State aid procedures to the armaments industries

Question for written answer
to the Commission
Rule 130
Alfred Sant (S&D)

E-000664/2016

Subject: State aid procedures and the arms industry

Could the Commission kindly indicate the latest guidelines, if any, that it is following to apply state aid procedures to the arms industry in Member States, as well as to industries and enterprises that are primarily active in the national defence sectors of Member States?

Answer given by Ms Vestager on behalf of the Commission (31.3.2016)

The Commission has not adopted specific guidelines for the assessment of State aid to the arms industry. As recalled in the Commission Communication “Towards a more competitive and efficient defence and security sector” – COM(2013) 542 final of 24 July 2013 – Member States have an obligation, under the Treaty, to notify to the Commission all State aid measures, including aid in the military sector. They may only derogate from that obligation if they can prove that non-notification is necessary for reasons of essential security interests under Article 346 TFEU. Therefore, if a Member State intends to rely on Article 346, it must be able to demonstrate that the concrete measures in the military sector are necessary and proportionate for the protection of their essential security interests and that they do not go beyond what is strictly necessary for that purpose.

E-000664/2016
Suġġett: Proċeduri ta’ għajnuna mill-Istat u l-industrija tal-armi

Tista’ l-Kummissjoni ġentilment tindika l-aħħar linji gwida, jekk dan huwa l-każ, li hija qiegħda ssegwi biex tapplika proċeduri ta’ għajnuna mill-Istat lill-industrija tal-armi fl-Istati Membri, kif ukoll lil industriji u intrapriżi li huma attivi primarjament fis-setturi tad-difiża nazzjonali tal-Istati Membri?

MT

Il-Kummissjoni ma adottatx linji gwida speċifiċi għall-valutazzjoni tal-għajnuna mill-Istat għall-industrija tal-armi. Kif imfakkar fil-Komunikazzjoni tal-Kummissjoni “Lejn settur tad-difiża u s-sigurtà aktar kompetittiv u effiċjenti” – COM(2013) 542 final tal-24 ta’ Lulju 2013 – l-Istati Membri għandhom l-obbligu, skont it-Trattat, li jinnotifikaw lill-Kummissjoni dwar il-miżuri kollha ta’ għajnuna mill-Istat, inklużi l-għajnuniet fis-settur militari. Huma jistgħu jidderogaw minn dan l-obbligu biss jekk ikunu jistgħu jippruvaw li n-nuqqas ta’ notifika jkun meħtieġ għal raġunijiet ta’ interessi essenzjali ta’ sigurtà skont l-Artikolu 346 tat-TFUE. Għalhekk, jekk Stat Membru jkollu l-intenzjoni li jagħmel użu mill-Artikolu 346, għandu jkun kapaċi juri li l-miżuri konkreti fis-settur militari jkunu neċessarji u proporzjonati għall-protezzjoni tal-interessi essenzjali tas-sigurtà tiegħu u li ma jmorrux lil hinn minn dak li huwa strettament neċessarju għal dan l-iskop.