Olympic Airways
24.3.2004
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1024/04
by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL)
to the Commission
The Greek press has reported that, in the next few days, the Commission will bring an action against Greece before the European Court of Justice for providing unlawful State subsidies to Olympic Airways (OA). According to the reports, there are reasons to suppose that illegal subsidies were paid during the process of dividing OA into two and the attempt to privatise Olympic Airlines as well as during the process of collecting and allocating the passenger levy for the construction of the new airport at Spata.
In its answer to my question (E-2837/03[1]) concerning the safeguarding of OA workers' rights following the creation of the new company 'Olympic Airlines', the Commission stated that it would investigate the matter and inform us of its findings.
In the light of the foregoing, can the Commission elaborate on its legal arguments pertaining to unlawful subsidies? What are the findings (answer to question E-2837/03) of the investigation into the safeguarding of the rights of the workers being transferred to the new company and those remaining with the old company, in accordance with Articles 3 and 4 of Directive 98/50/EC[2]?