Press Release: State aid: Commission adopts a package of decisions regarding public support to airports and airlines in Belgium, Germany, Italy and Sweden

The European Commission adopted on the 1 October 2014 seven decisions following in-depth investigations concerning public support granted to airports and airlines in Belgium, Germany, Italy and Sweden.

In particular, the Commission concluded that the airports of Zweibrücken (Germany) and Charleroi (Belgium) received state aid which was incompatible with EU rules and then had to be recovered. In addition, the Commission opened an in-depth investigation concerning state financial support granted to certain airlines flying from Bruxelles-National airport (Zaventem). The decisions were based on the Commission's new guidelines on state aid to airports and airlines adopted in February 2014 as part of its State Aid Modernisation (SAM) strategy.

• Primary Source

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/14/544: State Aid: Commission decisions on public financing of airports and airlines in Germany, Belgium, Italy and Sweden – further details http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-544_en.htm

ESO: Background information: State aid: Commission adopts new guidelines for state aid to airports and airlines http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-state-aid-commission-adopts-new-guidelines-for-state-aid-to-airports-and-airlines/

European Commission: RAPID: Statement, STATEMENT/14/295: Statement by Vice President Almunia on State aid decisions in the aviation secto http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-295_en.htm

La Libre Belgique, 02.10.14: EU merciless in Brussels airport war (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE151331-EU-merciless-in-Brussels-airport-war

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