08/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - Portugal to recover €290 million in illegal state aid to ENVC. On Thursday 7 May, the European Commission stated that the state aid of approximately €290 million (capital injection in 2006, loans between 2006 and 2011, letters of comfort, guarantees) that Portugal granted former shipyard operator ENVC was incompatible with European rules. In the Commission's view, the aid constituted an undue economic advantage and was not granted under market conditions. In addition, ENVC did not have a restructuring programme guaranteeing it long term viability without supplementary aid. The aid will have to be paid back by ENVC - and not by the operator WestSea (owned by Martifer and Navalria), which bought part of ENVC's assets. (MB)