Brussels, 03/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - During the press conference with president Barroso on the Lisbon strategy on Wednesday afternoon (EUROPE yesterday pp 5-7), Commissioner for industry Gunter Verheugen was asked about the ideas of his colleague Neelie Kroes on revision of the system of state aid (EUROPE 2 February p 9 and 3 February p 16). Mr Verheugen was keen to point out that the European Commission would have to complete a review begun by Commissioner Monti. Verhuegen also noted that Mario Monti had finished his work of company mergers and acquisitions but the dossier on state aid was still pending. He provided assurances that the element of solidarity can never be ignored with these rules, adding that Ms Kroes and he agreed that the ideas on the issue had been misinterpreted as she had never thought that the treaty had to be changed and any aid to poor zones in rich countries would end. “One cannot do it”, he exclaimed.