Brussels, 09/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has launched an in-depth probe into aid planned by the Portuguese authorities for the extension of a Infineon semiconductor plant located in Vila do Conde, Portugal. Portugal envisages granting EUR 76.8 million in aid to Technologies-Fabrico de Semiconductores, SA. The in-depth probe will allow the Commission to verify whether the company is eligible for regional investment aid and if so, whether the aid respects the applicable regional aid ceilings. It will also carefully assess whether the project would take place in a sector suffering from structural over-capacity. The new plant is scheduled to produce DRAMs (a market where careful scrutiny is required.) The probe will also allow the Commission to verify data on the creation of direct and indirect jobs in the Grande Porto region, a region that is, in principle, eligible for regional aid.