Brussels, 08/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - The Commission hopes to obtain more information about aid of 2 million EUR granted by the French government in May 2005 for the restructuring of the French company Ernault, which specialises in machine tools. It suspects that this aid is in breach of Community guidelines on State rescue and restructuring aid, and will not allow Ernault to return to viability whilst avoiding excessive competition distortion. The private contribution to the restructuring plan does not appear to have been sufficient.
In January 2005, the French company already received a loan of 2 million from the French State. The Commission authorised this loan as rescue aid.