WRITTEN QUESTION E-2888/03 by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission. Island flights — declaration of public service.
Date: 2003-09-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Balearic Islands, air transport, airline, airport, carrier, intra-EU transport, provision of services, services of general interest

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/155

(2004/C 70 E/161)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2888/03

by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 September 2003)

Subject: Island flights (cid:1) declaration of public service

For many European citizens, air transport to the Balearic Islands means a holiday trip. For the inhabitants
of the islands, however, it is a vital necessity, providing access to the mainland.

As laid down in Article 4 of EU Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 (1), ‘A Member State, following consultations
with the other Member States concerned and after having informed the Commission and air carriers
operating on the route, may impose a public service obligation in respect of scheduled air services to an
airport serving a peripheral or development region in its territory or on a thin route to any regional
airport in its territory, any such route being considered vital for the economic development of the region
in which the airport is located, to the extent necessary to ensure on that route adequate provision of
scheduled air services satisfying fixed standards of continuity, regularity, capacity and pricing, which
standards air carriers would not assume if they were solely considering their commercial interest’.

Does the Commission believe there could be any impediment to the Spanish Government’s agreeing to
declare flights from the airports of Menorca, Eivissa and Palma to the Iberian Peninsula, as being flights of
public interest?

(1) OJ L 240, 24.8.1992, p. 8.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(11 November 2003)

The expediency of introducing public service obligations (PSOs), in accordance with the criteria laid down
in Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air carriers
to intra-Community air routes, is a matter for the Member State concerned. Pursuant to Article 4(3), the
Commission cannot assess whether PSOs which have already been imposed are in conformity with the
Regulation until it has examined the information supplied by the Member State concerned.

(2004/C 70 E/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2890/03

by Anne Jensen (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 September 2003)

Subject: Aid to factories in the former GDR

Danish suppliers of spring water are currently complaining that there is distortion of competition on the
European market owing to the fact that factories located in the former GDR (cid:1) including Harboe
Bryggerier A/S (cid:1) are receiving aid from public resources. This aid makes it possible to send goods in over
the nearest borders at very low prices.

What forms of aid schemes were set up for factories in the former GDR in connection with reconstruction
and does the Commission know what aid the firm in question, Harboe Bryggerier A/S, has received?

In the case in point, does the Commission accept the terms on which the aid is provided or are there
problems in relation to current rules on state aid?