WRITTEN QUESTION No. 731/98 by Sören WIBE to the Commission. Negotiations on transport subsidies to Volvo in northern Sweden
9. 10. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 310/119 to later checks. The Commission was given a solemn assurance that the finalised level of milk production for the two periods in question would be notified as soon as possible. It should be pointed out that, should final figures not be supplied, the Commission cannot fulfil a Member Stateís obligations for it. The Commission does not share the opinion of the Honourable Members. Since 1992, the Commission has 2. been following the evolution of the quota system in Italy very closely. The volume of correspondence and numerous inspection visits are proof of this. The outcome was several amendments to [national] Law No 468/92 of 26 November 1992. When the national legislation was found not to be in conformity with Community law, the Commission reacted with all the means at its disposal. In particular, the Commission started two infringement procedures against Italy, the first on 9 March 1995 and the second on 12 January 1998. Under the latter, the Commission decided on 25 March 1998 to send Italy a reasoned opinion. The Commission also reduced its advances on agricultural expenditure each time Italy failed to comply with the deadline for payment of the levies due to the Community. The Commission has never made a formal proposal in the Council on the use of tracers in skimmed-milk 3. powder. (1) OJ L 57, 10. 3. 1993. (98/C 310/158) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0731/98 by So¤ren Wibe (PSE) to the Commission (18 March 1998) Subject: Negotiations on transport subsidies to Volvo in northern Sweden The Commission and the Swedish Government have been involved in negotiations on the rules for government transport subsidies for a considerable time now. The Commission has been particularly critical of the transport subsidies to the Volvo plant in Umeå. Many people in Umeå are reliant on a positive outturn to the negotiations. When can an outcome to the negotiations be expected? Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (16 April 1998) The Honourable Member refers to negotiations between the Commission and the Swedish government concerning the regional transport aid and, in particular, to the transport aid granted to Volvoís plant in Umeå. The Commission initiated a formal investigation procedure pursuant to Article 93(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the transport aid to Volvoís Umeå plant in September 1997. The Swedish government was informed of the Commissionís enquiry by letter dated 30 September 1997. In the course of the procedure, the Commission concluded that the aid in question qualified as an existing aid. Consequently, the procedure provided under Article 93(2) of the EC Treaty is not appropriate, but instead the procedure under Article 93(1) should have been used and appropriate measures taken. In this context, by letter dated 3 March 1998, Sweden accepted to take certain measures that had been suggested to it, which represent conditions to the application of the transport aid scheme to Volvo Truck Corporation in Umeå. On 25 March 1998, the Commission therefore decided to close the Article 93(2) procedure and to accept that the measures that Sweden is to take constitute sufficient appropriate measures under Article 93(1)