Press Release: State aid: Commission opens in-depth inquiry into €11 million sale of Greek Cassandra Mines to Ellinikos Xrysos

The European Commission opened an in-depth investigation under EC Treaty state aid rules to establish whether the terms of the sale of the Greek state-owned Cassandra Mines to Ellinikos Xrysos for €11 million constitute illegal state aid. In particular, the Commission will examine the sale of the mine and without any open, transparent and unconditional tendering procedure at a price which appears to be below the market value. 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.