Infringement of EC law in connection with the apparent privatisation of 14 regional airports in Greece
| 27 August 2015 |
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| Question for written answer to the Commission Rule 130 Notis Marias (ECR) |
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The Greek Government Gazette of 17 August 2015 contains a decision adopted by the Economic Policy Council under the memorandum of understanding regarding the three-year ESM programme to grant the Fraport AG-Slentel consortium a 40-plus-10-year lease for the management of 14 regional airports, including the airports of Thessaloniki and Chania.
Fraport AG, a German national transport company, already occupies a dominant position in the airport management sector, not only in Europe but throughout the world, being responsible for airports in the Balkans and Turkey that are in competition with the 14 Greek regional airports concerned, thus effectively securing a monopoly within the EU in contravention of its competition rules.
In addition, the airports of Thessaloniki and Chania are receiving EUR 520 million in NSRF project funding, resulting in a further distortion of competition in favour of the above company and thereby infringing Article 107 TFEU prohibiting state aid, not to mention the market economy investor principle.
In view of this:
What action will the Commission take to ensure compliance with EC law and overturn what appear to be illegal privatisation proceedings?
Source: European Parliament
| Answer given by Mr Moscovici on behalf of the Commission | |
| The tender for 14 regional airports in Greece was completed in November 2014 and was awarded to a consortium of Greek and German interests. It is an important privatisation as it is expected to lead to significant investments in these airports which will in turn increase capacity to the extent necessary to accommodate demand, and will boost regional growth and employment. As far as the Commission is aware at this stage, the tender was conducted in an open and transparent process by the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund and attracted a number of bidders until the final phase. The deal was approved by the Hellenic Court of Audit and is subject to other regulatory clearances both at domestic and EU level.
In case the national competent authorities consider that this deal involves state aid, they should notify it to the Commission under Art. 108 TFEU for approval. |
Source: European Parliament
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