WRITTEN QUESTION E-0431/04 by Luigi Vinci (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. European Commission plan for a vertical-takeoff convertiplane.
Date: 2004-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, EU research policy, European undertaking, United States, aeronautical industry, helicopter, international competition, research project

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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.

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(cid:1) This project is already at an advanced stage and the consortium intends to test experimental protoypes

at Cameri military aiport in Piedmont and to apply for preliminary licensing by 2007.

(cid:1) The European Commission has in the past drafted a similar project to build a convertiplane, given

different acronyms such as TILT-ROTOR and ERICA.

Can the Commission indicate:

(cid:1) whether it is true that it has drafted another plan of the same kind with the new acronym FINE TRIP
and with projected costs of between EUR 90 000 million and EUR 100 000 million until 2015 to
build a 10-tonne convertiplane with 20 passenger berths, and that it awarded the contract exclusively
to Agusta-Westland and Eurocopter in 2002;

(cid:1) whether a research and planning contract has therefore already been signed with Agusta and
Eurocopter, although one of these companies is already carrying out a similar project with the
American company Bell-Textron?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2004)

The European rotorcraft industry had already submitted a proposal for a large project on tilt-rotors in the
Fifth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (RTD) (FP5). It was submitted
twice without success. In the meantime, a number of critical technology projects were selected in FP5 that
address basic R & D topics on tilt rotor technology. Depending on the results and potential arising from
ongoing research, there is a possibility that the topic of tilt rotor technology may be included in the work
programme for the third call for proposals, foreseen to be published in May 2005, under the Sixth EU
Framework Programme for RTD (FP6, 2002-2006). If this possibility is confirmed, an estimated overall
budget envelope in the range of EUR 90 to EUR 100 million could be available for this research, up to
50 % coming from the FP6 budget. The European industry is known to be preparing itself in view of this
possibility. No specific reference is made to a tilt rotor development in the current version of the FP6
aeronautics work programme.

There is no contract signed in 2002 between the Commission and Agusta and/or Eurocopter. Furthermore,
the Commission funds projects dealing with research, technology development and concept validation.
Industrial project development is not included among the activities covered by the Framework Programme
of the Commission.

As a point of clarification, it is to be noted that ERICA is an industrial feasibility study (not a European
project as such) carried out jointly by Agusta-Westland and Eurocopter that investigates a different
technological concept from the one BA609 is based upon.

(2004/C 84 E/0458)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0432/04

by Helle Thorning-Schmidt (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: Passive smoking

The Commission has repeatedly stated that passive smoking is a health problem. Much research into the
matter has shown that people who are exposed to passive smoking, particularly at work, can suffer serious
health problems.

Does the Commission agree that passive smoking is not only a health problem but also a problem
associated with the working environment? Will the Commission submit proposals for legislation to protect
workers against the health risks caused by smoking in the work-place? If so, how will the Commission
proceed and what is the timetable for any such measures?