Brussels, 02/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 2 April, the European Commission decided to authorise Slovakia to grant state aid for clean transport. Slovakia will be authorised to keep its excise reductions and exonerations granted since 1 May 2004 to rail and waterway transport with the aim of reducing external costs in the transport industry. The Commission also authorised state aid from Poland for developing the regional airport infrastructure at Lodz. The aim of the project, which amounts to 40,170,000 zlotys (around €11.36 million) is to adjust the airport to meet EU standards, improve security, respond to the growing demand for air transport and create the possibility of having new air connections. State involvement in the project may not exceed 50%. The Commission says the planned measures meet EU rules because they aim to aid the general interest without creating an uneven playing field, since Lodz airport is a small regional airport in a region that can claim EU support. The second Polish state aid plan approved on Wednesday is for a loan of 13 million zlotys (around €3.4 million) for transport company C. Hartwig Warszawa S.A. The loan will be financed from the Polish company restructuring fund (Fundusz Restrkturyazcji Przedsiebiorstw) and help restructure the company so it can become viable again. The loan will have to be repaid by 2010. (A.By)