Press Release: State aid: Commission declares operating aid to Nuova Mineraria Silius in Sardinia illegal and orders recovery

The European Commission has concluded that a €98.36 million aid the Region of Sardinia granted to support the mining company Nuova Mineraria Silius (NMS) is not compatible with EC Treaty state aid rules, and must be recovered. The Commission found that, each year since 1997, the Region of Sardinia has transferred public funds in order to cover the recurrent losses of NMS, keeping in business a company that otherwise would have gone into bankruptcy. Since no restructuring has taken place, the measures must be regarded as illegal operating aid.