Press Release: State aid: Commission approves Slovenian liquidity scheme for financial sector

The European Commission approved, under EC Treaty state aid rules, a Slovenian support scheme to stabilise financial markets by providing state loans to eligible financial institutions to ensure their access to financing. The Commission found the measure to be in line with its October 2008 Guidance Communication on state aid to overcome the financial crisis. In particular, the scheme was non-discriminatory, limited in time and scope, provided for behavioural constraints to avoid abuses and was subject to a market-oriented remuneration from the beneficiaries. The Commission therefore concluded that the scheme was an adequate means to remedy a serious disturbance of the Slovenian economy and as such in line with Article 87.3.b of the EC Treaty.