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European Commission News

Read on for the latest updates from the European Commission, including decisions, news, appointments, and more.

State aid: Commission approves French support for construction of €1.3 billion Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport express rail line

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 26.06.2017

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 26 June 2017 The European Commission has approved French support measures for the construction of an express railway line between Paris and the Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport. The project will improve the coordination of different modes of transport, in line with the EU's transport policy objectives.

State aid: Commission approves aid for market exit of Banca Popolare di Vicenza and Veneto Banca under Italian insolvency law, involving sale of some parts to Intesa Sanpaolo

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 25.06.2017

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 25 June 2017 The European Commission has approved, under EU rules, Italian measures to facilitate the liquidation of BPVI and Veneto Banca under national insolvency law. These measures involve the sale of some of the two banks' businesses to be integrated into Intesa Sanpaolo.

State Aid: Commission approves €377 million of French and German aid to develop innovative Airbus X6 helicopter

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 19.06.2017

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 19 June 2017 The European Commission has approved under EU state aid rules €377 million of French and German support to develop the innovative Airbus X6 heavy helicopter. The project will significantly contribute to research and innovation in the EU without unduly distorting competition...

Statement on Agreement in principle between Commissioner Vestager and Italian authorities on Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS)

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 01.06.2017

European Commission - Statement Brussels, 1 June 2017 Today, Commissioner Margrethe Vestager has reached an agreement in principle with Pier Carlo Padoan, the Italian Minister of Economy and Finance, on the restructuring plan of Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) to enable the precautionary recapitalisation of the bank...

State aid: Commission approves Slovak support of €36 million for the construction of the national football stadium in Bratislava

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 24.05.2017

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 24 May 2017 The European Commission has approved under EU state aid rules Slovakia's support for the construction of the national football stadium in Bratislava. The Commission found that the measure will further the promotion of sport and culture while preserving competition in the...

State aid: Commission approves reductions on cogeneration surcharges for energy-intensive companies in Germany and Italy

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 23.05.2017

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 23 May 2017 The European Commission has approved under EU state aid rules reductions granted to energy-intensive companies on surcharges to finance support for cogeneration in Germany, and reductions on surcharges to finance support for cogeneration and renewables in Italy.

Statement by Commissioner Vestager - Commission simplifies rules for public investment in ports and airports, culture and the outermost regions

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 17.05.2017

European Commission - Statement Brussels, 17 May 2017 *Please check against delivery* Today, the Commission has exempted public support measures in a number of areas from prior Commission state aid control. This facilitates public investments in key infrastructure, namely ports and existing airports, but also public support for...

State aid: 2016 Scoreboard shows benefits of modernisation for quick implementation of aid measures in Member States

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 15.03.2017

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 15 March 2017 The 2016 State Aid Scoreboard, published today by the European Commission, shows the benefits of the State Aid Modernisation package taking place. Around 95% of new implemented aid measures fell under the new General Block Exemption Regulation and could be implemented...

State aid: Commission clearance of Portuguese recapitalisation of Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) - how the rules apply to bank recapitalisations

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 10.03.2017

European Commission - Fact Sheet Brussels, 10 March 2017 State aid: Commission clearance of Portuguese recapitalisation of Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) - how the rules apply to bank recapitalisations 1. How can banks strengthen their capital position in line with the current EU rules? A bank can strengthen its...

State aid: Commission clears €420 million Czech support scheme for combined heat and power

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 07.03.2017

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 7 March 2017 The European Commission has approved a Czech support scheme for electricity generation from high-efficiency combined heat and power plants under EU state aid rules. The Commission concluded the measure would support EU energy and climate change goals without unduly distorting competition.

State aid: Commission endorses three French initiatives to produce more than 2600 megawatts in renewable energy

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 10.02.2017

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 10 February 2017 The European Commission has endorsed three French schemes to support solar and hydropower energy generators in France under EU state aid rules. The schemes will allow France to develop around 2600 megawatts of additional solar capacity and 60 megawatts of additional...

