Press Release: State aid: Commission approves joint UK-Irish project to provide telecommunications connectivity in North West region of Ireland

The European Commission approved under EC Treaty state aid rules up to €30 million of public funding for a joint initiative by the UK and Irish Governments aimed at providing direct international submarine telecommunications connections to the North West of the island of Ireland. The project is designed to bring the cost of international backhaul connectivity in the region in line with that in major Irish and UK cities and provide the border counties with a resilient and diverse open access network. The Commission found the measure to be compatible with Article 87(3)(c) EC Treaty (that allows aid for the development of certain economic activities or areas, where it does not adversely affect trading conditions), as the project furthers the provision of electronic communications in the region.