WRITTEN QUESTION E-0428/04 by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission. The future of publicly-owned regional airports in the light of the recent decision on Charleroi Airport, in Belgium, and Ryanair.
Date: 2004-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, State aid, airport, charges for use of infrastructure, control of State aid, impact study, restriction on competition

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/393

agreed to delete from paragraph 1(c) of Article 16 the possibility to grant financial compensation to the
processing industry in general ‘where it depends for its supply on a resource covered by a recovery plan
and where imports cannot compensate for the reduced supply’.

(1) OJ L 339, 24.12.2003.
(2) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.
(3) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002.

(2004/C 84 E/0455)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0422/04

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: High-speed Lubian to Orense rail link giving central access to Galicia

The Spanish Government has just announced the changing of the route of the Lubian-Orense high-speed
link in Galicia, which is now to have a double electric track. The modification raises the cost of this line to
EUR 1 608 million. Has the Spanish Government submitted a request for funding for this line? What is the
deadline for the whole of the line to be completed?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2004)

The section of high-speed rail line between Lubián and Orense is not part of the current trans-European
rail network (TEN-T) defined in 1996 (1). Work on this section of rail line is therefore not being funded
from the TEN-T budget; nor has funding been received from the ERDF or the Cohesion Fund.

The section of high-speed rail line between Lubián and Orense is however included in the Commission’s
proposals in the current revision of the Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European
‘High-speed rail interoperability on the Iberian
transport network. It forms part of priority project 19,
peninsula’. When the revised guidelines, including project 19, are adopted by Parliament and the Council,
the section of high-speed rail line between Lubián and Orense will be eligible for Community support from
the TEN-T budget.

According to information received from the Spanish representative in the High-Level Group on the trans-
European transport network chaired by Karel Van Miert, the section will be completed in 2010.

(1) Decision No 1692/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines

for the development of the trans-European transport network, OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.

(2004/C 84 E/0456)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0428/04

by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: The future of publicly-owned regional airports in the light of the recent decision on Charleroi

Airport, in Belgium, and Ryanair

In light of the recent Commission decision on Charleroi Airport and Ryanair, can the Commission
indicate:

1. How publicly-owned airports can now compete with large privately-owned airports in attracting

traffic and new routes?

C 84 E/394

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

2. Has the Commission received any response from publicly-owned regional airports to this decision in

regard to Charleroi and, if so, what is that response?

3. Has any economic impact assessment been done on both the fare levels that will now operate from
publicly-owned airports as a result of this decision and the effect on regional development in and
around this type of airport?

4. Will the Commission be considering new proposals in regard to the whole area of airport fees and

charges?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(29 March 2004)

It is for every airport, whether public or private, to decide how to best pit its strengths with competing
airports. In any case, such competition should not be distorted through the granting of aid by a Member
State or through State resources in any form.

In order to develop a comprehensive approach to competition between airports in general and the
application of State aid rules in particular, the Commission, in 2002, has had a study carried out on this
subject. This study can be retrieved from the Commission’s website: (www.europa.eu.int/comm/transport/
air/rules/index_en.htm). Taking into account the results of this study and recent cases, guidelines will be
developed on the application of the Community rules on State aid to airports and air carriers operating at
those airports.

The Commission has not received reactions in writing from any regional airport.

The decision in question was based on a complaint about the particular situation at Charleroi airport and
the particular advantages granted to Ryanair which had to be examined on the basis of the relevant
provisions on State aid of the EC Treaty. Therefore, the Commission has not carried out a general
economic impact analysis on the level of tariffs (or airport charges) to be applied to public airports as a
result of the Commission decision of 3 February 2004 on Ryanair’s operations at Charleroi airport.
An analysis on the effect of the decision on regional development in and around this type of airport was
not necessary as the decision encourages, under certain conditions, agreements between regional airports
and low-cost air carriers which lead to better use of under-used airports, help to solve problems of air
transport congestion and give EU citizens more choice.

In any case, a new initiative for a Directive on airport charges is in the Commission’s Work Programme for
2004. It is recalled that two previous initiatives were not adopted by the Council (1).

(1) OJ C 147, 16.6.1990 and OJ C 257, 22.8.1997.

(2004/C 84 E/0457)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0431/04

by Luigi Vinci (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: European Commission plan for a vertical-takeoff convertiplane

Considering that:

(cid:1) Agusta-Westland, an Italian-British joint venture, and Eurocopter, a Franco-German joint venture, are
the leading European companies in the aeronautical sector, more specifically in the construction of
helicopters.

(cid:1) Agusta-Westland signed an agreement three years ago with the American company Bell-Textron to
design and build a vertical-takeoff convertiplane, the BA609, using expertise provided by Bell-Boeing,
who are in the process of producing a similar model for military use.