Luxembourg, 08/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - Dutch companies whose ships are specialised in tugging and rescuing ships are calling for the annulment of the European Commission's decision of 19 June 2002 calling on the Netherlands to recover aid to these shipping companies. These are Smit Harbour Towage Rotterdam B.V, of Muller Marine Holding, Muller Maritime Holding and Handel- en Scheepvaartmaatschappij Multraschip, as well as the companies Kotug International, Sleepdienst Adriaan Kooren K&K International, URS Nederland and Wagenborg Sleepdienst. All have their their headquarters in Rotterdam.
The companies benefit from tax-relief. The Commission considers that this is new State aid which, not having been notified, is consequently illegal. The companies, on the other hand, consider that it is a continuation of existing aid, notified in its time. According to the Commission, this regulation is new State aid in favour of tugging activities, also exercised inside and around ports, and not mainly at sea. The tugging companies reply that the Commission has altered its approach to tax measures for shipping, infringing the principle of legal certainty.
The Commission's intervention against this aid was due to complaints by German rivals.