Brussels, 24/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has opened a formal investigation into Finnish state aid to the public company Tieliikelaitos which is in charge of planning, constructing and maintaining the country's road network. Between 2001 and 2004, which was a transition period on the way to opening the road works market in Finland, the company was granted four main benefits: a loan at below market rate, contracts above market price, transfer of land at what might be an advantageous price and special rules for the reduction of the workforce. The Commission considers that these aids could be compatible with the common market if Finland proves that they are limited to what is strictly necessary to compensate for the extra costs the company incurred. However, bankruptcy protection and tax benefits are not limited in time and the Commission doubts that they merely offset the extra costs incurred by the company because of its status and considers they could affect trade in a way which is not in the Community interest.