Onderzoek naar staatssteun aan zes Italiaanse R&D projecten in luchtvaartindustrie (en)

Following a complaint, the Commission has assessed 13 Italian R&D projects in the aeronautical sector. The complaint alleged that the Italian government had not respected the obligation to notify aid granted to individual projects. According to complainant the cost of a series of individual projects exceeded the notification thresholds set forth in the Commission's 1986 decision authorising the Italian framework law for State aid to support the aeronautical industry the so-called Legge n. 808/85'. The opening of this formal investigation gives the Italian authorities and interested third parties an opportunity to comment on the Commission's preliminary findings and in no way prejudices the final outcome of the case.

The Commission initially assessed 13 projects that benefited from State support under Legge 808/85. This Italian law foresees research and development funds for about € 3.2 billion in favour of the aeronautic industry covering the period 1999 through 2005.

This initial assessment revealed doubts whether six of the projects under examination could qualify for aid under applicable 1996 Community Framework for State aid for research and development activities. Four projects concern the development of fixed-wing aircraft and two projects concern multiple use helicopters. The Commission's probe will now focus on whether the aided projects qualify as research and development and whether the aid displayed the requisite "incentive effect". This means that State aid will only be permitted if it stimulates beneficiaries to carry out research and development activities in the first place or to undertake research and development that goes beyond their normal day-to-day operations.

The Commission has also decided to raise no objections with regard to the other projects. These projects either do not exceed the threshold for individual notification or are compatible with the State aid R&D in force at the time the aid was granted.

The Commission's probe will concern the following projects:

• A109 X (helicopter). This project concerns the development of new technologies for future versions of A109, a light biturbine helicopter that exists in both a civil and military versions. The project A109 X was carried out in co-operation with the Pratt&Whitney and focused on the strengthening of the operational flexibility and reliability of the machine in difficult conditions and the production of aircraft parts based on the use of new alloys and other materials.

• A 109 D/E/F (helicopter) The project consists in developing new versions of the A 109 helicopter and changing this model's propulsion systems with a view to improving their performance in terms of safety, efficiency and reducing any negative environmental impacts. Project A109 X was carried out in co-operation with the companies Allison Gas Turbine, Pratt&Whitney and Turbomeca.

• MD 95 (fixed wing) The project, carried out by Alenia (group Finmeccanica), concerns the automated production of large structural sub-sections for aircraft. Automated production will be employed in the construction of the MD 95 fuselage panels. The MD 95 liner, initially developed by McDonnel Douglas, has been subsequently renamed Boeing B717.

• MD 11 (fixed wing) The project, carried out by Alenia, aims to improve automated production of a new generation of key aircraft parts, such as the forward section and the tail section. This includes their validation. The MD 11 liner was initially conceived by McDonnel Douglas, which was subsequently taken over by Boeing.

• DO 328 EC (fixed wing) The project concerns the participation, by the Italian company, in the development of the extended capacity (EC) version of 'DO 328', a regional Dornier aircraft. At this stage, it appears that the project has never been completed.

• DO 328 fuselage panels (fixed wing) The project, carried out in a joint venture with Dornier, aimed at developing better ways to build fuselages of variable length and reduce their production costs.

The first two projects were developed, at different times, by the company Agusta (since 2000 become Agusta Westland). Projects MD 95 e MD 11 belong to the holding Finmeccanica, whereas the two 'DO 328' projects were realised by Aermacchi (today part of the holding Finmeccanica).

The 1996 Community Guidelines for State aid for research and development aim to contribute to renewing growth, strengthening competition and Europe's international competitiveness as well as boosting employment. The 1996 Guidelines favour fundamental research that is not linked to any industrial or commercial objectives of a particular enterprise. State aid favouring activities that are close to the market entail a greater risk for competition and the development of the single market and should therefore receive less aid.