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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 99-03-17
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Spokesman's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Paroleb
17/03/99
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Déclaration de la Commission
[02] Fight against fraud : Commission adopts modified proposal for an
independent Fraud Office
[03] Commission closes proceedings on State aid against Heracles
[04] Commission approves shipbuilding aid scheme 1999-2003 in Spain
[05] Commission approves financial measures of takeover of Bremer Vulkan by
Lürssen
[06] Commission enjoins Germany to provide information concerning BvS' sale
of its 49% shares in Kali und Salz GmbH
[07] Commission opens State aid procedure and enjoins Italy to submit
information on SEL
[01] Déclaration de la Commission
"Nous avons démissionné et nous n'avons ni le désir ni l'intention de
rester en fonction plus longtemps que nous le devons. Le Traité, cependant,
requiert que nous restions en fonction jusqu'à ce qu'une nouvelle
Commission soit en place. Nous demandons donc aux Etats membres de nommer
une nouvelle Commission sans délai, conformément aux procédures du Traité.
Selon le Traité, les pouvoirs de la Commission ne sont pas limités dans les
circonstances actuelles. Nous avons, néanmoins, décidé d'exercer nos
pouvoirs de manière restrictive, c'est-à-dire de traiter les affaires
courantes et urgentes et de respecter nos obligations institutionnelles et
légales. Mais nous ne prendrons pas d'initiatives politiques nouvelles."
[02] Fight against fraud : Commission adopts modified proposal for an
independent Fraud Office
The European Commission has adopted an amended proposal for the creation of
an independent Fraud Office within the Commission. The proposal will now be
transmitted to the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament before
being finally adopted by the Commission. The Office will replace on basis
of the proposal the present Task Force for Co-ordination of Fraud
Prevention (UCLAF). The Office will exercise external investigations in the
Member States and internal investigations in all the European Union (EU)
institutions and bodies. The Office will enjoy the fullest possible
independence vis-à-vis the Commission since the Director may neither seek
nor take instructions concerning its investigations. A Surveillance
Committee, made up of independent persons who are experts in fraud
prevention work will assist the Office. The Office will decide on its own
initiative to launch an internal investigation in an EU institution or body
and to transmit case files to the national judicial authorities. In the
case of external investigations, the Office will exercise the powers of
investigations conferred on the Commission by existing EU fraud
legislation. The decision will enter into force on 1 June 1999.
[03] Commission closes proceedings on State aid against Heracles
The European Commission has closed proceedings on State aid for Heracles
General Cement Company, the largest manufacturer of cement in Greece. The
decision relates to the conversion into capital of the company's debt
amounting to euro 86.2 million (DR 27,755 million) carried out by the Greek
Government in 1986. The Commission approves part of the aid granted to
Heracles amounting to euro 78.5 million (DR 25,267 million) and considers
the remaining part of euro 7.7 million (DR 2,488 million) incompatible with
the common market. The incompatible part of the aid shall be recovered by
the Greek Government and this sum shall bear interest from the date on
which it was made available to Heracles until its actual recovery.
[04] Commission approves shipbuilding aid scheme 1999-2003 in Spain
The European Commission has decided not to raise any objections to a
shipbuilding aid scheme in Spain. The scheme provides for contract-related
aid for shipbuilding and shipconversions in the form of direct grants to
shipyards and ship financing arrangements for shipowners. It also offers
the possibility for shipyards engaged in shipbuilding, shipconversions and
shiprepair to receive aids for closure and restructuring, investment aids
for innovation, regional investment aids, aids for research and development,
and aids for environmental protection. Annual expenditure is expected to
total around euro 171 million (Pt 28.4 billion). The scheme will cover the
period 1999-2003. The Commission concluded that the scheme is compatible
with Council Regulation 1540/98 on state aid to shipbuilding with effect
from 1 January 1999.
[05] Commission approves financial measures of takeover of Bremer Vulkan by
Lürssen
The European Commission has approved financial measures of the Federal
State of Bremen in connection of the takeover of Bremer Vulkan
Marineschiffbau GmbH (BVM) by Lürssen Maritime Beteiligung GmbH & Co.KG
(LMB). These measures consist in euro 2.3 million (DM 4.6 million)
contribution to the employment costs of 100 workers, in a waiver of a loan
of euro 2.5 million (DM 5 million) granted to BVM by State owned
Hanseatische Industrie Beteiligungen GmbH (HIBEG) and in investment aid of
euro 450,000 (DM 900,000) for intended investments. The Commission
considers that the financial measures taken and to be taken by Germany in
favour of naval shipbuilding, are necessary for the protection of the
essential interests of its security. The investment aid of euro 450,000
(DM 900,000) is compatible with the common market because based on the
approved regional aid scheme "Gemeinschaftsaufgabe Verbesserung der
regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur" (GRW).
[06] Commission enjoins Germany to provide information concerning BvS' sale
of its 49% shares in Kali und Salz GmbH
The European Commission has decided to initiate proceedings as regards the
sale of the 49% share of Bundesanstalt für vereinigungsbedingte
Sonderaufgaben (BvS) in Kali und Salz GmbH to Kali und Salz Beteiligungs AG
(Saxony-Anhalt, Germany), both potassium and rock-salt producers, for a
price of euro 127.8 million (DM 250 million). Given that no public
offering for the 49% of the shares was made and that the Commission cannot
establish if the best offer was accepted, the Commission cannot exclude the
possibility that aid was involved in the selling of the shares. Since
information so far provided by the German government does not refute the
suspicion that the purchase price does not contain State aid. The German
government has one month to provide all necessary information.
[07] Commission opens State aid procedure and enjoins Italy to submit
information on SEL
The European Commission has decided to open the procedure pursuant to
Article 93(2) EC Treaty regarding aid to the public company SEL S.p.A. and
to enjoin the Italian government to provide information on its creation.
SEL is owned by the Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano (Provincia), together
with other local public authorities, and charged with the production and
distribution of electricity in that area. The Commission estimates that
some provisions of draft provincial law No. 14 of 10th October 1997,
notified on 17th November 1997, may contain State aid. The Commission
declared the notification incomplete and requested additional information,
in particular regarding the field of activity and the financial plans of
SEL, which the Italian authorities never provided.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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