On Thursday 30 September the European Commission concluded that the public service compensation granted since 2011 to Laziomar S.p.A. (Laziomar) for the operation of ferry services in Italy was in line with EU State aid rules. The same applies to the compensation granted to Laziomar after its takeover by Compagnia Laziale di Navigazione S.r.l. (CLN).
The Commission also concluded its in-depth investigation into certain measures in favour of Sardegna Regionale Maritima S.p.A. (Saremar), which has been in liquidation since 2016.
The Commission had opened an in-depth investigation in October 2011 into several aid measures in favour of companies of the former Tirrenia Group and their respective buyers.
The Commission concluded that the following measures in favour of Laziomar and its purchaser CLN were in line with EU State aid rules, in particular as regards: - the public service compensation (approximately €35 million) granted to Laziomar for the operation of five maritime routes between 1 June 2011 and 14 January 2014; - the public service compensation (approximately €128 million) granted to Laziomar after its takeover by CLN for the operation of six routes in the period between 15 January 2014 and 14 January 2024. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)