State aid: Commission refers Spain to Court for failure to recover incompatible aid from digital terrestrial television operators and suspend payments

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 10.01.2017

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 10 January 2017 The European Commission has referred Spain to the EU Court of Justice for failing to recover incompatible state aid paid towards the digitisation of its television network and to suspend all ongoing payments for its operation and maintenance.

State aid: Commission clears German Network Reserve for ensuring security of electricity supply

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 20.12.2016

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 20 December 2016 The European Commission has approved under EU state aid rules German plans to put in place for four years a reserve to ensure sufficient electricity capacity in Southern Germany (the Network Reserve).The measure maintains security of supply without unduly distorting competition...

State aid: Commission approves support to four highly-efficient cogeneration plants in Germany

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 14.12.2016

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 14 December 2016 The European Commission has approved German plans to support four highly efficient cogeneration plants feeding Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Munich's district heating networks. The Commission concluded the measures would further EU energy and climate goals whilst maintaining competition.

State aid: Commission authorises Belgian support for electricity generation from offshore renewable energy

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 08.12.2016

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 8 December 2016 The European Commission has concluded that Belgian plans to finance electricity generation from offshore renewable energy are in line with EU state aid rules. The measure will further EU energy and climate goals whilst maintaining competition in the Single Market.

State aid: Commission approves German support to cogenerated electricity; opens in-depth investigation into surcharge reductions

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 24.10.2016

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 24 October 2016 The European Commission has found German plans to support high-efficiency cogeneration to be in line with EU state aid rules. They promote energy efficiency, lower CO2 emissions and lead to a better integration of cogenerated power into the electricity market.

State aid: Commission approves amended Slovenian support scheme for renewable energy and high-efficiency cogeneration

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 10.10.2016

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 10 October 2016 The European Commission has approved changes to a Slovenian support scheme for renewable energy and high-efficiency cogeneration under EU state aid rules. The amended scheme will increase renewable energy production in line with EU energy objectives and without unduly distorting competition.

State aid: Commission approves Polish scheme to support high-efficiency co-generation of heat and power

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 28.09.2016

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 28 September 2016 The European Commission has found that a Polish scheme supporting high-efficiency co-generators of heat and power is state aid but complies with EU state aid rules since it furthers efficient energy production.The scheme will run until 2018 with an annual budget...

State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigation into Luxembourg's tax treatment of GDF Suez (now Engie)

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 19.09.2016

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 19 September 2016 The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into Luxembourg's tax treatment of the GDF Suez group (now Engie). The Commission has concerns that several tax rulings issued by Luxembourg may have given GDF Suez an unfair advantage over other companies,...

Statement by Commissioner Vestager on state aid decision that Ireland's tax benefits for Apple were illegal

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 30.08.2016

European Commission - Statement Statement Statement Brussels, 30 August 2016  *Check against delivery* The European Commission has today adopted a decision that Apple's tax benefits in Ireland are illegal. Two tax rulings granted by Ireland have artificially reduced Apple's tax burden for over two decades, in breach of EU state...

State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigation into French state financing of Areva restructuring

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 19.07.2016

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 19 July 2016 The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to determine whether the French state's contribution to the financing of the Areva group's restructuring gave the company an unfair advantage not available to its competitors within the meaning of the EU rules...

State aid: Commission finds Hungary's food chain inspection fee and tax on tobacco sales in breach of EU rules

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 04.07.2016

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 4 July 2016 The European Commission has found that two Hungarian fiscal measures based on progressive turnover rate structures were in breach of EU State aid rules. The Commission concluded that the progressive tax rates grant a selective advantage to companies with low turnover...

State aid: Commission approves German investment aid to paper manufacturer Hamburger Rieger and opens investigation into German aid to polymer processer REHAU

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 13.06.2016

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 13 June 2016 The Commission has assessed public support for two investment projects in Germany under new provisions of the 2014 EU regional aid rules. These ensure that support to large companies is granted for projects that bring genuine innovation, which needs to be...

