06/06/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 6 June, the European Commission approved a Dutch measure to support the establishment of a new development bank, Invest-NL, with an initial capital of up to €2.5 billion. The Dutch authorities also plan to provide it with €10 million in subsidies each year to provide advisory services on the development or improvement of certain financing schemes. This bank will be responsible for facilitating access to finance for Dutch small and medium-sized enterprises and small-midcaps involved in research and development activities and for energy transition projects. Considering that the establishment of Invest-NL was an appropriate and proportionate solution to provide financing to companies that did not have access to it and that it would not have the effect of crowding out private investors, the Commission concluded that the Dutch measure is compatible with EU State aid rules. (LT)