Press Release: State aid: Commission endorses Northern Irish Language Broadcast Fund

The European Commission on 8 June 2005 authorised public funding for the Northern Irish Language Broadcast Fund in the United Kingdom under EC Treaty state aid rules. The overall Fund amount was to be £12 million (€17.7 million) for the period 2005 - 2009. The objective of the Fund was to support the production of television and film output in the Irish language. The Commission considers that since the aid aimed to promote cultural products and the Irish Language, it could be authorised under EC Treaty rules that allow state aids for the promotion of culture.