The European Commission opened two in-depth investigations, based on the EU regulations concerning state aids, concerning a support scheme for investing in the regional airports of Romania and to establish if certain discounts and rebates that the airport of Timișoara is offering to certain airline companies are distorting competition. In a press release, the Commission is expressing its concern, particularly when it comes to the fact that the agreements concluded between the Airport of Timişoara and Wizz Air could provide the latter with an unfair economic advantage over its competitors.

The vice-president of the Competition Commision, Mr. Joaquín Almunia, said: "The Commission has the duty to perform investigations when it considers that it is possible for the public authorities to grant subsidies that distort competition. The regulations allow subsidies intended to compensate the services of general economic interest and, under certain economic conditions, the improvement of the access infrastructure or providing support to the creation of new routes on the regional airports. They do not allow the granting of subsidies intended to cover operating losses on a continual basis."

* Regional airports in Romania

Concerning the support scheme for investments in the regional airports of Romania, the Commission has doubts over the fact that public funding fulfils a clearly defined objective of general interest, given the apparent excess of supply when it comes to airport services in Romania. Furthermore, the Commission needs to assess whether the modernized infrastructure is necessary and proportional, especially when considering the limited activity of the airports. The initial investigation indicates the fact that most of the time, Romanian regional airports post losses, and that their operating losses are annually covered by the state. The EU regulatio