Brussels, 25/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - Monday, the Fifteen adopted a decision that will enable the EU/Slovenia Association Council to formally endorse the extension of the current regime by which Slovenia may grant public aid which, normally, would be banned under the Europe Agreement. The regime in question provides, for purposes of assessing public aid granted by Slovenia, for this country being - for a period of four years following the agreement's taking effect - considered as identical area to EU areas in which the living standard is abnormally low or where levels of unemployment are extremely high. The Europe Agreement also provides for this period being possibly extended by four years, on a decision of the Accession Council. The first period having reached its end, Slovenia had asked for a four-year extension. The Commission considers that Slovenia meets the criteria used to determine the eligibility of a region for aid as defined by the Treaty (notably, a per capita GDP below 75% of the EU's average).