WRITTEN QUESTION P-2548/99 by Theresa Zabell (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Monopoly purchasing practices in Olympic sailing classes.
C 219 E/180 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 The ERDFís total contribution to Interreg for the period 2000-2006 is set at € 4 875 million. The maximum contribution is set at 75 % of the total cost of projects and programmes in Objective 1 regions and at 50 % elsewhere. In addition, Member States will have to ensure that between 50 and 80 % of their total Interreg budget is allocated to transfrontier cooperation. With regard to logistical and financial support for frontier areas, the Council would draw the Honourable Memberís attention to the measures taken in the context of the structural funds, and more particularly in the context of the Community Interregí initiative relating to the development of frontier areas. When internal frontiers were abolished, very considerable use was made of the financial possibilities offered by this structural policy instrument. (2000/C 219 E/229) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2548/99 by Theresa Zabell (PPE-DE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Monopoly purchasing practices in Olympic sailing classes Monopoly practices are emerging in the sport of sailing. with the consent of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), relating to purchasing practices in a number of Olympic classes. The problems arise from the fact that practitioners of sailing with Olympic aspirations are obliged to purchase from certain shipyards designated by ISAF; the organisation justifies this on grounds of ensuring quality and uniform standards. It appears clear that significant interantional pressure exists for these monopoly practices to be blocked and ended, since they give rise to various problems, including the following: ü the brands chosen do not have to promote themselves; ü sportsmen and women are deprived of opportunities as regards promotion, sponsorship, etc, since all are obliged to use the same equipment; ü prices are unduly high thanks to the absence of competition; ü technical development is lagging behind because the rules of the market do not operate. Can Commissioner Monti state, given that this is a problem at world level that has effects in Europe, what action the Commission can take to put an end to this monopoly on supplies and enable individual practitioners of sailing to obtain their supplies where they see fit, provided the rules applying are observed, thus ceasing to damage the vessel construction industry? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (11 January 2000) The Commission thanks the Honourable Member for drawing to its attention the requirements covering purchase of sailing equipment for the Olympics. A number of sporting competitions are governed by strict requirements covering the equipment which may be employed. These requirements may be dictated in the interests of safety, or in order to ensure that differences in equipment do not have undue influence on the outcome of competitions. Sporting authorities may accordingly impose such requirements without infringing competition law. It is suggested in this case that participants are obliged to obtain their equipment from a single supplier. It is not clear how this obligation is imposed in practice. The information at the Commissionís disposal is accordingly not now sufficient for it to intervene in the instance to which the Honourable Member refers. However, were a duly-substantiated complaint to be made, this would naturally be examined in accordance with the prescribed procedures