Brussels, 12/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to open a formal state aid investigation procedure concerning a series of fiscal measures for farmers introduced by Spain in the wake of the rise in fuel prices in 2000. The Commission queries the compatibility of such aid with the common market. The measures under investigation may in fact be operating aid granted to compensate farmers for the higher price of fuel (which is not generally authorised by the Commission). Insofar as such aid has already been granted and if the investigation confirms the Commission's doubts, the Commission would have to ask the Spanish authorities to recover the aid from the recipients. The Spanish government has one month from the receipt of the Commission Decision to submit its comments. Interested parties will be invited to comment via a publication of a resumé of the Decision in the Official Journal.