Frais excessifs de marchés publics pour Bpost

Question parlementaire n° P-001378/2023 de monsieur Geert Bourgeois du 26.04.2023

Question avec demande de réponse écrite P-001378/2023

à la Commission

Article 138 du règlement intérieur

Frais excessifs de marchés publics pour Bpost

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Question for written answer P-001378/2023

to the Commission

Rule 138

Question

Several Belgian newspapers have reported in recent days about excessive fees being to Bpost, the Belgian postal company, for carrying out various public contracts, such as the management of accounts held by the state for the payment of fines and VAT that is due (so-called 679 accounts). Some of these contracts were allegedly awarded privately and the Commission was not notified of the fact that payment was made from the state’s coffers.

1. Can the Commission confirm that it was not notified of said aid?

2. If no notification was given, will the Commission open an investigation into Bposts contracts with the Belgian State?

ANSWER

given by Executive Vice-President Vestager on behalf of the European Commission, reply of 15.06.2023

1. The Commission cannot comment on whether the Belgian authorities have notified an aid measure concerning the contracts mentioned.

2. If a measure constitutes state aid within the meaning of EU State aid rules, it needs to be notified by the relevant Member State to the Commission for assessment, in advance of any granting of aid to beneficiaries, unless covered by block exemptions regulations. It is however in the first place for the Member State to assess if a specific measure involves state aid. If the Commission decides to open a formal investigation into measures by Member States under EU State aid rules, the opening decision is published in the Official Journal (it is also made available via the Commission’s press corner (1).

The sole fact that there exists a contract for the provision of services between an undertaking and the State does not necessarily involve the existence of state aid. For there to be state aid, a measure has to be imputable to the State and financed through State resources, has to be selective and grant an advantage to an undertaking, and have an effect on competition and on trade between Member States.

(1) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/home/en