12/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission authorised a new Italian aid of EUR 75 million in favour of companies in the Marches and Umbria regions hit by the 1997 earthquake, aid that is in addition to the EUR 27 million approved in February 1999 by the Commission. These funds are destined for subsidies to funds lost by companies having made investments in the Marches and Umbria regions in the two years following the earthquake.