Press Release: State aid: Commission launches in-depth investigation into €166 million State loan granted to the Slovak rail freight company

The European Commission launched on 24 February 2010 an in-depth investigation to ascertain whether the loan granted by the Slovak State to Železničná spoločnosť Cargo Slovakia a.s (ZSSK Cargo) is compatible with the EU State aid rules. At this stage the Commission believes that the loan - which the Slovak rail freight company will use to finance costs linked to the operation of the company - could constitute State aid that is incompatible with the internal market. The investigation will give all the interested parties the opportunity to submit their comments