Independent journal on economy and transport policy
04:20 GMT+2
This page has been automatically translated by Original news
Investigation of the EU commission on the subsidies to the Sardinian airports
Under examination also the financial contributions granted to carriers airplane
January 23, 2013
The EU commission has opened an investigation in order to establish if an Italian regime of support financial in favor of some airport managers of the Sardinia and of carriers that operate in the airports of the island is online with the European norms on the aids of State.
Brussels has remembered that in November 2011 Italy has notified a regime of compensations for the period 2012-2013 face to support the development and to attenuate the seasonal character of the services of aerial transport between the Sardinia, continental Italy and the remainder of Europe. The regime previews that the airport managers obtain a compensation in order to select airlines in a position to reaching determined objectives anniversaries in terms of frequencies and of volume of passengers on some strategic routes. To they time, the airlines selected receive financial contributions from the their respective airports for the performance of these services. The regime establishes that the airlines are selected by means of a procedure of contract contest.
The Commission has explained that in the first phase of analysis it has concluded that the regime already is put into effect, in violation of the suspensory clause of which to article 107 of the treaty on the operation of European Union (TFUE) that ago obligation to the Member States to obtain the authorization of the EU commission before the execution of any project of aid of State. The Commission has specified that the regime is contained in a regional law of 2010 and that from the 2010 airports of Alghero, Cagliari and Olbia has received advance payments on the compensations to they come to an agreement through loans granted from the financial offices of the Sardinia Region. These airports have to they poured time financial contributions to carriers airplane, between which Ryanair, for services of transport supplied. For the selection of the airlines - it has specified Brussels - it has not been indetta some contest.
If Italy supports that the compensations serve to reward the airports for the performance of a obligation of public service in relation to the aerial transport from and towards the island, instead the Commission it considers that such compensations are not online with the fixed criteria from the relative norms EU to the services of general economic interest (SIEG), in particular the regarding criteria the clear definition of mission of public service and the selection of the smaller service to the cost. Moreover the Commission nutre doubts on the compatibility of the measure adopted in favor of the carriers airplane with the specific norms on the aids of State of the field of aviation, also in joint provision with norms SIEG, and therefore has invited Italy to introduce elements for an exaustive appraisal to such care.
- Via Raffaele Paolucci 17r/19r - 16129 Genoa - ITALY
phone: +39.010.2462122, fax: +39.010.2516768, e-mail
VAT number: 03532950106
Press Reg.: nr 33/96 Genoa Court
Editor in chief: Bruno Bellio No part may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher