WRITTEN QUESTION E-2682/99 by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission. Decision on an unresolved case concerning state aids.
8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/191 against the decisions of a supervisory authority is possible before the courts is left to Member States. The proposed directive does however contain guidance on how to police cross-border take over bids which involve supervisory authorities in more than one Member State. (1) OJ C 378, 13. 12. 1997. (2000/C 225 E/214) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2681/99 by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Statements by the Spanish government on the unresolved issue of state aid to the electricity sector The Spanish government, and in particular the Minister for Industry and government spokesman, Josep PiquØ, have stated on numerous occasions that the Commission is to adopt a decision on state aids to the Spanish electricity sector in respect of the costs of transition to competition by the end of 1999. Can the Commission confirm the Spanish governmentís assertions? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (8 February 2000) In discussions between the Spanish Minister and the Member of the Commission responsible for competition policy the intention was indeed to reach a decision on this case before the end of 1999. However, the search for an independent consultant and the complexity of the case made it impossible to meet this target. The Commission still hopes to be able to adopt a decision shortly. (2000/C 225 E/215) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2682/99 by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Decision on an unresolved case concerning state aids The Spanish press has published information taken from the Ministry for Industryís Boletín de Energía ElØctrica (electricity newsletter), stating that electricity companies have already received a total of PTA 387 223 m in the form of state aids. Spanish consumers are paying for this through higher electricity bills. In reply to an earlier question of mine, the Commission reported that it had not considered it appropriate to rule that payment of the aid be suspended, given, áthe absence of a pre-existing framework, the complexity of the issue and discussions currently taking placeí. Meanwhile, consumers continue to foot the bill for what is in principle considered unlawful state aid, and companies have received approximately 30 % of the total amount, which will be difficult to recover, should a decision be made to that effect. Does the Commission agree that the time has now come to rule that payments be suspended? C 225 E/192 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (8 February 2000) The Commission feels that, should it prove necessary, it could recover the aid already paid under Article 14 of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (1). For the moment, and for the same reasons set out in the answer to written question E-2681/99 (2) by the Honourable Member, the Commission considers that there are no grounds for exercising the power conferred by Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999. (1) OJ L 83, 27. 3. 1999. (2) See page 191. (2000/C 225 E/216) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2684/99 by Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Air transport In the view of the Commission, what conditions must regional inter-island flights fulfil for the purposes of the public service obligation declaration? In general, what are the Commissionís views on this type of declaration? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (1 February 2000) Under Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes (1), a Member State may impose a public service obligation in respect of scheduled air services to an airport serving a peripheral or development region in its territory or on a thin route to any regional airport in its territory, any such route being considered vital for the economic development of the region in which the airport is located. The services to the islands are particularly well suited to treatment under those provisions. Indeed, the islands frequently emerge as peripheral or development regions. In addition the traffic to them is often of low density. Finally, the routes in question are as a general rule considered to be vital to the economic development of the islands in question. Under those provisions France, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom have imposed public service obligations on several routes serving islands in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. (1) OJ L 240, 24. 12. 1992. (2000/C 225 E/217) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2687/99 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Composition and funding of the Commission Presidentís communications team The Commission President has called in a communications team to put across his political message. This approach ü not unintentionally ü displays many similarities with the British prime ministerís methods. One of Mr Prodiís advisers is apparently a former press secretary of Tony Blair