Brussels, 24/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided not to oppose a temporary exemption in the United Kingdom provided for in favour of Northern Ireland companies to exempt them of "levies on aggregates", introduced on 1 April last. It is a question of an environmental tax levied on the commercial exploitation of rocks, sand and gravel when these are used as recycled aggregates for construction purposes and substitution products for virgin aggregates. The United Kingdom had asked for Northern Ireland companies, especially threatened by competition, to be exempted while waiting for the gradual introduction of this levy over a five year period. The Commission considers that this particular case responds to the exceptional circumstances provided for by the Community framework for State aid for environmental protection that allows exemptions on environmental taxes, especially in the case of a temporary loss of competitiveness at international level.