Netherlands: Formal investigation opened into aid in the malt sector in the Netherlands

The European Commission decided on May 3 to open a formal investigation procedure into a measure the Dutch authorities intend to apply in favour of the malt sector. This measure consists of the granting of an investment subsidy amounting to (gross) EUR 7,425,000 for the establishment of a production plant for malt in Eemshaven, province of Groningen. With the investment in this plant the whole chain of storage and processing of malting barley and the production and trade in malt will be integrated.

Considering the available information, the Commission can at this stage not determine if the aid proposed is in compliance with EU provisions in the domain of State aid. The Commission is at this stage not certain whether there are sufficient market outlets for the malt that shall be produced in the new plant.

When they have received the official notification of this decision, the Dutch authorities have one month to communicate their observations and provide all the necessary clarifications.
The decision will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Other interested parties have one month from the date of the publication to give notice of their comments. These remarks will be sent to the Netherlands, which will be given the possibility to give their reaction to them.

When the Commission has received the requested clarifications from the Dutch authorities, possible comments from other interested parties, and possible observations of the Netherlands on those comments, the Commission will establish a decision about the compatibility of the measure with the common market.

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