L 200/162
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
29.7.2022
2.3.1.
The prolongation of the initial Convention between Laziomar and Italy
2.3.1.1.
T h e pu b l i c s e r v i ce ob li g a t ion s (41)
Article 1 of the initial Convention with Caremar provided for five-year plans to detail the ports to be served, the type of vessels to be used and the required frequency of the service entrusted to Caremar (and subsequently to Laziomar following the transfer of the Pontine routes to the Region of Lazio on 1 June 2011).
(42)
According to Italy, the last five-year plan for Caremar (at the time) formally approved is the one relating to the period 2000–2004, whereas a plan for the period 2005–2008 was drawn up but never formally approved by the competent ministries.
Instead, ad hoc decisions have been taken by the government with a view to bringing the services more closely into line with the needs of the local communities, without however making substantive changes to the public service system.
(43)
Based on the initial Convention, as prolonged, with subsequent legal acts mentioned in recitals 26 to 33, Laziomar operated the following routes all year round: — On the Ponza – Formia route (Line T1) Laziomar operated the only connection to this line.
It ensured two daily connections providing mixed services (passengers, vehicles and goods).
The vessel, leaving the island at 5.30 a.m. guaranteed the residents the connection with the mainland for study and work reasons with the last return at 17.30 p.m.; — On the Ponza – Formia route (Line A2); Laziomar operated also the only high-speed passenger service with one daily connection and maintained the vessel on the island overnight; — On the Anzio – Ponza route (Line A1) Laziomar ensured a daily high-speed passenger service in the high season from Monday to Saturday.
The service was however increased on Sundays and holidays and was justified on social and economic development grounds (in particular because tourism is basically the only source of income of the island).
One competitor, Vetor, also operated on the same line a high-speed passenger service during the high season; — On the Ventotene – Formia route (Line T2) Laziomar ensured all year round a daily service using a mixed vessel.
The mixed service was the only regular connection for transport of passengers, vehicles and goods all year round; — On the Ventotene – Formia route (Line A3) Laziomar operated also the only high-speed connection.
It departed at 6.45 a.m., thus enabling the residents to travel to the mainland for professional or study reasons, and remained overnight on the island to ensure permanence in case of a medical emergency.
2.3.1.2.
B ud g et a n d d u ra ti on (44)
Table 2 shows the annual compensation paid to Laziomar by Italy for the period 2011–2013: Table 2 Compensation granted for 2011–2013 (EUR) Year
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Compensation paid (EUR)
2011
8 601 187
2012
13 780 506
2013
12 696 006
The initial Convention provides for the annual public service compensation to be paid as follows: an initial advance payment is made in March of each year, equivalent to 70 % of the compensation paid the previous year.
A second payment, made in June, is equal to 20 % of the compensation.
The difference between the amounts paid and the