EU nog niet tevreden met vermindering Poolse staatssteun aan scheepsbouw (en)

The European Commission has welcomed the proposal by Poland to reduce capacity in the Polish shipyards in Szczecin and Gdynia, as a necessary step forward in the restructuring process financed by state aid. This positive signal will provide clarity for potential investors in the on-going privatisation process and so enable them to come forward with restructuring plans to restore the long-term viability of the yards and secure jobs for the yard workers.

As for Gdansk shipyard, Poland has so far not proposed adequate capacity reductions. The Commission has therefore sent Poland an information injunction warning that unless Poland manages to provide information on adequate capacity reductions at the Gdansk yard within one month, the Commission will consider a negative decision on the state subsidies already received by the yard, which could require the aid to be reimbursed. The Commission's action is within the framework of the investigation opened in June 2005 into state aid worth at least €1.3 billion to Polish shipyards (see IP/05/644 ), which aims to ensure that the aid is used to restore the long-term viability of the yards without undue distortion of competition.

Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said: "The production facility closures proposed by Poland for the Gdynia and Szczecin yards seem to be adequate, and we have had very good cooperation on this issue with the Government and the two yards. However, other important issues concerning the two yards still need to be addressed and as regards Gdansk, we will not be able to approve the aid unless we obtain information rapidly on the capacity cuts envisaged."

EU state aid rules applicable to shipbuilding require aid to be based on far-reaching restructuring plans, which must be financed not only by the state subsidies but also by private capital. In addition, the distortive effect of the aid must be offset with capacity reductions.

Gdynia and Szczecin

Concerning Gdynia and Szczecin, before the restructuring aid to the two yards can be authorised under the state aid rules Poland must be able to demonstrate that the restructuring plans would ensure the yards' long-term viability free of further state support. New private owners, to be chosen in the on-going privatisation process, must therefore draw up restructuring plans enabling the yards to stand on their own feet and become profitable. Private investors will also bring in the capital necessary for the genuine modernisation of the yards.

The agreement on the capacity reductions is thus but the first step forward. This progress is, however, important because it will enable Poland to go ahead with the scheduled privatisation as potential investors will now be clear on what the future capacity of the yards will be.

Gdansk

However, as regards the shipyard in Gdansk, the Commission does not currently have the information to allow it to approve the capacity reduction to compensate for the distortion to competition caused by the subsidies received. For this reason, the Commission has decided to issue an information injunction that requires Poland to submit, within one month, all necessary information to enable the Commission to reach a conclusion on whether sufficient compensatory reductions are to be made. Otherwise, one of the pre-requisites for authorising restructuring aid to Gdansk Shipyard would not be met and the Commission could order the aid already given to be reimbursed.