The European Commission announced on Monday 11 December that, after an in-depth investigation, it had concluded that German aid worth €2.6 billion to RWE Power AG, a major producer of electricity using lignite, constituted State aid in compliance with European rules. This aid will compensate RWE Power AG for the early closure of its lignite-fired power stations in the Rhineland mining area. The Commission considered that the aid was necessary, appropriate and proportionate to achieve...