Brussels, 15/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - Commissioner Monti met Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister Pal Csaky last Monday when they spoke of the dispute between the EU and Slovakia on the subsidy package granted to the Slovakian steel industry of the American US Steel group, the largest steel producer of the country. The Slovakian government decided last April to subsidise steel up to $500 million until 2009. European rules on steel subsidies, however, are strict and the Commission plans to have them complied with by the future Member States. According to the Dow Jones agency, the Commissioner had called on the representative of the Slovakian government either to cut back steel production by the company in question or to cut back on the amount of subsidies, failing which the Commission would be compelled to open a formal investigation. In this case, if the inquiry confirms the existence of aid not in accordance with the rules, US Steel could be forced to reimburse the amounts unduly paid. Slovakia has said that it would study ways to resolve the dispute, which affects a key sector of its economy.