Press Release: State aid: Commission opens formal investigation into aeronautical R&D aid granted by Belgium

The European Commission on 22 June 2006 opened a formal investigation under Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty into a State aid scheme introduced by Belgium to provide research and development aid to companies in the aeronautical sector. In addition, the Commission opened a similar investigation into individual aid granted under this scheme to the company Techspace Aero. The Commission had doubts as to the terms upon which loans provided by the state under the scheme would be repaid.