WRITTEN QUESTION E-1493/03 by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission. Invitations to tender and the Bornholm ferry route.
Date: 2003-05-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Denmark, Hovedstaden (region), competition law, contract, ferryboat, freedom to provide services, invitation to tender, maritime cabotage, maritime transport, public service

26.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/99

Finally, in reply to the last question put by the Honourable Member, the Commission has in fact
3.
presented to the Council a proposed amendment to Regulation No 1258/99 on the financing of the CAP
extending from 24 to 36 months the period during which adjustment of expenditure can be applied.
The Council bodies examined this proposal, most recently on 7/8 October 2002, and were unable to agree
to it.

(2004/C 51 E/110)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1493/03

by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission

(2 May 2003)

Subject: Invitations to tender and the Bornholm ferry route

The Danish government has issued a proposal to invite tenders for the future ferry service to the Danish
island of Bornholm. One reason the government gives for its proposal is that EU rules require Denmark to
open up ferry and other services to competition.

Which article of which regulation or directive requires Denmark to issue an invitation to tender for the
ferry service to Bornholm? I should like a definitive answer as to the conditions under which subsidies can
be granted to ferry and transport services to island regions such as Bornholm.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 2003)

Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3577/92 of 7 December 1992 applying the principle of freedom
to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime cabotage) (1) stipulates that a
Member State may conclude public service contracts with shipping companies participating in regular
services to, from and between its islands. The same Article provides that whenever a Member State
concludes public service contracts,
it must do so on a non-discriminatory basis in respect of all
Community shipowners.

To ensure that this principle is observed, the Community guidelines on State aid to maritime transport (2)
stipulate that reimbursement of operating losses incurred as a result of fulfilling public service obligations
need not be notified to the Commission provided that the authorities concerned organise a public tender,
that the successful tender is, in principle, the one requiring the lowest financial compensation and that
such compensation is limited to covering operating losses incurred as a result of fulfilling the public
service.

These rules were designed for transport to/from/between islands of the same Member State.

(1) OJ L 364, 12.12.1992.
(2) OJ C 205, 5.7.1997.

(2004/C 51 E/111)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1496/03

by Florence Kuntz (EDD) to the Council

(24 April 2003)

Subject: Safeguarding the Iraqi archaeological heritage

The bombs that have been raining down on Mesopotamia since 20 March and the destruction and looting
of the Baghdad Archaeological Museum remind us that Iraq’s archaeological heritage has since 1991 been
in peril.

Apart from the destruction of archaeological sites during the Gulf War there has been the looting, the
departure of foreign archaeological missions, the abandonment of digs and trafficking with the West in
stolen property.