Brussels, 17/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has opened an inquiry in order to examine a State aid regime proposed by the Belgian State to provide assistance to fisheries and aquaculture businesses experiencing financial difficulties due to increased fuel prices. Belgium is preparing to grant the companies in question loans at preferential rates as well as guaranteeing part of these loans. The implementation of this project would be funded by the financial instrument for the fisheries sector created in 1998 by the Flanders Region. This instrument provides that aid, in the form of guaranteed loans at a lower level than the standard rate of interest, can be granted to fishermen and fish farmers facing financial difficulty due to exceptional events. Under this scheme, the amount of individual loans would be directly linked to the additional operational costs for the enterprises concerned resulting from dearer fuel. The budget would thus amount to EUR 125,000. The Commission is now examining the compatibility of the scheme with Community rules governing State aid. Moreover, it has pointed out that it is currently examining other aid schemes which have not been notified to it.