Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-02-10-Speech-2-212"
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"en.20040210.10.2-212"2
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".
I would like to remind the honourable Member that we have not yet liberalised passenger transport in the rail sector. In each country, therefore, railways operate as the country sees fit and they receive the aid which each country is prepared to give them, in accordance with the criteria of public service and maintenance of companies, amongst others.
It is therefore currently possible that budget airlines are competing with railways, but the latter are receiving State support in practically every country.
At a later date, following a discussion on the third railways package, which I hope the honourable Members will shortly receive for discussion, and which I hope the next Parliament and the next Commission can complete, we plan to introduce competition into passenger rail transport on international lines, not on national lines.
When that time comes, we will have to consider the effects this will have in terms of competition, but – I repeat – the aid we have authorised is limited in terms of time and quantity. In no event may it exceed a maximum of 50%, of operating costs and, furthermore, they must be decreasing for a maximum of five years.
I believe that this is a balanced decision, which allows us to combine support for a regional airport, which – I repeat – provides stimulus and economic activity for a region. In the case of Wallonia – an Objective 1 region which is lagging behind the Community average – that is what justifies the support for aid, not whether or not there are cheap tickets. The fact that an airline offers people cheap tickets does not justify their receiving public aid.
The justification for the authorisation of public aid at a particular time, and for Charleroi giving it to Ryanair, is the fact that Charleroi is a regional airport in a depressed region, in order to provide that region with stimulus and activity, which is completely different, and as assistance for launching new routes and new connections.
We have also agreed on the possibility of granting aid in the air sector when the criterion of public service is fulfilled. For example, in the case of the outermost islands and island groups, on grounds of internal public service. In this case too, conditions relating to transparency, competition and equal treatment must be fulfilled."@en1
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