Brussels, 19/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - Tuesday, the European Commission adopted several decisions relating to the shipbuilding sector. It:
- Approved the prolongation in 2000 of the aid scheme to shipbuilding in Spain. This scheme remains unchanged in relation to the system the Commission already approved in 1999. It provides for subsidised loans for shipowners for the construction of ships for a value exceeding 10 million euro.
- Authorised Germany to grant subsidised loans and two credit lines to the Meyer-Shipyard in Papenburg for the construction of two passenger ferries for a value of DM 299.6, earmarked for Indonesia. This funding will take the form of aid to development and the Commission observed that several shipyards were able to make bids to benefit from it. It therefore considered that the aid complied with the European and OECD rules of competition regarding aid to shipbuilding in the form of aid to development.
- Initiated an enquiry into subsidies granted by the Netherlands to Indonesian companies for the purchase of two general cargo vessels and two pulp paper carriers built by Pattje Shipyards bv. The Commission fears that the calls for tenders were not sufficiently open to different shipyards and that the aid is therefore incompatible with European rules of competition.
