Brussels, 12/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has welcomed the notification by the Maltese Government that it has formally accepted the Commission recommendation of 22nd March 2006 to gradually phase out existing aid schemes providing selective tax benefits to international trading companies (ITCs) and companies with foreign income (CFIs) by the end of 2010. Malta has agreed to cap the number of new beneficiaries, refuse to accept new beneficiaries after 31 December 2006, and reduce the tax benefits the existing beneficiaries enjoy after that date. Malta's acceptance renders abolition of the schemes legally binding and will put an end to these long-lasting preferential regimes in Malta, explains the Commission, adding that it found that the schemes violated the EC Treaty's ban on state aid liable to distort competition.