Brussels, 25/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has opened formal investigation procedures into restructuring aid for British Energy to assess whether it constitutes state aid. British Energy is in financial difficulty, and was granted £650 million in emergency aid in November 2002 to rescue the company, on condition that the government notify the Commission of its restructuring plan within six months (see EUROPE of 29 November, p.13). On 7 March 2003, the UK submitted details of the rescue plan, which will be assessed in the light of EU state rescue and restructuring aid guidelines. Areas covered by the Euratom Treaty (on nuclear safety) will be considered in line with the Treaty's stipulations. The Commission's investigation will assess whether the plan will make British Energy a viable concern in a reasonable timescale and whether the company uses its own resources to make a decisive contribution to the restructuring. It will also look at the uneven playing field created by the aid, which must be restricted as far as possible. The Commission will also be considering whether the aid is needed to guarantee the safety of the nuclear industry and security of electricity supplies.