08/03/2019 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission approved on Friday 8 March an increase in the budget for a Spanish scheme to provide financial support to energy-intensive companies, in light of the 2014 State Aid Guidelines for Environmental Protection and Energy. The initial project was approved in 2013 and, with this decision, the budget could reach 200 million euros over the period 2018-2020. The Commission considered that this budget increase was justified by the fact that electricity prices had increased in the context of EU emissions trading (ETS). The measure benefits companies active in sectors facing high electricity costs and which are particularly exposed to international competition. (LT)