18/12/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 18 December, the European Commission approved an Italian measure supporting noise reduction in rail freight transport. Valued at €20 million, it will take the form of a reimbursement of up to 50% of the cost of equipping rail freight wagons which have been put into circulation before 1 January 2015 with less noisy composite brake blocks. All owners of wagons and railway companies established in the European Economic Area will be able to benefit from this scheme if they operate on the Italian railway network. Noting that this measure was necessary to achieve the objective of reducing noise pollution, the Commission concluded that it was compatible with EU state aid rules, in particular with the Guidelines on state aid for railway companies. (LT)