Brussels, 20/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - Amelia Torres, Spokesperson for Competition Commissioner Mario Monti, told the press on Friday that the Commission had received a letter from the German government informing it of its intention to notify a loan of EUR 400 million intended to breathe new life into MobilCom, on the edge of bankruptcy, as soon as measures are taken (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.9). The Commission is therefore waiting for new elements before carrying out an assessment that will allow it to determine whether the loan is, or is not, State aid. Ms Torres also pointed out that the Commission had been informed that part of this loan (EUR 50 million) had been paid by the State bank KfW, specifying that "we have not agreed to this loan". In this respect, she established a connection between the uncontrolled aid granted by the British government to British Energy, aid which was notified to the Commission but granted anyway before the Commission had approved it. The spokesperson recalled that, according to Community law, the Commission must approve such aid before it can be paid. She noted that the payment of aid before it is approved by the Commission is a current practice in Member States but added that these States "take a risk in so doing". She nonetheless played down the importance of this practice, saying that, what counts, is the final assessment.