Brussels, 01/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to open formal inquiries into public support for three shipyards in Gdynia, Gdañsk and Szczecin. The restructuring process began in 2002 in the shipyards and the Commission is interested in aid paid after accession. After a preliminary examination the Commission has expressed doubts that this aid can result long term viability of the shipyards or that a reduction in capacity had really limited anti-competitive effects of the aid. In a press release the Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes stated that “The type of aid proposed by the Polish authorities is only compatible with EU rules if accompanied by a detailed restructuring plan involving durable industrial restructuring and not limited to servicing debt and improving liquidity. We need to see a plan which is likely to result in viable companies capable of facing up to competitive pressures within the EU”. In a press release the Strocznia Gdynia SA company, in which Polish finance ministers have a majority stake, indicate that they are fully collaborating with the Commission but that the effects on competition in the EU resulting from the restructuring plan are “negligible” and that the aid is limited to “an absolute minimum”.