Brussels, 16/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 16 April, the European Commission decided to open two investigations in the transport sector. The first aims to determine whether subsidies paid by the Scottish Executive to the Scottish ferry companies NorthLink and CalMac led to overcompensation or undue distortion of fair competition. The second focuses on contracts concluded by the Czech authorities providing public transport compensations to bus carriers in the Usti nad Labem Region. The aim in this investigation is also to determine whether there was overcompensation.
On Wednesday however, the Commission decided to approve investment aid to companies purchasing new less polluting buses for carrying out public service contracts in the Czech Republic. It also gave the go-ahead to three concession agreements in which the Greek authorities will grant €550 million to Apion Kleos Group for the design, construction, financing operation, maintenance and exploitation of the Elefsina - Korinthos - Patras - Pirgos - Tsakona Motorway Project. (O.L.)