Press Release: State aid: Commission approves €800 million public funding for Spanish textile sector

The European Commission authorised, under the EC Treaty’s rules on state aid, €800 million of public funding for a comprehensive support programme aimed at the Spanish textile and clothing sector. The programme comprises measures for the promotion of technical research, reindustrialisation, innovation, export of Spanish products, specific training and for maintaining aged workers in their job. After an in-depth investigation, opened in November 2007, the Commission found the measures to be in line with the state aid rules, either under approved aid schemes, the exemption for small amounts of aid or Article 87(3)(c), that allows aid under certain conditions for the development of certain economic activities.