Brussels, 24/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the Commission authorised the main chapter of a specific aid regime developed by the autonomous province of Trente (Italy), which aims to encourage the use of other modes of transport than road for goods transport and which will remain in force until 2006. The aim of the regime is to support investment in the purchase of transport means equipped with technology that allows pollution to be reduced beyond compulsory environmental standards. The beneficiaries are small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) practising road transport for third parties and which have combined transport, rail transport and general overland transport activities. The Commission has nonetheless decided to open investigation proceedings into the provisions of the system concerning aid to investment in the acquisition of rail wagons and new or rehabilitated rolling stock, with doubts on their compatiblity with the Union's competition rules applicable to SMEs.