The European Commission won't nix
Italian government measures to decontaminate an ILVA steel plant
and surrounding areas in the southern city of Taranto, according
to documents ANSA has seen Wednesday.
The EC "does not intend to oppose possible immediate action
Italian authorities believe to be necessary and urgent to
safeguard the health of citizens" said the document to be
published on the EU official gazette.
Financing such a cleanup will not be considered illegal
State aid, the document said.
The European Steel Association (EUROFER) appeared to
believe the European Commission would instead consider the
cleanup a form of State aid, according to a March 31 letter ANSA
has seen. The association is among the signatories of an appeal
against Italy, which prompted an EC assessment.
Extraordinary commissioners are managing ILVA as the firm
undergoes a massive environmental cleanup and financial
turnaround project. A court this year declared ILVA insolvent,
with debt totalling nearly three billion euros.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA