Press Release: State aid: Commission opens in-depth inquiry into proposed restructuring aid to Bison-Bial in Poland

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to establish whether the €8 million aid the Polish authorities intend to grant for the restructuring of machine-tool manufacturer Bison-Bial is compatible with the EC Treaty rules on state aid. On the basis of the information currently at its disposal, the Commission doubts whether the notified restructuring plan is sufficient to restore the firm's long term viability and has concerns that the aid would create undue distortions of competition in the machine tool sector, which already suffers from overcapacity. The opening of an in-depth investigation allows interested parties to comment on the proposed measures. It does not prejudge the outcome of the procedure.