Press Release: State aid: Commission welcomes proposed changes to financing of Irish public service broadcasters and closes investigation

The European Commission decided to close its investigation under EC Treaty state aid rules into the financing regime of the Irish public service broadcasters RTÉ and TG4 following commitments from Ireland to amend the current regime. The main modifications concern the clarification of the public service remit, the entrustment of new activities, the transparency of accounts, supervision and control. The Commission concluded that the commitments were suitable to bring the regime in line with the state aid rules and ensure the necessary transparency and proportionality of funding. Ireland has now until December 2008 to implement these commitments in national law.