Brussels, 21/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday the European Commission decided to authorise the creation and funding of a public private joint venture company for the operation of Antwerp's International Airport at Deurne, Belgium. The joint venture company will be established by the Flemish Region, three regional partners (the Antwerp Municipal Port Authority, GOM Antwerp and the Diamond High Council) and a commercial partner that has been selected following a tendering procedure. The joint venture will be responsible for tunnelling the road Krijgsbaan in order to ensure that the airport can comply with new international safety regulations, for operating the airport under a concession contract and for developing a business park at the airport grounds. Following analysis of the project, the Commission concluded that: public participation and contributions to the joint venture company is compatible with Community rules on State aid; this project has a very limited impact on trade and competition; it is also in line with the European transport policy and serves to promote business activity as well as economic, social and regional cohesion within the EU and is thus in the common European interest; the amount of public contributions and the choice of a commercial partner were finally determined by means of an open and non-discriminatory public tendering procedure, which has respected the principle of equal treatment between competitors and ensured that the level of public participation is limited to the minimum necessary.