Press Release: Commission opens a formal investigation procedure into complaints of illegal State aid to certain Czech bus operators

Following a complaint alleging that contracts concluded by the Czech authorities providing public transport compensations to bus carriers in Southern Moravia involve illegal State aid, the European Commission decided on 15 January, 2008, to formally open an investigation procedure. The Commission at this stage cannot exclude that the contracts in question indeed involved State aid, which however may be compatible in that they may not involve overcompensation. The decision will give all stakeholders an opportunity to comment before the Commission takes a final view on this case.