WRITTEN QUESTION No. 148/98 by Graham MATHER to the Commission. Telecoms liberalization (accounting rates charged by dominant operators)
9. 10. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 310/27 Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (6 April 1998) The action (C-239/96R) which the United Kingdom filed against the Commission challenges the legality of certain spending on budget line B3-4103. On 24 September 1996, the President of the Court of Justice granted interim relief to the United Kingdom, which allowed for commitments to be made but required payments to be frozen until the judgment. Following that interim order of the President of the Court, applications for funding were evaluated and the selection of projects deserving support was concluded. Successful applicants were informed of the conditions fixed by the Court of Justice and invited to sign an agreement on those conditions. No payments have yet been made pursuant to any of these agreements, since the Court has not yet delivered its final judgment. Having regard to this uncertain situation, most applicants have delayed implementation of the projects concerned. As a result of the pending Court of justice case, no new commitment credits were allocated to the concerned budget line during 1997. The budget line concerning the elderly, although affected by a similar Court case, did receive fresh commitment credits in 1997 which have also been allocated conditionally until the final judgement is known. No other budget lines are affected. (98/C 310/30) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0146/98 by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission (2 February 1998) Subject: Dresser-Rand Is the Commission aware that the Dresser-Rand Company based in Wythenshawe, United Kingdom, is to transfer its production to Le Havre in France with the loss of 300 jobs from an ERDF Objective 2 area? Can the Commission investigate whether this move resulted from illegal subsidies or sweeteners paid to the company by the French authorities? Supplementary answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (16 April 1998) After being contacted by the Commission, the French authorities assured it that they were so far unaware of any plans to grant aid for the transfer by Dresser-Rand of its reciprocating compressor production activities from Wythenshawe to Le Havre, where production is already carried out. Moreover, if any aid were envisaged, the French authorities have undertaken to inform the Commission of the details. The Commission would then be sure to ascertain whether the Community rules on state aid were being complied with and to inform the Honourable Member of its conclusions. (98/C 310/31) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0148/98 by Graham Mather (PPE) to the Commission (2 February 1998) Subject: Telecoms liberalization (accounting rates charged by dominant operators) On 19 December 1997, the Commission announced an investigation into the cost orientation of accounting rates charged by dominant operators, based on Article 86 of the Treaty and Directive 97/33/EC (1)