Brussels, 17/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 17 June, the European Commission opened a formal investigation to clarify whether the German joint venture EverQ, which is active in the solar energy market, is a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) as defined by the state aid rules and, as such, entitled to public funding in the form of an SME bonus that the Commission approved on 7 June 2006. During its investigation related to another aid measure for EverQ and for which the Commission opened a formal investigation in May 2008, the Commission uncovered indications that EverQ might not have been an SME at the time it took its decision on 7 June 2006. An SME is defined on the basis of the number of employees and turnover. Data from sister or associated companies are also taken into account. At the conclusion of the procedure, the Commission will decide whether to revoke its decision on the 2006 state SME support to EverQ. (O.L./transl.rt)