Schuldsanering Italiaanse landbouwcoöperaties door Commissie onderzocht (en)

The Commission has decided to open an investigation into a debt consolidation scheme operated by Lazio Region to help farmers and agricultural cooperatives. The scheme is based on a law the amended provisions of which were approved in 1996 following a similar investigation, and a proposal to refinance it by injecting just over €200 000 was put forward in 2001. It provides an interest rate subsidy on loans of more than 15 years duration taken out in order to consolidate high service cost debts in connection with investments already made.

The scheme should over the years have been adjusted in line with the various rules that have come into force on aid for rescuing and restructuring enterprises in difficulty. At present the Commission doubts whether this has been done and in consequence whether aid granted over the last few years has complied with these rules and so been compatible with the common market.

After receiving official notification of the Commission's decision the Italian authorities will have one month in which to notify their observations and provide all necessary clarification. The decision will also be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities and other interested parties will have one month from the date of publication to transmit their observations. These will be passed on to Italy, which will be able to comment on them.

When it has received the clarification requested from the Italian authorities and any contributions from interested parties and Italy's comments on these, the Commission will speedily give its decision on compatibility of the aid with the common market.