Brussels, 16/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - The conclusions document of the summit in Brussels on 15-16 October 2008 instructs the European Commission to look into the best ways of supporting industry in the EU. The request was made against the backdrop of the continued slide on the financial markets and backing granted by the United States to its car industry. Eurogroup chair and prime minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker said the summit had agreed to ask the Commission to look at how it could support growth, particularly in the EU car industry, which should not suffer competitive disadvantage. He said that if the US provided massive support for its car industry, the EU had to react. His views were echoed by the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, who said that aid for the car industry might be more appropriate now EU car manufacturers are required to innovate and make low-carbon cars. Will EU state aid rules be watered down? Quizzed about this by reporters, UK foreign minister David Milliband would only comment by quoting from the conclusions document that says that in the current exceptional circumstances, the application of EU rules has to continue to meet the demand for fast, flexible action. Milliband also quoted another part of the document that calls on the Commission to formulate suitable proposals by the end of the year to preserve the international competitiveness of EU industry, adding that support for economic activity requires a sufficient level of funding. The Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, added that people should not be outraged if Member States, including Italy, consider giving state aid to the car industry. (C.D. trans fl)