Press Release: State aid: Commission asks Belgium to amend its aid scheme for R&D in the aeronautical sector

The European Commission has demanded the revision of the Belgian aid scheme for research and development (R&D) in the aeronautical sector in order to bring it into line with the state aid rules in the EC Treaty. The scheme, which was illegally used by Belgium between 2002 and 2006 to provide aid for research and development to companies in the aeronautical sector, had a total budget of €82 581 000. Belgium undertakes to amend the aid awarded under this scheme by 31 December 2006 to make it compatible with the Community state aid framework for research and development. In particular, Belgium will have to reduce the aid awarded to Techspace Aero from €41 274 000 to €31 978 850.