Brussels, 02/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 30 April the Commission indicated that it still had not reached a decision on the compatibility of the Alitalia airline's restructuring plan with European rules and therefore refuted the views expressed by the president of the Italian Council Silvio Berlusconi earlier in the day, who stated during a press conference that, “the operation to save Alitalia has been authorised by the EU” but a Commission spokesperson said that no decision had been taken and this would be decided over the next few days. The Commission explained that it was still studying all the necessary components in the investigation but that the Commission would be able to give a decision in the next few weeks. The Commission also said that it had received all the information necessary and hoped to reach a final decision by the end of May beginning of June.
The restructuring plan includes a recapitalisation and division of the company into two parts. AZ Fly will take over Alitalia flights and AZ Servizi will be in charge of airport activities (maintenance and ground crew activities). The creation of the company became effective from 1 May. The Commission investigation was opened in January (EUROPE 8870) and focuses on the entry of the public company, Fintecna into the capital of Alitalia Servizi, as well as the participation of the private sector in the recapitalisation of AZ Fly to the tune of EUR 1.2 billion. In July 2004 when the Commission authorised the rescue in the form of a EUR 400 million loan, the Italian state made a commitment to having a minority stake in Alitalia over a 12 month period.