Press Release: State aid: Commission approves EUR140 million support to Snecma for an R&D project

Acting under the EC Treaty rules on state aid, the European Commission on 7 December 2005 approved a €140 million R&D support measure proposed by the French authorities for Snecma. The aim of the Franco-Russian co-operation project was to develop an engine for the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ). The Commission concluded that the project satisfied the criteria of the Community framework for state aid for research and development and could therefore be considered compatible with the Treaty (Article 87).