Brussels, 04/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - At the end of March, the European Commission published a report summarising the decisions it took in 2001 applying the code for state aid for steel, showing that decisions were taken in 24 cases, ten of which authorized aid without recourse to the investigation procedure, ten were final decisions and four decisions launched the investigation procedure.
The cases where the Commission decided to authorise aid without raising any objections covered R&D projects by companies in Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, investment aid for environmental protection in Spain and Austria and a state stake in a new Belgian company. The investigation procedure was launched for unnotified Spanish investment aid for a new company, two R&D projects (in Spain and Italy) and an ecotax scheme in the UK.
The Commission also took a final decision (negative) on tax deducations for investment abroad by steel companies allowed by French legislation (as it did in 2000 for similar Spanish legislation). It also took a final negative decision concerning aid notified by Germany for Brema Warmwalzwerk (enviornmen) and Eko-Stahl (R&D) and a partially negative decision on aid notified by Belgium for Sidmar (environment). Three cases were closed following the withdrawal of the notification of aid by Germany and Italy. (Report COM (2002) 145 final.)