Press Release: State aid: Commission endorses municipality of Rotterdam’s €42 million investment in the Ahoy complex

The European Commission approved under EC Treaty state aid rules a €42 million investment by the municipality of Rotterdam in the renovation and development of the Sports Palace, forming part of the Ahoy complex. After an in-depth investigation, launched in January 2008, the Commission found that the investment did not give undue advantages to the operator of the complex or any other company as the investment was properly taken into account in the sale and lease transactions concluded between the municipality and the operator. Therefore, the Commission concluded that no state aid is involved.