Brussels, 28/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission concluded on Wednesday 28 that Italian measures in favour of two R&D helicopter projects by the Agusta company (A139 and BA609) were of a military nature and, therefore, fell within the scope of Article 296 of the EC Treaty that allows member states to take measures necessary for the protection of their essential security interests. The Commission has, then, closed its in-depth state aid investigation, opened in 2003, on a number of R&D projects. In March 2008, as part of the investigation, the Commission took a first decision which established that Italy had granted a total of over €450 million of soft loans without interest to seventeen individual R&D projects, none of which had been notified to the Commission. This decision set the conditions for the reimbursement of these loans, which in the meantime have been fulfilled. However, the Commission believes that the Italian measures have affected or will adversely affect the conditions of competition in the Single Market regarding products which are not intended for specifically military purposes, such as civilian helicopters. Under the procedure provided for in Article 298 (1) of the EC Treaty, the Commission will examine jointly with Italy how these measures can be adjusted to the rules laid down in the Treaty, including the competition rules. In a press release, European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes welcomed “Italy's collaboration” to achieve this end. (O.L./transl.rt)