State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigation into support for the Portuguese railway maintenance company EMEF

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 02.06.2016

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 2 June 2016 Following a complaint, the European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether public measures in favour of the state-owned Portuguese railway maintenance company EMEF gave the company a selective advantage over its competitors, in breach of EU state aid...

Statement by Commissioner Vestager on Commission Interim Report of the State aid Sector Inquiry on Capacity Mechanisms

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 13.04.2016

European Commission - Statement Statement Statement Brussels, 13 April 2016 ***Check against delivery***   One year ago the Commission announced the launch of the first State aid sector inquiry into so-called "capacity mechanisms". Member States introduce capacity mechanisms to secure electricity supply and avoid power shortages.

State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigation into support for Romanian petrochemical company Oltchim

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 08.04.2016

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 8 April 2016 The European Commission has opened an in-depth probe to verify whether debt write-offs by the Romanian State and continued supplies by State-owned enterprises in favour of Oltchim, despite the company's deteriorating financial situation, were in line with EU state aid rules.

State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigation into Italian support for steel producer Ilva in Taranto, Italy

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 20.01.2016

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 20 January 2016 The European Commission has opened an in-depth inquiry to assess whether Italian state support for steel producer Ilva was in line with EU State aid rules. In particular, the Commission will examine whether measures facilitating Ilva's access to finance for modernising...

State aid: European Commission opens in-depth investigation into alleged aid to two container terminal operators in Port of Antwerp, Belgium

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 15.01.2016

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 15 January 2016 The Commission opened an in-depth inquiry into whether reductions in compensation payments granted by the Port of Antwerp to two container terminal operators gave them an undue advantage over competitors, in breach of EU state aid rules.

State aid: Commission approves additional aid up to €3 billion for the resolution of Portuguese bank Banif and asset sale to Banco Santander Totta

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 21.12.2015

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 21 December 2015 The European Commission has approved Portuguese plans to provide about €2.25 billion of state aid to cover the funding gap in the resolution of Portuguese bank Banco Internacional do Funchal S.A. (Banif) as in line with EU state aid rules.

State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigation into restructuring aid for the Danish Vestjysk Bank A/S

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 04.12.2015

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 4 December 2015 The Commission has opened an in-depth probe to assess whether aid granted by Denmark to Vestjysk Bank is compatible with EU State aid rules. It will in particular examine whether Vestjysk Bank's restructuring plan would restore its long-term viability without unduly...

State aid: Commission approves resolution plans for four small Italian banks Banca Marche, Banca Etruria, Carife and Carichieti

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 22.11.2015

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 22 November 2015 The European Commission has in separate decisions approved the resolution plans of four small Italian banks under EU state aid rules. The intervention by the Italian resolution fund will allow the orderly resolution of the banks while preserving financial stability.

Statement by Commissioner Vestager on Commission state aid decisions regarding illegal tax advantages granted by Luxembourg (Fiat) and the Netherlands (Starbucks) and on the optical disk drives cartel

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 21.10.2015

European Commission - Statement Statement Statement Brussels, 21 October 2015 Statement by Commissioner Vestager on Commission state aid decisions regarding illegal tax advantages granted by Luxembourg (Fiat) and the Netherlands (Starbucks) and on the cartel decision regarding optical disk drives *** check against delivery *** Introduction Today, the Commission has...

Statement by Commissioner Vestager following agreement in principle with German authorities on state aid procedure concerning HSH Nordbank AG

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 19.10.2015

European Commission - Statement Statement Statement Brussels, 19 October 2015 Commissioner Vestager today reached an agreement in principle with the German authorities on the way forward to finally conclude the European Commission's State aid procedure on HSH Nordbank and approve the €3bn guarantee increase.

