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28 July 2004
BRUSSELS – The European Commission has granted the authorities in Belgium’s French speaking Wallonia extra time to claim back millions of euros in illegal state aid paid to Irish low cost airline Ryanair, it was reported on Wednesday.
The Belga news agency said Wallonian Transport Minister Andre Antoine has confirmed that the region will now have until 15 September to claim back the funds.
The original deadline for Ryanair to hand the money back was 30 July.
The Commission called in February on Ryanair to pay back part of a package of subsidies it received from the Wallonian authorities in order to encourage it to expand its activities at Charleroi, the regions main airport.
The EU executive argued the agreement broke European competition case.
But Ryanair rejected the argument and is trying to have the decision overturned by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
[Copyright Expatica 2004]
Subject: Belgian news