31/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission agreed on Wednesday 30 January to the aid scheme proposed by the Czech Republic to support its railway activities. The Czech authorities intend to guarantee a loan of €30 million to facilitate the purchase of new rolling stock for passenger transport. The loan will be granted by the financing company EUROFIMA. It will contribute to the necessary upgrading of the rolling stock of Czech Railways (Èeske dráhy) and to increasing the reliability and safety of passenger transport services in the Czech Republic. Czech Railways is paying interest on the loan, albeit at a more advantageous rate than full market conditions, and a fee for the guarantee. (L.C.)