WRITTEN QUESTION P-2844/03 by Isabelle Caullery (UEN) to the Commission. Aid for low-cost airlines.
Date: 2003-09-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: State aid, Walloon region (Belgium), air transport, airport, control of State aid, management, transportation tariff

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/147

(2004/C 70 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2844/03

by Isabelle Caullery (UEN) to the Commission

(18 September 2003)

Subject: Aid for low-cost airlines

Bearing in mind the various forms of aid received by low-cost airlines (reductions, rebates and other
subsidies), can the Commission outline its position and say what stage has been reached in its investigation
into management practices at Charleroi airport?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 2003)

The investigation launched by the Commission on 11 December 2002 is intended to determine whether
or not the benefits granted by the Walloon Region and the airport managing company (BSCA) to Ryanair
when it set up at Charleroi in April 2001 (reductions on landing charges, coverage of costs of Ryanair’s
staff, coverage of marketing expenses, financial incentives whenever a new route is opened, etc.) can be
considered to be State aid and, if they are, whether or not these benefits are compatible with the common
market.

The numerous comments received from interested parties (a dozen in total mainly from airlines and
private airport operators), Ryanair and the Belgian authorities are being considered by the Commission.

(2004/C 70 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2848/03

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 September 2003)

Subject: Implementation of Directive 2000/53/EC

Under Directive 2000/53/EC (1) on end-of life vehicles, Member States shall take the necessary measures to
ensure that all end-of life vehicles are transferred to authorised treatment facilities to be stored and
processed in accordance with national and Community rules on public health and the environment.

Can the Commission say whether the above Directive has been incorporated into national law in Greece?
To what extent have the competent Greek authorities set up databases on end-of life vehicles and their
treatment, as required by the Directive?

(1) OJ L 269, 21.10.2000, p. 34.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(21 October 2003)

Article 10(1) of Directive 2000/53/EC (1) required Member States to bring into force the laws,
1.
regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the Directive by 21 April 2002 and to
inform the Commission thereof immediately. Greece having failed to notify the Commission of its national
measures transposing the Directive within the set time limit, the Commission instituted infringement
proceedings in accordance with Article 226 of the EC Treaty.

The Greek authorities failed to reply either to the letter of formal notice or to the reasoned opinion.
Accordingly, as Greece had not brought into force all the laws, regulations and administrative provisions
necessary to comply with Directive 2000/53/EC, the Commission decided to refer the matter to the Court
of Justice. The action is pending before the Court (Case C-246/2003).