Brussels, 02/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 2 May, the European Commission gave its green light to the plan of the Belgian authorities to grant compensation to the Belgian postal incumbent, bpost, for discharging a series of public service obligations between 2013 and 2105. Belgium notified the Commission that bpost will - among other things - ensure the distribution of newspapers and periodicals, the home delivery of pensions, basic bank services and the maintenance of a widespread network and will receive an annual compensation of around €300 million. The Commission considered that these measures were in compliance with the EU rules applicable to state aid for services of general economic interest (SGEI) - particularly because the aid does not exceed the cost of the public service mission entrusted to bpost. This decision is also based on the commitment taken by Belgium to swiftly recover the over-compensation of €119 million (plus the related interest) which bpost received through the prolongation of the fourth management contract over 2011-2012. (OL/transl.fl)