WRITTEN QUESTION E-0589/04 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Enlargement of an airport in the administrative and political capital of Spain: use of Cohesion Fund monies granted to Spain for extending infrastructure in Madrid.
Date: 2004-02-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cohesion Fund, Spain, airport

C 84 E/634

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Posts can be filled under Article 29(2) of the Staff Regulations only if the possibilities for internal
2.
recruitment, i.e. from the European Institutions, have been fully assessed and the Commission confirms
that this requirement will continue to be scrupulously observed. Simultaneous publication both internally
(Article 29(1)) and externally (Article 29(2)) is exceptional and done periodically solely in the interests of
not delaying the recruitment procedure when there is a significant probability that suitable candidates are
to be found outside the Institution (for example when specialised profiles are required). Using such a
facility does not compromise adherence to the principle that
the
Commission) examines the internal applications before the external applications.

the appointing authority (i.e.

In its Communication of 18 February 2004, the Commission indicated the numbers and nature of
3.
the A1, A2 and middle management posts to be reserved for nationals of the new Member States.
Additional posts have been granted by the budget authority and the expectations of serving officials will,
consequently, not be negatively affected.

The Commission has always upheld the principle of reserving for nationals of acceding countries a number
of posts that is the same as the additional number received by the Institution so that post-enlargement
needs can be met. This approach allows smooth integration of officials from the new Member States and
ensures that serving officials are not disadvantaged.

(1) SEC(2004) 217/2.
(2)
IP/04/2009.

(2004/C 84 E/0712)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0589/04

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

(26 February 2004)

Subject: Enlargement of an airport in the administrative and political capital of Spain: use of Cohesion

Fund monies granted to Spain for extending infrastructure in Madrid

The Spanish Prime Minister, José María Aznar, has just inaugurated the civil engineering works to enlarge
Madrid airport. There will be a new terminal, and new runways. The final budget is EUR 2 440 million,
and the new facilities will be operational in 2005. The Spanish Government is seeking to make this airport
one of the largest and most attractive in Europe. This extraordinary amount of investment is being made
today, already centralises and even monopolises Spanish air traffic. This new
in an airport which,
investment highlights once again the fact that the Spanish capital receives economic benefits from the
Spanish Government on such a scale that the business world, political and economic decision-making, and
even Spain’s entire land and air traffic are concentrated in it.

Does the Commission know whether money from the Community Cohesion Fund is being used in
extending the airport? If so, what percentage of the monies from the Cohesion Fund assigned to the
Spanish State has been or will be used in this airport? More generally, what percentage of grants to Spain
from the Cohesion Fund have been or are scheduled to be used within the Madrid autonomous
community?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 2004)

So far the only Madrid-Barajas Airport extension project that we have approved (by a decision of
24 December 2002)
is for construction of the INTRA automated people mover system for the new
terminal area. The eligible costs are EUR 98 040 921 and the contribution from the Fund is
EUR 41 177 186 (42 %). No part-financing from the European Regional Development Fund has been
granted for the airport under the single programming document Objective 2 Madrid 2000-2006.

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/635

The national authorities are responsible for selecting and submitting projects for Cohesion Fund part-
financing to us. We examine them using the criteria set in Article 10 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1164/
94 of 16 May 1994 establishing a Cohesion Fund (1). These criteria do not include location. In the Official
Journal references have been given for the decisions for 2000 (2), 2001 (3) and 2002 (4) granting Cohesion
Fund assistance to Spain. Those for 2003 will be published this year.

(1) OJ L 130, 25.5.1994.
(2) OJ C 361, 17.12.2001.
(3) OJ C 126, 28.5.2002.
(4) OJ C 123, 24.5.2003.

(2004/C 84 E/0713)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0592/04

by Helle Thorning-Schmidt (PSE) to the Commission

(26 February 2004)

Subject: Aid to stud farms

What is the Commission’s position on Irish state aid to stud farms? In Ireland, there is no tax on
‘nomination fees’ which a stud farm owner receives when a stallion impregnates a mare. The opposite is
the case in Denmark, which gives Irish stud farms a competitive advantage over the other Member States.

Will the Commission say whether Irish practice in this respect is consistent with EU competition and state
aid rules?

(2004/C 84 E/0714)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0610/04

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 March 2004)

Subject: Irish stud farms

Would the Commission comment on the issue of tax breaks given by the Irish Government to stud farms?
Each year Irish stud farms earn from the ‘nomination fees’ that an owner receives when a stallion
impregnates a mare, and yet pay nothing in tax. This gives them a major advantage over British stud
farms, resulting in lost revenue and jobs in the UK.

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0592/04 and E-0610/04
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(2 April 2004)

The Commission has received a formal complaint in this matter and is investigating the issue. Before the
investigation has been finalized, the Commission is not in a position to indicate whether the scheme is
compatible with the EC Treaty.