04/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 3 December, the European Commission confirmed that it would check if state aid broke competion rules when it was paid to three loans companies experiencing financial difficulties. Two of them included the German banks IKB and Sachsen LB and the third, the British bank, Northern Rock. The Commission will analyse whether state aid is involved. If the answer is affirmative, the Commission will have to ensure that it was compatible with the single market and not give rise to undue distortion of competition, explained the spokesperson for Neelie Kroes, the commissioner for competition. (C.D.)