Europese Commissie onderzoekt staatssteun van 2,7 miljoen aan Przedzalnia Zawiercie in Polen (en)

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation under EC Treaty state aid rules to establish whether approximately €2.7 million (PLN 10.4 million) of aid, which Poland intends to grant for the restructuring of Przedzalnia Zawiercie, is in line with the EU Guidelines on state aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty (see MEMO/04/172). Przedzalnia Zawiercie produces pure cotton, viscose and technical fabrics yarn. The Commission has doubts whether the company is eligible for new restructuring aid, as it had already received state support in the past. The Commission also needs to verify whether the notified restructuring plan is sufficient to restore the company's long term viability and whether the aid is limited to the minimum necessary. The Commission further has to determine whether the compensatory measures are adequate and ensure that the aid would not create an undue distortion of competition within the EU. The opening of an in-depth investigation allows interested parties to comment on the proposed measures. It does not prejudge the outcome of the procedure.

EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said: "This company faces enduring difficulties and has already established its third restructuring plan. We have to make certain that taxpayers' money is spent on a project capable of leading to long-term viability and not merely to cover ongoing losses."

In June 2008, Poland notified the planned restructuring aid to the state-owned company Przedzalnia Zawiercie. The company faces long-lasting difficulties which worsened after the 2005 liberalisation of world trade in textiles. Although the company has implemented restructuring measures from as early as 2003, it has not been able to efficiently remedy its difficulties.

The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number C 47/2008 in the State Aid Register on the DG Competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved. New publications of state aid decisions on the internet and in the Official Journal are listed in the State Aid Weekly e-News.