WRITTEN QUESTION E-1024/04 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Olympic Airways.
Date: 2004-04-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, State aid, air transport, control of State aid, demerger, labour law, transfer of businesses, transport company

C 84 E/930

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

from reassuring, since demand is set to increase in the coming years. At the same time China is drastically
reducing the export of coke needed to fuel foundries. The emergency is in particular adversely affecting
machine shops, wire-drawing, small metal products, turning shops, carpenters, electricians and plumbers.

Can the Commission say:

(cid:1) whether it has assessed the consequences of this emergency and the grave difficulties it is causing and
will continue to cause on the market, with incalculable threats to employment and the European
economy, specifically in northern Italy;

(cid:1) whether, in order to avoid these undesirable consequences, it considers that the expediency of quota

restrictions should be assessed;

(cid:1) what other steps it might propose to avoid the worst and prevent the closure of many small

businesses?

Reply by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2004)

The Commission keeps a close eye on developments in the world markets for steel, non-ferrous metals and
the raw materials needed for their production, and on the impact that the growing demand for these
products in Asia has on the markets and prices for these products in the countries of the European Union.
The steel and metals industries are particularly affected at present by the parallel increases in the prices of
all the raw materials they need, including in particular scrap, coke and ferro alloys.

The Community is a major producer of steel and metals, and at times like these, with rocketing world
demand and prices, all operators need to be careful about the scale of their purchases and stocks so as to
minimise the impact of their increasing financial exposure on the activities of their businesses. The metal
industry and all its downstream production and distribution operators alike are faced with this necessity,
but, of these, it is the small businesses that see their capacity for negotiation weakened compared with the
major customers. It would seem, therefore, that the Community market is not so much faced with a
problem of raw-materials supply as with considerable price pressure.

If this situation were to continue, small businesses that use metals would indeed be at risk. Over the last
few weeks, however, there has been a significant slackening in demand from Asia, which has an immediate
impact on world price levels. Even if we cannot draw any conclusions at this stage, this is an encouraging
sign.

The Commission can assure the Honourable Member that it will continue to keep a close eye on
developments in the metals market and use any means at its disposal to react to any imbalances that are
likely to lead to a genuine shortage.

(2004/C 84 E/1028)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1024/04

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 April 2004)

Subject: Olympic Airways

The Greek press has reported that, in the next few days, the Commission will bring an action against
Greece before the European Court of Justice for providing unlawful State subsidies to Olympic Airways
(OA). According to the reports, there are reasons to suppose that illegal subsidies were paid during the
process of dividing OA into two and the attempt to privatise Olympic Airlines as well as during the
process of collecting and allocating the passenger levy for the construction of the new airport at Spata.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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In its answer to my question (E-2837/03 (1)) concerning the safeguarding of OA workers’ rights following
the creation of the new company ‘Olympic Airlines’, the Commission stated that it would investigate the
matter and inform us of its findings.

In the light of the foregoing, can the Commission elaborate on its legal arguments pertaining to unlawful
subsidies? What are the findings (answer to question E-2837/03) of the investigation into the safeguarding
of the rights of the workers being transferred to the new company and those remaining with the old
company, in accordance with Articles 3 and 4 of Directive 98/50/EC (2)?

(1) OJ C 58 E, 6.3.2004, p. 206.
(2) OJ L 201, 17.7.1998, p. 88.

Answer given by Mr Dimas on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 2004)

The Honourable Member is asked to refer to the supplementary answer given by the Commission to his
written question E-2837/03 (1).

(1) OJ C 58 E, 6.3.2004.

(2004/C 84 E/1029)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1026/04

by Joachim Wuermeling (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Axle weighing of HGVs at the German-Czech border

(26 March 2004)

With enlargement to the East, all checks at the Union’s internal borders will be abolished, including checks
on individuals. However, when I visited the Schirnding border crossing I was told that the Czech
Government intends to continue with the weighing of HGVs, in particular axle weighing. This would result
in considerable waiting times at the border crossing, hence undermining one of the tangible advantages of
enlargement, namely an end to lengthy delays at borders.

1.

Is the Commission aware of the Czech Government’s intentions in this matter?

2. Would the continuation of this practice be compatible with the obligations of membership of the
European Union?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 2004)

Article 3 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4060/89 of 21 December 1989 on the elimination of controls
performed at the frontiers of Member States in the field of road and inland waterway transport (1) stipulates
that controls performed pursuant to Community or national law in the fields of road and inland waterway
transport between Member States must no longer be performed as frontier-control but solely as part of the
normal control procedures applied in a non-discriminatory fashion throughout the territory of a Member
State.

Annex V to the Treaty of Accession, dealing with transitional measures applicable to the Czech Republic,
makes no provision for a temporary derogation from this rule. For the Czech Republic to continue
applying systematic border controls after it joins the Union, as the Honourable Member indicates, would
not therefore appear to be compatible with Community law if confirmed as such.