Brussels, 13/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 12 September, the Commission authorised state aid requests from the Czech Republic and Austria for combined transport.
The authorised aid in the Czech Republic is to encourage the development of combined transport through subsidies for the purchase of certain types of wagons with the aim of increasing the use of unaccompanied combined transport (carrying a trailer, semi-trailer, container or swap body on another mode of transport without the traction unit [lorry]). The expected budget for the overall aid scheme for the period 2006-2010 is 1.580 million Czech Crowns (€56 million).
The Commission also authorised the extension of the reduced interest loan scheme operated by the Austrian State Fund ERP for combined transport infrastructure and equipment. ERP will, therefore, be able to continue to offer loans to companies active in this sector at interest rates that are better than market rates. This scheme is an extension of a similar programme which was approved by the Commission in 2002 and expired in 2006. The loans can be granted for various combined transport activities, such as investment in specific transport infrastructure and equipment and the use of new technologies. The maximum amount of loans that can be granted until this scheme expires at the end of 2011 is €35 million. (aby)