Brussels, 14/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 13 July, the European Commission reached the conclusion that lower electricity tariffs granted in 2007-2008 by the Greek state-owned Public Power Corporation (PPC) to Aluminium of Greece conferred an undue advantage on the company, in breach of EU state aid rules. Athens is therefore ordered to recover aid worth €17.4 million, plus interest, from the beneficiary. The Commission also concluded that the partial financing by PPC of the construction costs of a pipeline to connect Aluminium of Greece's co-generation power plant to the national transmission grid did not involve state aid and was in line with market conditions. Furthermore, the Commission concluded that the Bulgarian metal manufacturer Ruse Industry, currently in bankruptcy proceedings, benefited from subsidies in the form of unpaid debts to the state of around €3.7 million. Consequently, the Commission has ordered recovery of the aid by Sofia. (O.L./transl.jl)