Press Release: State aid: Commission and Italy work together to adjust two helicopter research projects to EC Treaty rules

The European Commission concluded that Italian measures in favour of two R&D projects concerning helicopters are of a military nature and therefore fall within the scope of Article 296 of the EC Treaty (that allows Member States to take measures necessary for the protection of their essential security interests). The Commission therefore closed its in-depth state aid investigation opened in 2003 following a complaint. However, the Commission considered that these measures also have an impact on the civilian market. Therefore, the Commission will continue to work with Italy in order to jointly examine how these measures can be adjusted to the rules laid down in the EC Treaty, including the competition rules.