WRITTEN QUESTION E-0095/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Construction of vessels by the Astano shipbuilding company.
C 280 E/176 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (8 February 2000) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question E-2488/99 by Mr Evans (1). (1) See page 54. (2000/C 280 E/200) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0094/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (26 January 2000) Subject: Possible merger between the Astano and Bazan state shipbuilding companies in Galicia The chairman of the Astano state-owned shipbuilding company in Galicia has said that one way of safeguarding the shipyardís future would be to arrange a merger with Bazan (another state-owned company), which also has a shipyard in the Ferrol area. This would enable Astano to resume constructing conventional vessels. Can the Commission confirm this possibility? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (25 February 2000) The possibility of a merger between Astano and Bazan is a matter for the Spanish government. However the Commission would need to ensure that the Communityís state aid rules for shipbuilding were respected. As regards the possible impact of such a merger on Astanoís activities, the current limitations on the yard would remain unaffected. As the Commission has explained in its reply to written question E-0095/00 (1) and previous similar questions by the Honourable Member, the continued closure of the Astano yard to shipbuilding was one of the conditions for approval by the Commission in 1997 of substantial state aids for the publicly-owned shipyards in Spain. (1) See page 176. (2000/C 280 E/201) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0095/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission Subject: Construction of vessels by the Astano shipbuilding company (26 January 2000) Could the Commission set out the conditions required for the Astano shipbuilding company in Galicia to be able to resume operations and thus escape the discrimination to which it has fallen victim? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (25 February 2000) As the Commission explained in its replies to written questions E-1432/99 (1) and E-2051/99 (2) by the Honourable Member, the continued closure of the Astano yard to shipbuilding was one of the conditions of substantial state aids for the publicly-owned shipyards in Spain approved by the Commission in 1997. 3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/177 It should be noted that under the terms of the Commissionís decision approving the aid, the combined total shipbuilding capacity of all the yards involved was limited to 210 000 compensated gross registered tonnes (cgrt) for a period of 10 years. The Astano yard formerly had a shipbuilding capacity of 135 000 cgrt. Against that background it is very difficult to see under what circumstances the restrictions on Astanoís activities could be relaxed. (1) OJ C 27 E, 29. 1. 2000, p. 66. (2) OJ C 170 E, 20. 6. 2000, p. 141. (2000/C 280 E/202) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0097/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (26 January 2000) Subject: Involvement of the Spanish Autonomous Communities in Union institutions In answer to my general question on the above subject tabled on 12 October 1999 (E-1823/99) (1), the Commission indicated on 25 November 1999 that, under Article 203 (former Article 146) of the EC Treaty, Member States were permitted to choose their representatives in the Council according to their specific circumstances. The Spanish Government has recently refused to allow the Autonomous Communities to play a direct role in the EU institutions by representing their people in matters falling under their responsibility, although the Congress of Deputies gave its endorsement for them to do so as long as two years ago. In view of the plain fact that the Autonomous Communities are thus being prevented from exercising their constitutional powers ü even when, like Galicia, they are recognised to constitute nations in their own right ü will the Commission undertake to secure and guarantee their involvement in the reform of the Treaties to be tackled by the Intergovernmental Conference in the year 2000, bearing in mind, moreover, that a privilege along these lines has already been granted to countries such as Austria, Belgium, and Germany? (1) OJ C 203 E, 18. 7. 2000, p. 58. Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (25 February 2000) The Commission would point out that Article 203 (formerly Article 146) of the EC Treaty states that the Council must consist of a representative of each Member State at ministerial level, authorised to commit the government of that Member State. The Community institutions have no role to play in the choice of this representative, who is selected by the individual Member States in accordance with their constitutional law. The Commission sees no reason to propose an amendment to this provision. (2000/C 280 E/203) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0101/00 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Council (19 January 2000) Subject: EU asylum policy In reply to my oral question H-0722/99, the Council explains that there are no common definitions in the EU of what constitutes a ísafe country of originí and a ámanifestly unfoundedí request for asylum