State aid: Commission finds Italian tax reductions for companies in areas affected by natural disasters also benefitted companies that suffered no damage

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 14.08.2015

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 14 August 2015 After an in-depth investigation, the European Commission has found that certain Italian measures reducing company taxes and social security contributions in areas affected by natural disasters also benefitted companies that suffered no damage from natural disasters and overcompensated companies beyond the...

State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigations into Romanian measures in favour of two airports and airlines

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 31.07.2015

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 31 July 2015 The European Commission has opened two separate in-depth investigations to examine if measures in favour of two publicly-owned airports in Transylvania, Romania (Cluj-Napoca International Airport and Târgu Mureş Transilvania Airport) and airlines operating there (notably Wizz Air) are in line with...

State aid: Commission orders Estonia and Poland to deliver missing information on tax practices; requests tax rulings from 15 Member States

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 08.06.2015

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 08 June 2015 The European Commission has issued two injunctions ordering Estonia and Poland to deliver within one month information requested by the Commission on their tax rulings practice. Both countries have to-date refused to respond in full to previous information requests.

Competition: Commission approves acquisition of TSB by Sabadell; major step in restructuring plan of Lloyds Banking Group

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 18.05.2015

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 18 May 2015 The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition of TSB Banking Group plc, a British retail and commercial banking services provider, by Banco de Sabadell, S.A. of Spain. TSB is a spin-off of Lloyds Banking Group (Lloyds).

State Aid: Commission gives guidance on local public support measures that can be granted without prior Commission approval

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 29.04.2015

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 29 April 2015 The European Commission has concluded in relation to seven measures granting public support to purely local operations that they do not involve state aid within the meaning of EU rules, because they are unlikely to have a significant effect on trade...

State aid: Commission authorises Portuguese demonstration scheme for ocean energy technologies

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 23.04.2015

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 23 April 2015 The European Commission has found a Portuguese scheme aimed at promoting renewable energy technologies to be in line with EU state aid rules. The scheme will support demonstration projects producing renewable energy from the ocean (wave energy, tidal energy) and innovative...

State aid: Commission temporarily approves rescue aid for Romanian Complexul Energetic Hunedoara

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 21.04.2015

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 21 April 2015 The European Commission has concluded that temporary rescue aid of RON 167 million (approx. €37.7 million) to be granted by the Romanian authorities to Complexul Energetic Hunedoara ("CE Hunedoara"), the state-owned electricity and heat producer in Romania, is in line with...

State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigation into Spanish high-speed railway test centre (CEATF)

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 23.03.2015

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 23 March 2015 The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to examine whether the public financing of a test centre for high-speed trains and related equipment (the Centro de Ensayos de Alta Tecnología Ferroviaria, CEATF) near Malaga in Spain is compatible with EU...

State aid: Commission accepts commitments from France on fiscal exemptions for certain maritime chartering services in France

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 04.02.2015

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 04 February 2015 The European Commission has closed an in-depth investigation opened in 2013 to examine whether changes to French tax rules for maritime companies were in line with EU state aid rules after France offered commitments addressing the Commission's concerns.

Statement by Commissioner Vestager on the opening of an in-depth investigation into the Belgian excess profit ruling system

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 03.02.2015

European Commission - Statement Statement Statement 03 February 2015 ***Check against delivery*** Today, we have opened another State aid investigation into the deals that EU tax authorities offer to certain companies – most notably to multinational corporations – that may go against EU state aid rules.

State aid: Commission orders Cyprus to recover incompatible aid from national air carrier Cyprus Airways

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 09.01.2015

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 09 January 2015 Following an in-depth investigation, the European Commission has concluded that a restructuring aid package of over €100 million for Cyprus' ailing flag carrier Cyprus Airways gave the company an undue advantage over its competitors in breach of EU state aid rules.

