On Wednesday 14 February, the European Commission approved a public support measure of the Danish State in favour of Bornholm airport.
This airport, which is located on an island in the Baltic Sea, is vital to regional connectivity. As a role of service of general economic interest (SGEI) has been conferred upon it, it must be able to grant traffic rights to all airlines wishing to access it. For this reason, the Danish authorities planned to provide it with compensation, at a level estimated at 26 million Danish kroner, or €3.5 million, up to 2020.
The Commission examined the measure in light of the 2014 Guidelines on state aid to airports and airlines. These allow member states to grant aid in the form of compensation to airports of significant importance to regional connectivity in return for executing a SGEI.
The institution found that without this airport, the island of Bornholm would be greatly affected in terms of connectivity and economic development, as the airport is the main way for its inhabitants to remain connected to the principal Danish islands. As the measure also does not bring about any unjustified distortions of competition on the single market, the European Commission concluded that it was compatible with EU state aid rules. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)