Brussels, 09/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission decided on Wednesday 7 February to approve a scheme to promote the scrapping of small single hull oil tankers over fifteen years old operating on the Italian cabotage market. The Commission feels this measure will help improve the safety of Community waters. Under the Italian scheme shipping companies will be granted aid to break up their single hull oil tankers over fifteen years old intended for the transport of crude oil or petroleum or chemical products. The measure will apply for three years with an annual budget of €12 million. After an investigation, the Commission concluded that it is compatible with EU rules, particularly the January 2004 'Community guidelines on state aid to maritime transport'. The Commission is happy that the ships in question will be demolished instead of being transferred to less strict non-Community registers. (lc)