Third follow-up question on Structural Fund assistance to Liverpool City Council

18.10.2012

Question for written answer P-009535-12
to the Commission
Rule 117
Marta Andreasen (EFD)

I refer to the answers to my Written Questions P-008791/2011 dated 23 September 2011, P‐001376/2012 dated 6 February 2012 and P-005377/2012 dated 29 May 2012 on Structural Fund assistance for the City of Liverpool Cruise Terminal.

In its answer to the latest of these questions, the Commission said that it ‘is in contact with the United Kingdom authorities and has reminded them of their obligation to comply with EU state aid rules. As far as the ERDF funding is concerned, the Commission has written to the United Kingdom authorities requesting information to assess the change in use of the terminal in terms of its compliance with Article 30.4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999. Should the conditions of the ERDF initial grant offer letter no longer be complied with, a recovery of the ERDF grant might be necessary.’

I understand that of the GBP 9.2 million of UK state aid received for the project, GBP 8.8 million has now been repaid by Liverpool City Council. The UK Government has lifted the restriction on the cruise terminal being used for turnaround purposes, and it is now expected to handle approximately 30 such visits per year.

1. Is the Commission aware of these latest developments?

2. Can the Commission update me on where matters now stand on the ERDF grant received by this project, and on its discussions with the UK authorities?

OJ C 329 E, 13/11/2013