On Friday 17 March, the European Commission concluded that the concessions awarded to the German-Cypriot consortium Fraport AG-Slentel Ltd to operate 14 regional airports in Greece do not constitute illegal aid with regard to the European rules in 2014 on State aid airports and airlines.
In line with the commitments it made in the framework of the second bailout plan (see EUROPE 11315), the Greek government at the end of 2015 awarded the consortium two concessions contracts for the upgrade, maintenance, management and operation of 14 Greek regional airports. The first contract covers the regional airports located in Crete, continental Greece and the Ionian Sea region, and the second contract covers the regional airports of the Aegean Sea. In exchange, Fraport AG-Slentel will pay concession fees to the Greek State.
According to the European institution, the conditions for awarding the concessions were “in line with market conditions”, in particular because they were awarded following a “competitive, transparent and non-discriminatory tender”. Greece selected the best offer submitted, as it is the one that would generate the highest revenues for the Greek State.
The Commission also found that the provision or acquisition of certain public services by the Greek State, such as air traffic, police and customs controls at the airports concerned, would not give the airport operator any undue economic advantage. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)