Press Release: State aid: Commission refers Italy to the Court of Justice for failure to recover illegal aid

The European Commission decided on 20 January 2005 to refer Italy to the Court of Justice for failure to comply with a decision of 5 June 2002 which had ruled that the aid granted by Italy to undertakings active in the utilities sector had been incompatible and had to be recovered from the beneficiaries (see IP/02/817). More than two years since the decision had been adopted, Italy had not taken the necessary measures to recover the aid in question. The Commission therefore decided to apply to the Court in order to have its decision enforced.