Brussels, 06/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - EU delegations expressed concern about the financing of big public infrastructure projects and respect of state aid rules (which are currently being revised) at the Transport Council on Thursday 5 December. The Commission tried to allay their fears. Ministers took note of the information provided by the Danish minister on the impact of state aid rules on large-scale infrastructure projects in Europe, following an investigation by the Commission on the state aid policy in Denmark and Sweden. Denmark said that the funding of public infrastructure should not be subject to state aid regulation on the grounds that it should be regarded as a public service rather than an exercise of economic activity even where it is partly financed by user payment. The Danish view received wide support from other ministers (IT, MT, LV, SI, ET, FI, SE, DE, NL, FR, UK, CZ, PL and GR) and Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said that large infrastructure projects are a top priority and the Commission does not intend to create obstacles for such projects on the grounds of state aid. (MD/transl.fl)