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Parliamentary question - E-009432/2016Parliamentary question
E-009432/2016

Exemptions from excise duty on mineral oils used as fuel for alumina production

Question for written answer E-009432-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Michèle Rivasi (Verts/ALE) , José Bové (Verts/ALE)

In March 2012, the Court of Justice of the European Union repealed Commission Decision 2006/323/EC of 7 December 2005 on exemptions from excise duty on mineral oils used as fuel for alumina production in the region of Gardanne and the region of Shannon, and on the island of Sardinia. The exemptions, applied by France, Ireland and Italy, respectively, were repealed by the Court of Justice, which concluded that the exemptions from excise duty on mineral oils used as fuel for alumina production granted by France, Ireland and Italy until 31 December 2003 constituted state aid as defined in Article 87(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Moreover, the Court ordered France, Ireland and Italy to take all necessary measures to recover the value of the exemptions from all beneficiaries who have not paid excise duties of at least EUR 13.01 per 1 000 kg of heavy mineral oil.

What checks have been carried out on the application of the Court’s decision? What amounts have been recovered by the Member States concerned, France in particular?