Press Release: State aid: Commission endorsed remuneration for distribution of postal bonds by Poste Italiane

The European Commission decided under EC Treaty state aid rules that the remuneration paid by the state-controlled financial body 'Cassa Depositi e Prestiti' to 'Poste Italiane', the Italian universal postal service provider, for the distribution of postal bonds from 2000 to 2006 does not constitute state aid. The Commission's in-depth investigation, opened in November 2006, found that the remuneration was consistent with market conditions and therefore did not unduly favour ‘Poste Italiane’ over its competitors.