WRITTEN QUESTION E-0878/04 by Antonio Di Pietro (ELDR) to the Commission. The Acque Albule water company of Tivoli (Italy).
Date: 2004-03-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, State aid, collective dismissal, control of State aid, privatisation, share capital

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/547

The Commission, through its delegation in Nigeria, works in dialogue with the Nigerian authorities and
will continue to support and improve polio eradication programmes in the region. The Commission is
aware that the recent outbreak of polio in northern Nigeria that has spread to other African nations is
causing a major setback for the international polio-eradication campaign co-ordinated by the global
partnership to eradicate polio. It is to be noted that President Obasanjo is committed to eradicating the
polio virus in Nigeria before the global target date of 2005. Despite this there is evidence of suspended
vaccination campaigns in Northern Nigeria enabling the virus to spread. To the Commission’s knowledge,
this position occurs in Nigeria only and it would expect that successful implementation of vaccination
programmes in the region as a whole will convince the authorities of the importance of resuming the
programmes. In fact the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), at its last summit in October 2003
in Malaysia, adopted a resolution to eradicate polio from all its Member States. Currently, 52 of the OIC’s
57 members are polio free.

The World Health Organisation and the global partnership to eradicate polio, as the implementing bodies,
work with specific technical questions such as the possibility of presence of oestrogen in vaccines.

(2004/C 88 E/0557)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0878/04

by Antonio Di Pietro (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 March 2004)

Subject: The Acque Albule water company of Tivoli (Italy)

The Acque Albule water company administers thermal springs which have been known and highly
regarded since antiquity. The Tivoli municipal authority (cid:1) which has been the company’s sole shareholder
since December 2001 (cid:1) has recently disposed of 40 % of the company’s capital to a private group on the
alleged grounds that it intends to recapitalise the company. That operation has been declared irregular and
the Italian national auditing body has identified serious
void by a court
irregularities in the company’s accounts. Acque Albule’s shares seem to have been greatly undervalued
and the operation was carried out with a total lack of transparency (cid:1) the valuation document was not
even made public. Despite the contractual undertakings given by the new private company and despite the
injection of considerable public funding, virtually all of the company’s staff have been made redundant. It
has recently been reported in the press that Acque Albule has considered issuing debenture bonds, to add
to the benefit it derives from the public aid to which it is not entitled.

in Rome. Furthermore,

What action does the Commission intend to take in response to the fact that a sizeable amount of public
property has been disposed of in a most untransparent fashion, to the fact that there has recently been a
public issue of debenture bonds for which appropriate guarantees have not, apparently, been provided, and
to the fact that the large amounts of public aid which were granted to the company for the purpose of
compensating the workforce for any losses suffered have obviously not (cid:1) in view of the fact that staff
have been made redundant (cid:1) been used in order to preserve jobs?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 2004)

The issue of whether the sale of public property below its value may contain an element of State aid in
favour of the buyers is dealt with (cid:1) as regards sales of land and buildings (cid:1) in the Commission
Communication on State aid elements in sales of land and buildings by public authorities, published in the
Official Journal of the European Union (1).

C 88 E/548

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

In the Communication it is stated that:

A sale of land and buildings following a sufficiently well-publicised, open and unconditional bidding
procedure, comparable to an auction, accepting the best or only bid is by definition at market value
and consequently does not contain State aid.

and

If public authorities intend not to use the procedure described … [above], an independent evaluation
should be carried out by one or more independent asset valuers prior to the sale negotiations in order
to establish the market value on the basis of generally accepted market indicators and valuation
standards. The market price thus established is the minimum purchase price that can be agreed
without granting State aid.

The above principles might also be relevant in assessing sales of other types of public assets.

In view of the information provided, the Commission intends to address a letter to the Italian authorities
requesting information, in order to gather further elements, both in relation to other aspects of the case,
and to assess the possible presence of State aid.

(1) OJ C 209, 10.7.1997.

(2004/C 88 E/0558)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0889/04

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(22 March 2004)

Subject: Elections in Iran

The recent elections in Iran were a travesty of democracy. Most of the independent candidates were
disqualified by the religious council, demonstrating once again that
is all-powerful. Despite this
intervention, the elections nonetheless went ahead. This shows that the so-called reformists in Iran have
achieved nothing.

it

The European Commission has defended dialogue with Iran as a means of promoting human rights and
democracy.

What conclusions does the Commission draw from recent events as far as dialogue with the Iranian
authorities is concerned?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(28 April 2004)

In its February 2004 conclusions, the Council expressed its deep regret and disappointment that large
numbers of candidates were discriminated against in their prevention from standing in the 20 February
2004 parliamentary elections in Iran. The Council expressed the hope that Iran would return to the path
of reform and democratisation.

The Commission shares the above sentiment and believes that the flawed elections had a negative impact
on the overall climate in the EU’s relations with Iran. Further reflection and analysis is needed to calibrate
the precise approach towards Iran against the background of this setback in the democratic process. The
Commission nevertheless continues to believe that a re-establishment of the Comprehensive Dialogue is in
the EU’s interest. It notes, inter alia, that the specific Human Rights dialogue launched in December 2002
has yielded some small yet tangible results and believes that (cid:1) despite its difficulties (cid:1) it should be given a
further opportunity.