Brussels, 02/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Commission continues to follow the progress of the Landesbanken in their recapitalisation, said a Commission spokesperson for competition, stressing that there was still "no news". Commissioner Neelie Kroes wrote to Caio Kock Weser, Executive Director of the Association of German Private Banks, on Tuesday, reiterating the position of her predecessor, Mario Monti, in favour of monitoring of the recapitalisation of German regional public banks. In October, the Commission wrapped up lengthy proceedings and called for 3 billion EUR in illegal State aid to be paid back (EUROPE of 21 October). The Commission would now like to prevent the recapitalisation from undoing the effects of this reimbursement and be assured, whether the investors are public or para-public entities, that they are abiding by the same rules as private investors, added spokesperson Jonathan Todd. He specified that the new investments must not take place before July 2005.