Brussels, 23/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has partly approved the new scheme of coordination centres intended to replace the old scheme that had been judged incompatible with European common market rules on 17 February. The Belgian scheme allowed coordination centres (undertakings that are part of a multinational group and that have the exclusive task of providing certain services to other companies of the same group) to calculate their taxable income as a flat rate based on costs incurred (the so-called "cost plus" method). The Commission had felt that the exclusion of certain costs, coupled to other tax exemptions, artificially reduced the tax burden of the centres (see EUROPE of 19 February, p;15). In order to meet the requirements of the Commission, Belgium decided to review its method of calculation, and the modifications made were accepted. The Commission considers that the new scheme will no longer represent "aid" in so far as, unlike the old system, the taxation base of the centres is calculated on all their operating costs, applying an adequate margin. The new method will, moreover, no longer giver rise to tax moderation and will therefore not entail any economic advantages. On the other hand, the Commission has decided to open a detailed inquiry into several other tax exemption measures granted to these centres. The Commission raises the question of the validity of these measures which existed in the old regime and which Belgium has kept in place. The Commission considers the measures represent State aid as they seem to constitute economic advantages granted through the use of State resources to certain companies only (the centres) to the detriment of competition and intra-Community trade. The Belgian State is invited to comment on this subject, as are third parties interested.