The European Commission opened an in-depth investigation on Thursday 28 February to assess whether or not the Copenhagen and Stockholm public support measures for the Øresund fixed rail-road link are compatible with EU state aid rules.
This link, which takes the form of a toll-funded bridge, an artificial island and a tunnel between the Swedish coast and the Danish island of Amager, to connect Copenhagen and Malmö, is backed by the two Scandinavian states.
Indeed, Denmark and Sweden guarantee the loans contracted by the consortium owning and operating the link, which itself consists of both States. In addition, Copenhagen has granted this consortium specific tax treatment.
In 2014, the Commission considered that these measures constituted State aid in accordance with EU law. However, last September, the General Court annulled the institution's decision on procedural grounds. The judges considered that the Commission should have opened a formal investigation procedure in this respect.
In order to comply with the Court's judgment, the Commission has therefore opened an in-depth investigation into these measures. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)