10/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - Werner Langer, CDU MEP, has welcomed the statement by the Court of First Instance that the transfer of the Wohnungsbauförderungsanstalt (WfA) to the Rhineland regional bank of North Rhine-Westfalie, West LB, was carried out in conditions equivalent to state aid (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.13). The Tribunal annulled the decision taken by the Commission at the time, for the simple reason that it was not sufficiently reasoned, noted the Parliament, which criticized the Commission for failing to match such important decisions with sufficient explanations. This was detrimental to the competition policy and to willingness to fight competition distortions, said Mr Langen.