Onderzoek naar Italiaanse staatssteun aan vliegtuigindustrie verlengd (en)

The European Commission has extended the scope of its formal investigation under the EU state aid rules into an Italian Law supporting R&D in the aeronautical sector. The investigation will now cover all large civilian projects financed by the law and all civilian projects of any size financed after November 2002.

On 1st October 2003, the Commission opened an inquiry on six cases of individual aids granted by Italy to aeronautical companies under the so-called "Law 808/85" or "legge aeronautica" (see IP/03/1319). The inquiry aimed at determining in particular whether these individual aids were compatible with the 1996 Community Framework for state aid for research and development activities as regards stages of research, aid intensities and the existence of an incentive effect of the aid. The 1996 Framework exists to favour fundamental research that is not linked to any industrial or commercial objectives of a particular enterprise, as well as industrial research and pre-competitive development which are linked to commercial objectives.

The aids at stake were granted in the form of interest-free loans. During the course of the procedure, doubts were raised as to the conditions for reimbursement of the principals of not only the six loans under investigation, but also a number of other loans granted under the scheme.

The formal investigation procedure has therefore been extended to establish a clear and transparent legal framework within which these doubts can be clarified.

The opening, or extension, of a formal state aid investigation does not prejudge the final Commission decision. It aims to offer all parties involved - Member States, aid beneficiaries and competitors - an opportunity to express their views about a case. The full text of the decision will be published in the EU's Official Journal.

Law 808 was enacted in 1985 and was declared compatible with EC Treaty state aid rules by the Commission in 1986. It has been prolonged a number of times since that date, and remains in force. It is aimed at promoting research and development in the Italian aeronautical sector. Law 808 aid beneficiaries include Finmeccanica, Agusta, Alenia and Aermacchi, companies that are engaged in international partnerships for world class aerospace programmes.