Brussels, 14/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has authorised various State aids, concerning: - Ireland: a) green light to the introduction of a risk equalisation scheme in the Irish health insurance market, aiming to guarantee that risks are shared by the whole market. The Commission believes that the scheme is vital to the stability of the health insurance system chosen by the Irish authorities, which provides for uniform tariffs for different insurance products. Furthermore, the scheme has been designed to ensure that the equalisation payments, managed by the Health Insurance Authority, are in future limited to the minimum to neutralise differences in health insurers' risk profiles; b) green light to the granting of total Irish State aid of 6.9 million Euros to airlines. This measure aims to compensate them for losses registered by the companies between 11 and 14 September 2001, following the terrorist attacks in the United States. It is in line with the Commission's position as defined in its communication of 10 October 2001 on the "repercussions of the terrorist attacks on air transport".
- Germany: The Commission has authorised an aid project for the undertaking Adolf Jass Schwarza. The aid, which totals 70 million Euros to be paid in the form of direct grants, will fund the construction of a new light-weight corrugated base paper factory in the Land of Thuringia. It will create 480 jobs, and not go beyond the authorised ceiling.
- France: The French authorities have been given the go-ahead to bring in an inclusive tonnage-based tax regime for the maritime sector from 2003 to 2004. The regime, which will help to strengthen the competitiveness of the French fleet against competition from third countries, conforms to existing Community rules in the field of aid to maritime transport. France will become the tenth country to bring in this kind of regime.