92001E3658

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3658/01

by Elisa Damião (PSE) to the Commission

(15 January 2002)

Subject: State support for ship-building

The specialised press has reported that the German Government is willing to subsidise sea transport and the ship-building industry, and has submitted a proposal to this effect to Parliament.

In view of the distortion of competition this may cause and the fact that it is an example of a Member State directly or indirectly protecting the ship-building and maritime transport sectors, can the Commission supply information about the context of these practices and assess the consequences for the industries of other Member States?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2002)

The Commission is not aware of the proposal by the German Government to grant aid to sea transport and the shipbuilding industry to which the Honourable Member refers.

In any case, Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty obliges Member States to inform the Commission, in sufficient time to enable it to submit its comments, of any plans to grant or alter aid.

If, in accordance with this obligation, Germany notifies the Commission of a plan to grant aid to these sectors, this will be examined in the light of the Guidelines on State aid to maritime transport(1) and Council Regulation (EC) No 1540/98 of 29 June 1998 on aid to shipbuilding(2).

(1) OJ C 205, 5.7.1997.

(2) OJ L 202, 18.7.1998.