WRITTEN QUESTION E-1393/99 by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission. Subsidies for Vion VVaG.
C 170 E/4 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 6. 2000 (2000/C 170 E/004) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1393/99 by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: Subsidies for Vion VVaG The Hanover insurance company HDI Haftpflichtverband der deutschen Industrie and the Bavarian insurance company HUK-Coburg propose to merge in July 1999. The registered office of the new firm resulting from the merger, Vion VVaG, is to be in Coburg. The decision on the location of the office was taken as a result of substantial financial incentives from the Land of Bavaria, the level of which is not publicly known. 1. Is the European Commission aware of the financial assistance for Vion VVaG from the government of the Land of Bavaria? If so, what level of assistance is being provided by the Land of Bavaria in this case? 2. Have the subsidies and incentives from the Land of Bavaria been notified as aid to the Commission? Are such subsidies compatible with European law on competition and aid, and in particular 3. Article 87 of the EC Treaty? Supplementary answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (5 November 1999) The Commission has been informed that the merger of HDI Haftplichtverband der Deutschen Industrie and HUK-Coburg to Vion Vvag will not take place and that no state aid measures have taken place. On the basis of this information the Commission will thus not further investigate the matter. (2000/C 170 E/005) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1396/99 by Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert (PPE-DE) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: Contradictions arising from assistance under structural objectives There is a sharp difference between the economies of the economically strongest areas of the European Union and structurally weak areas. The aim of European structural policy is to bridge this gap. To that end, the European Commission has determined six main tasks of structural policy and defined them as áobjectivesí. 1. Is the Commission aware of contradictions arising from assistance granted under structural objec- tives, where, for example, a business relocates, in order to receive EU funds, from an area which is not structurally weak to an area qualifying for assistance, but as a consequence of the relocation hundreds of jobs are lost at the old location and the economic strength of the town or city is diminished? 2. What does the Commission intend to do in order to remove this paradox, which involves jobs being created on the one hand and destroyed on the other?