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Hudghton (Verts/ALE).
– Mr President, last week the Commission ruled against the level of
assistance being given by the Charleroi airport authorities to a certain
airline. Not only do I sympathise with the public authorities responsible
for Charleroi, I admire them for trying to take action to stimulate
much-needed economic growth and jobs, in the light of declining
traditional industries.
The benefits of low-cost air travel have been felt over
a much wider area than just around Charleroi. For example, the route from
Glasgow-Prestwick to Charleroi is the only air link from the west of
Scotland, a very populous area, to the capital of Europe area. While I
recognise that the Commission sees fit to implement state aid regulations
in certain ways, what about the consumers? I hope that the Commission will
not be over-enthusiastic and end up disadvantaging consumers, including
many groups who wish - and need - to visit our headquarters and the other
European institutions to learn more about how Europe actually works.
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