Brussels, 10/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - Following an in-depth investigation (see EUROPE 9127), the European Commission has concluded that the Greek government's planned contribution to the Hellenic Telecommunication Operator's (OTE) voluntary early retirement scheme (VRS) is compatible with EC Treaty state aid rules. The aim of the Greek government's transfer of 4% of its shares in OTE to the OTE pension fund is to relieve OTE of extra costs resulting mainly from the quasi-civil-servant status of OTE's employees. The Commission's decision is based on the Greek government's explicit commitment that the value of the shares to be transferred to TAP, the pension fund by which OTE employees are insured, will not exceed the extra costs of the VRS, estimated at €390.4 million. (cd)