Wallonia to take Ryanair to Dublin court

7 March 2005

BRUSSELS – The Walloon authorities intend to sue low-cost airline Ryanair to recover the millions it gave the carrier in state subsidies, it emerged on Monday.

The French-speaking Belgian region has decided to ask lawyers to start court proceedings in Dublin next week, reported public service broadcaster RTBF.

Wallonia has been asking the Irish airline to furnish information on the state subsidies it received for establishing at Charleroi airport.

However, Ryanair has not been cooperative.

Wallonia must take action to recover the money following a European Commission ruling last year that the Wallonia-Ryanair deal breached European competition law.

Ryanair is likely to argue, though, that an Irish judge should not rule on the case before its appeal on the EU decision is concluded, either next year or in 2007.

On Wednesday, Wallonia is also due to tell the European Commission that rules on granting public aid in order to develop regional airports like Charleroi are too restrictive.

Subject: Belgian news