11/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - Energy-intensive companies - Court rules against Austria. In a ruling delivered on Thursday 11 December, the General Court of the EU confirms the Commission's decision that the partial exemption from the obligation of purchasing green electricity, which Austria plans to grant to energy-intensive businesses, constitutes unlawful state aid. The Commission found, by decision of 8 March 2011, that the specific scheme for energy-intensive businesses constituted state aid incompatible with the internal market. It concluded, therefore, that that aid could not be granted. By this judgment, the General Court dismisses the proceedings brought by Austria against that decision. According to the Court, the Commission was correct in classifying the partial exemption of energy-intensive businesses as state aid. (LC)