27/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has endorsed a British refinancing measure in favour of Post Office Limited (POL) granted by the parent company, British Royal Mail Group. The aid is compensation for the net cost of the public counter service in rural areas authorised by the Commission in 2003. The British government, which requires POL to ensure local access by rural communities to essential services, is therefore authorised to pay POL compensation of £150 million annually (EUR 219 million). Aid is proportionate to the cost of maintaining structurally deficient counters and is therefore in line with framework regulations for aid as public service compensation adopted in July 2005 (EUROPE 8992).