15/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission confirmed on 15 July 2008 that it has received a response from the Italian government vis-à-vis the investigation opened in June 2008 into a €300 million loan for troubled Italian airline Alitalia (see EUROPE 9680). Following publication in the EU Official Journal in the next few days, interested parties will have a month to submit comments to the European Commission. Alitalia is losing more than €2 million every day. It has already received restructuring aid and is therefore not allowed to receive any more restructuring aid until 2011, even conditional aid (under EU rules). Italy must therefore demonstrate that the loan in question was granted under normal market conditions and therefore does not constitute state aid. (C.D./transl.fl)