24/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission decided, on 22 October, that the remuneration paid by the state-controlled financial body Cassa Depositi e Prestiti to Poste Italiane, the Italian universal postal service provider, for the distribution of postal bonds from 2000 to 2006 did not constitute state aid. The Commission's in-depth investigation, opened in November 2006, found that the remuneration was consistent with market conditions and did not, therefore, offer any advantage over competitors. Moreover, for the period between 2000 and 2004, the distribution of postal bonds was not considered as a service of general economic interest. However, the Commission reminded Italy of the obligation on companies responsible for managing public services and also operating in other markets to maintain separate accounts for their different activities, something that Poste Italiane failed to do. (C.D./transl.rt)