State aid: Commission approves German aid scheme for renewable energy (EEG 2012); orders partial recovery

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 25.11.2014

European Commission - Press release Brussels, 25 November 2014 Following an in-depth investigation the European Commission has concluded that aid granted for the production of energy from renewable energy sources under the German Renewable Energy Act of 2012 (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz – "EEG") was in line with EU state aid rules.

State aid: Commission invites Ireland to update compensation arrangements for school bus scheme; closes in-depth investigation into Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 15.10.2014

European Commission Press release Brussels, 15 October 2014 Following an in-depth investigation the European Commission has concluded that arrangements to compensate state-owned Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus, the two principal bus companies in Ireland, for the operation of bus services across Ireland and for the transport of schoolchildren, were put...

State aid: Commission approves Romanian green certificate reduction for energy-intensive users

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 15.10.2014

European Commission Press release Brussels, 15 October 2014 The European Commission has found that the Romanian green certificate reduction scheme, reducing the contributions of certain energy-intensive users to the financing of renewable energy, is in line with EU state aid rules, and in particular with the Commission's new Energy and...

State aid: the Commission initiates two in-depth investigations into the exceptional and temporary support package for the restructuring of FagorBrandt and Mory-Ducros

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 16.09.2014

European Commission Press release Brussels, 16 September 2014 The European Commission has initiated two separate in-depth investigations in order to establish whether the loans and other measures granted by France to FagorBrandt and Mory-Ducros are compatible with EU state aid rules.

State aid: Commission approves €86.6 million French aid for SuperGrid research programme to develop innovative energy transmission networks

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 16.09.2014

European Commission Press Release Brussels, 16 September 2014 The European Commission has concluded that the aid granted by France to the Supergrid Institut pour la transition énergétique for a research project aimed at developing a new generation of long-distance energy transmission networks complies with the EU rules on State aid.

State aid: Commission endorses investment aid to Apollo Hungary for production of tyres in Gyöngyöshalász

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 08.09.2014

European Commission Press release Brussels, 8 September 2014 The European Commission has found that regional investment aid totalling €95.7 million (approximately HUF 29 billion) to Apollo Tyres (Hungary) Kft. for the construction of a tyre plant in Gyöngyöshalász (Northern Hungary) is in line with EU state aid rules.

State Aid: further details on Commission decisions regarding public financing of airports and airlines in Germany, France and Austria

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 23.07.2014

European Commission MEMO Brussels, 23 July 2014 (See also IP/14/863). Today, the Commission has taken six decisions under EU state aid rules with regard to public aid measures to airports and airlines relating to three airports in Germany (Dortmund, Leipzig/Halle and Niederrhein-Weeze) and three airports in France (Angoulême, Pau Pyrénées...

State aid: Commission adopts package of decisions regarding aid to airports and airlines in France and Germany; asks France to recover incompatible aid granted to airlines

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 23.07.2014

European Commission Press release Brussels, 23 July 2014 The European Commission has adopted six decisions concerning public support granted to airports and airlines in France and Germany. The decisions are based on the Commission's new guidelines on state aid to airports and airlines (see IP/14/172) adopted in February 2014 as...

State aid: Commission adopts four decisions on regional investment aid for car manufacturers Porsche, BMW, AUDI and Ford

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 09.07.2014

European Commission Press release Brussels, 9 July 2014 The European Commission has adopted decisions on the compatibility with EU state aid rules of four distinct projects by Germany, Hungary and Spain to grant regional aid in favour of the car manufacturers Volkswagen, BMW and Ford, in order to attract major...

State aid: Commission investigates transfer pricing arrangements on corporate taxation of Apple (Ireland) Starbucks (Netherlands) and Fiat Finance and Trade (Luxembourg)

Source: European Commission - Press releases , 11.06.2014

European Commission Press release Brussels, 11 June 2014 The European Commission has opened three in-depth investigations to examine whether decisions by tax authorities in Ireland, The Netherlands and Luxembourg with regard to the corporate income tax to be paid by Apple, Starbucks and Fiat Finance and Trade, respectively, comply with...

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