WRITTEN QUESTION E-0094/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Possible merger between the Astano and Bazan state shipbuilding companies in Galicia.
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