Press Release: State aid: Commission approves Finnish capital injection scheme for financial institutions

The European Commission approved under EC Treaty state aid rules a Finnish support scheme to stabilise financial markets by providing capital injections to eligible financial institutions. The Commission found the measure to be in line with its Guidance Communications on state aid to overcome the financial crisis. In particular, the Commission considered that the measure constitutes an adequate means to remedy a serious disturbance of the Finnish economy and as such was in line with Article 87.3.b of the EC Treaty. In particular, the scheme is non-discriminatory, limited in time and scope and provides safeguards to minimise distortions of competition.