to the Regional Aid Map for Ireland and the regions under the derogation, as well
as to the ceilings on the intensity of aid for initial investment or the aid for job creation approved for each
region.

(1) See Guidelines on national regional aid (cid:1) OJ C 74, 10.3.1998, and its amendments (cid:1) OJ C 258, 9.9.2000.
(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2204/2002 of 12 December 2002 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the
EC Treaty to State aid for employment (cid:1) OJ L 337, 13.12.2002. Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of
12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized
enterprises (cid:1) OJ L 10, 13.1.2001.

(2003/C 280 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0133/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(28 January 2003)

Subject: Portuguese on Euronews

On 20 November 2002 I tabled a priority written question on the above subject (cid:1) P-3364/02 (1).

In that question, I expressed concern at recent press reports (cid:1) which do not appear to have been denied
(cid:1) that 16 Portuguese members of staff responsible for Portuguese-language Euronews broadcasts were
about to be dismissed. Apart from the social
it would jeopardise the
broadcasting of Euronews in Portuguese, and it appeared that such broadcasts would cease in the near
future.

issues raised by such action,