Commissie wil Oostenrijk helpen bij privatisering van Austrian Airways (en)

The Commission has written to the Austrian authorities offering its assistance in connection with the ongoing privatisation process of Austrian Airlines. The Commission also took the opportunity to remind the Austrian authorities that in the event that the State intends to grant State aid in the context of the privatisation such state aid needs to be notified to and approved by the Commission prior to being implemented.

If Austria was to notify State aid then such aid would have to be examined in accordance with the applicable Community rules, being the 1994 Aviation State aid guidelines[1] and the Community guideline regarding the rescue and restructuring of firms in difficulty[2].

[1] Application of Articles 92 and 93 [now 87 and 88] of the EC treaty and article 61 of the EEA agreement to State aids in the aviation sector OJ C350 10.12.2004

[2] Community guidelines for the State aid for the Rescue and Restructuring of Firms in Difficulty of 2004 OJ C244 1.10.2004 p.2