Press Release: State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigation into aid to German joint venture EverQ

The European Commission opened a formal investigation under EC Treaty state aid rules to clarify whether the German joint venture EverQ is a small or medium-sized enterprise(SME) as defined by the state aid rules and as such entitled to public funding in the form of an SME bonus that the Commission approved on 7 June 2006. EverQ GmbH is located in Thalheim, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany and is active in the solar energy market. During its investigation related to another aid measure for EverQ and for which the Commission opened a formal investigation in May 2008 (see IP/08/772), the Commission uncovered indications that EverQ might not have been an SME at the time it took its decision on 7 June 2006. An SME is defined on the basis of the number of employees and turnover. Data from sister or associated companies are also taken into account. The opening of an in-depth investigation gives interested parties the possibility to comment on the proposed measure. It does not prejudge the outcome of the procedure. At the conclusion of the procedure, the Commission will decide whether to revoke its decision on the 2006 state SME support to EverQ.