Brussels, 27/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 26 September, the European Commission decided to authorise the Czech authorities' aid measures to compensate inland waterway transport operators for losses caused by low levels of water in the Elbe which can sometimes mean operation is not profitable. The aid will cover a maximum of 60% of the losses incurred directly as a result of low water levels, and will not be allowed to exceed 30% of costs related to transport, says a press release. The aid will be granted to operators in the case of: - limited navigation (loss-making journeys which are not economically justified) during insufficient navigation conditions (level of water below 200 cm., i.e. a draught of less than 140 cm.) - no navigation (the level of water below 170cm., i.e. a draught of less than 110 cm.). This is a temporary measure because the Czech authorities have decided to build a lock at Decin to eliminate the problem. For this reason, the aid will be granted only until 2010 when the construction of the lock is due to be completed. The Commission considered this aid was compatible with the common market because it is granted on a non-discriminatory and transparent manner, restricts itself to compensation of unpaid, external and infrastructure costs of competing modes of transport and is limited in time.