The European Commission announced on Monday 11 December that, after an in-depth investigation, it had concluded that German aid worth €2.6 billion to RWE Power AG, a major producer of electricity using lignite, constituted State aid in compliance with European rules. This aid will compensate RWE Power AG for the early closure of its lignite-fired power stations in the Rhineland mining area. The Commission considered that the aid was necessary, appropriate and proportionate to achieve its objectives. The measure was examined, in particular, in the light of the guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy for 2022 and Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which allow aid to facilitate the development of certain economic activities or of certain economic areas to be authorised under certain conditions. (EV)