Press Release: State aid: Commission opens inquiry into proposed training grant to Auto Europa; endorses training grant to Webasto

The European Commission on 17 May 2006 decided to launch an in-depth investigation to establish whether a €3.5 million grant that Portugal intended to give for supporting training to Auto Europa in Setúbal was compatible with the EC Treaty rules on state aid. The Commission doubted that the aid would lead to the company carrying out additional training activities, in which case the aid would not be necessary and would constitute prohibited operating aid.