Brussels, 21/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 21 March, the European Commission began several far-reaching investigations into the air transport sector. It also began investigations into aid provided to the Nürburgring racetrack (Germany) and the funding of multifunctional arenas in Copenhagen (Denmark) and Uppsala (Sweden).
Air transport. The European Commission will investigate whether financial arrangements between public authorities and the airports of Charleroi (Belgium), Angoulême (France) and Dortmund (Germany), as well as rebates and marketing agreements concluded between these airports and some of the airlines using them, are in line with EU state aid rules. The opening of proceedings gives interested third parties an opportunity to submit comments on the measures under assessment; it does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation. With regard to Charleroi, the Commission has extended the scope of an investigation opened in December 2002 into advantages granted to the low-cost airline Ryanair. In the cases of Angoulême and Dortmund airports, the Commission has opened two new distinct in-depth investigations.
Nürburgring racetrack. The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether a €524 million set of aid measures supporting the racetrack and leisure park at Nürburgring in Germany is in line with EU state aid rules. The Commission has doubts whether these measures promote services of general economic interest or alleviate a funding default caused by the financial and economic crisis.
Multifunction arenas in Copenhagen and Uppsala. The European Commission has opened two distinct investigations to examine whether public funding for the construction of multifunction arenas in Copenhagen (Denmark) and in Uppsala (Sweden) is in line with EU state aid rules. At this stage, the Commission has concerns that the public funding may procure an undue economic advantage to the new arenas which their competitors do not have, thereby distorting competition in the internal market. (OL/transl.fl)