15/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 13 July, the European Commission approved public financing for the construction of a pedestrian bridge and jetties in the passenger section of the Port of Piraeus, a project costing an estimated €5.1 million. It has, however, refused in the immediate to authorise the public financing of the construction of a jetty and the acquisition of different types of equipment in the container terminal section of the same port. The Commission considers that this measure constitutes state aid for the Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) in that it relieves the PPA of investment costs, that, in the normal way of things, it should have borne, in a port facility that can be commercially exploited. It has decided, therefore, to open an in-depth assessment procedure. (C.D./transl.rt)