25/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - Nîmes airport under scrutiny. On 25 April, the European Commission opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether financial arrangements between public authorities and the airport of Nîmes (France), as well as rebates and marketing agreements concluded between this airport and Ryanair, are in line with EU state aid rules. It particular it wants to find out whether: - aid received between 2000 and 2006 by the Chamber of Commerce (€11 million overall) and by Véolia Transport in 2007 covering ordinary operating expenses of the airport operators gave them an undue economic advantage which their competitors do not have; - whether agreements between the airport operators and Ryanair, such as marketing support contracts and discounts on airport charges, gave the latter an unfair advantage; - whether part of the aid given to airport operators was passed on to Ryanair. (FG/transl.fl)