WRITTEN QUESTION E-2453/99 by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission. State aid to shipbuilding.
1. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 219 E/167 (2000/C 219 E/212) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2453/99 by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: State aid to shipbuilding Can the Commission indicate what action has been taken against the Government of the Republic of South Korea on the issue of state aid to shipbuilding in order to enforce fair competition rules? (2000/C 219 E/213) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2454/99 by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: State aid to shipbuilding Can the Commission confirm that discussions have taken place with the Government of the Republic of South Korea on the subject of unfair competition in the field of shipbuilding because of the payment of excessive state aid by that Government? If so, what progress has been made? Joint answer to Written Questions E-2453/99 and E-2454/99 given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission (11 January 2000) The Commission has received numerous submissions from European industry and the Member States containing allegations about the use of subsidies or dumping in South Korea. On 9 November 1999 the Council instructed the Commission to initiate certain measures to put a stop to the unfair practices encountered in the industry. The Commission plans to enter into a joint (government/industry) bilateral dialogue with South Korea with a view to resolving the problems. The first such meeting took place in Paris on 14 December 1999 to coincide with a meeting of the OECDís Working Party No 6 on Shipbuilding. On the multilateral front the Commission is also considering anti-subsidy proceedings against Korea in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). If the European industry lodges a complaint backed up by the necessary evidence it could open an investigation under Council Regulation (EC) No 3284/94 of 22 December 1994on protection against subsidised imports from countries not members of the European Commun- ity (1). The Commission will be reporting on the situation to the next Council meeting of industry ministers and this should enable the Community to decide whether other measures may be necessary to remedy the situation. (1) OJ L 349, 31. 12. 1994