The European Commission concluded on Monday 2 March that the public service compensation granted since 2009 to Tirrenia di Navigazione (Tirrenia) and subsequently to its purchaser, Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione (CIN), for the operation of ferry services in Italy is in line with EU State aid rules. However, it found that other measures in favour of Tirrenia are incompatible with EU State aid rules.
The Commission also concluded that the public service compensation granted between 1992 and 2008 to companies of the former Tirrenia Group is in line with EU State aid rules, with the exception of aid for one specific route, which is incompatible.
Italy must now recover €15 million of illegal aid.
In October 2011, the Commission launched an in-depth investigation into a number of public support measures in favour of companies of the former Tirrenia Group and their respective acquirers.
The Commission concluded the following with regard to the measures concerning Tirrenia and its acquirer CIN: - the public service compensation (approximately €265 million) granted to Tirrenia for the operation of twelve maritime routes from 1 January 2009 until 18 July 2012 is compatible with the EU framework for State Aid in the form of public service compensation (SGEI); - the public service compensation (€581 million) granted to CIN for the period from 18 July 2012 to 18 July 2020 as well as the tender procedure for the sale of the Tirrenia business branch to CIN do not qualify for State Aid. Italy will have to recover this illegal aid: - illegal prolongation of rescue aid granted to Tirrenia for one year, beyond the six-month planned period; - use of funds earmarked for upgrading ships was used for liquidity purposes; - exemptions from certain taxes granted to Tirrenia in the context of the privatisation process.
The amount to be recovered is approximately €14 million (including interest).
Moreover, the Commission has concluded its investigation into the public service compensation of more than €1.5 billion granted between 1 January 1992 and 31 December 2008 to companies of the former Tirrenia Group (Adriatica, Caremar, Saremar, Siremar and Toremar). After the EU General Court in 2009 annulled a Commission decision of 2004 approving the aid, the Commission concluded that : - the aid granted for the provision of maritime cabotage transport services and the fiscal treatment of mineral oils used as fuel for shipping both constitute existing aid; - the aid granted for the provision of international maritime transport services is compatible with the SGEI Framework.
However, aid granted to Adriatica for the operation of a route to/from Greece for the period January 1992 to July 1994 is incompatible with EU State Aid rules and must be recovered (€1 million). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)