The European Commission is investigating, still informally, alleged state aid granted to the steel company Ilva, and expects the Italian government to answer a long series of questions by November 20, says a document whose content is reported by Reuters. The Commission wants to understand, among other things, whether "the Italian State will become a shareholder of Ilva".
On 20 October, the Commission's Competition DG sent an eight-page letter to the Italian government, requesting further information - after an initial letter sent at the end of May - on three alleged aid measures, from the transfer of seized funds from the judiciary to the bridging loan granted to the company, passing through the reclamation of polluted areas with public funds.
“The Commission is in contact with the Italian authorities regarding possible aid measures in favor of Ilva. We are following the situation and developments,” Commission spokesman Ricardo Cardoso said in an emailed comment to Reuters.
