WRITTEN QUESTION P-1584/03 by Philip Bushill-Matthews (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Unfair subsidies.
Date: 2003-05-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Alsace, State aid, air transport, carrier, chamber of commerce and industry, control of State aid, restriction on competition

C 33 E/138

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 on novel foods
3.
and novel food ingredients (2) provides that food containing, consisting of, or produced from but no longer
containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have to be approved before being placed on the market
in the Community. One of the main criteria for approval is that such food must not present a danger for
the consumer. A Commission proposal for a Regulation on genetically modified food and feed is currently
on its second reading in Parliament (3). The objective of this proposal is, inter alia, to improve the current
approval procedure in Regulation (EC) No 258/97 to make it more efficient and transparent. The criterion
for approval that GM food must not present a danger to human health remains unchanged.

(1) Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 March 2001 on the deliberate release
into the environment of genetically modified organisms and repealing Council Directive 90/220/EEC, OJ L 106,
17.4.2001.

(2) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997.
(3) OJ C 304 E, 30.10.2001.

(2004/C 33 E/136)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1584/03

by Philip Bushill-Matthews (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 May 2003)

Subject: Unfair subsidies

Is the Commission aware that since November 2002, the Strasbourg Chamber of Commerce and the
Lower Rhine has subsidised the air service between London Stansted and Strasbourg by RyanAir to the
extent of EUR 1,7 million in the first year, thereby allowing RyanAir to offer tickets at an artificially low
price? Is the Commission aware that this discriminatory subsidy is driving a competitor, Brit Air, which
was profitable until last year, out of the market? What action will the Commission take, and how soon, to
stamp out this and similar unfair public subsidies to individual private enterprises?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 2003)

The Commission is currently investigating a complaint about advantages granted by Strasbourg airport.
The complaint was registered by the Commission on 16 April 2003 and the author has requested that his
identity be kept confidential.

The Commission will have to decide what action to take on the basis of its analysis pursuant to the
provisions of the EC Treaty on State aid (Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty).

For the record, the Commission has decided to launch a formal
investigation in a case concerning
payments made by an airport and a region to a low-cost company, that relating to the advantages received
by Ryanair in Charleroi (Belgium). The reasons for this investigation have been made public and are
published in the Official Journal of the European Union (1). The Commission will take a decision on this
case on the basis of the information it is currently gathering from the parties concerned and the Belgian
authorities in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 (2).

(1) OJ C 18, 25.1.2003.
(2) Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the

EC Treaty, OJ L 83, 27.3.1999.