Infringement of public service obligation regarding flights to airports serving remote Aegean and Ionian islands

3 June 2016
E-004636-16
Question for written answer
to the Commission
Rule 130
Notis Marias (ECR)

In accordance with Articles 16, 17 and 18 of Regulation (EC) 1008/2008, scheduled air services are currently being provided under a public service contract for the period 2012‐ 2016, with flights to airports serving Crete and remote Aegean and Ionian islands. These include return flights from Athens to Astypalaia, Ikaria, Leros, Milos, Kythira, Naxos, Paros, Karpathos, Sitia, Skiathos, Skyros, Zakynthos and Syros; from Thessaloniki to Samos, Chios, Corfu, Skyros, Limnos and Ikaria; from Alexandroupolis to Sitia; from Actium to Sitia; from Corfu to Actium, Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Kythira; from Limnos to Mytilene, Chios, Samos and Rhodes and from from Rhodes to Karpathos, Kasos, Sitia, Kos, Leros, Astypalea and Kastellorizo.

However, in drawing up new invitations to tender for the operation of these scheduled air services, the Civil Aviation Authority is drastically reducing the annual number of flights.

In view of this and bearing in mind the remoteness and insularity of these regions:

Can the Commission say whether such a drastic reduction in scheduled air services to and from the above airports is in line with Regulation (EC) 1008/2008 and Article 174 TFEU?
What funding could be provided and what programmes implemented to maintain the current frequency of essential regular air services to and from the above airports?

 

Answer given by Ms Bulc on behalf of the Commission

  1. The Commission is aware of the need to ensure adequate connectivity within the EU, particularly from and to remote regions like islands. The Member States have the competence for defining their own needs in terms of public service obligations. In accordance with the Regulation, such obligation should only be imposed to the extent necessary to ensure on the routes concerned the minimum provisions of scheduled air services satisfying fixed standards of continuity, regularity pricing or minimum capacity. While doing this, the Member States need to consider their budgetary constraints for provision of funding for operation of these routes, in case no carrier is interested in serving them on commercial basis.
  1. Member States can provide support for the transport of remote regions, including islands, also in the form of social aid for transport for residents of remote regions. Member States can grant such aid without prior approval by the Commission if it fulfils the conditions laid down in Article 51 of the State aid General Block Exemption Regulation[1]. Such aid can also be granted after prior approval by the Commission if it meets the test set out in points 156 and 157 of the Commission Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines[2].

[1]     Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty, OJ L 187, 26.6.2014, p. 1

[2]     OJ C 99, 4.4.2014, p. 3.

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