commiss decis june german aid grant merced benz ludwigsfeld brandenburg german text authent text eea relev ec commiss european commun regard treati establish european commun subparagraph articl thereof regard agreement establish european econom area articl thereof parti concern opportun submit comment accord subparagraph articl letter date januari commiss inform german author decis decemb initi procedur articl ec treati respect state aid measur propos merced benz mb laender land brandenburg initi procedur commiss express doubt compat aid reason plan measur properli notifi commiss accord procedur articl treati accur quantifi high aid intens propos project involv signific expans capac european truck market give rise distort competit insuffici evid present justifi combin high intens region aid grant indirect invest temporari oper aid treuhandanstalt tha structur econom problem laender fear aid intens disproportion high incompat commun framework state aid motor vehicl industri ii letter date septemb decemb march commiss call german author notifi accord commun framework state aid motor vehicl industri aid measur support invest merced benz ag german laender stress aid grant prior notif approv commiss german govern explain letter date view commun framework appli german laender januari march due expir end renew commiss decemb legal bind formal accept prolong german govern formal decis commiss pursuant articl procedur aid measur question approv march scrutin commiss refer approv region aid scheme laender legal posit german govern accept commiss ground decis februari applic commun framework question germani challeng german govern limit time renew commiss decemb affect fundament notif requir german govern challeng react renew framework commiss legitim assum compli applic provis approv extens exist region aid scheme laender commiss stipul commun framework compli extens mean provis outlin plan joint feder govern laender scheme publish german govern juli approv commiss letter sg octob compli case aid case laender prior notif requir state aid motor vehicl industri appli case commiss consid case notifi case aid approv german author prior agreement commiss decis initi articl procedur base detail analysi inform contain german author letter septemb decemb bilater contact repres german author letter januari commiss request german govern comment month decis initi articl procedur merced benz case confirm work dai agre suspend aid payment merced benz invest ludwigsfeld ahrensdorf confirm receiv due commiss reserv halt interim decis payment state aid project iii letter date januari german govern declar willing suspend payment aid termin articl procedur letter date march provid observ commiss letter januari notic offici journal commiss invit member state parti comment initi articl procedur comment receiv commiss procedur letter date april commiss request german author tha provid inform deem enabl complet analysi case relev question explain commiss bilater meet april clarifi letter date june august novemb answer progress german author letter juli august octob repli discuss meet repres commiss german author concern merced benz june octob invest origin plan place stage stage privat tha east german ifa kombinat nutzfahrzeug respons prior unif truck product german democrat republ establish product compani nutzfahrzeug ludwigsfeld nl develop compani entwicklungsgesellschaft fuer kraftfahrzeugtechnik egl part hold compani fahrzeugbau und fahrzeugtechnik beteiligungsgesellschaft fbg fbg initi wholli own tha mb acquir share nl assembl mb light truck pursuant lohnmontagevertrag assembl commiss contract commerci contract stage involv build plant mb ahrensdorf close ludwigsfeld product ln ln truck due start end nl close issu clarifi stage proceed letter refer meet detail mb invest plan laender relat compani exist activ truck sector precis amount state aid propos paid merced benz joint ventur nl exact scope oblig assum tha regard mb joint ventur analysi capac product product cost price structur financi perform nl evalu calcul purchas price tha own plant nl asset event takeov mb capac product cost forecast plant ahrensdorf develop annual capac mb truck van plant europ includ analysi propos item expenditur order determin elig aid light criteria appli commiss implement commun framework state aid motor vehicl industri detail analysi net addit cost plant ahrensdorf compar equival plant central assist region commun chosen mb compar plant advers effect sector aris grant propos aid measur respect develop capac market light medium truck van develop favour origin expect mb decid end defer construct plant forese futur continu small exist ludwigsfeld assembl plant bui remain share agreement tha compani decis chang plan commiss request german govern letter date decemb termin investig case full year negoti mb tha term sale remain share fbg german govern letter date februari renotifi commiss aid invest plan nl egl modifi definit abandon project ahrensdorf inform clarifi supplement commiss request letter german govern date juli octob meet novemb inform purchas hold compani fbg mb copi sale agreement tha mb transmit letter date decemb commiss ask german author arrang independ evalu fbg order ensur sale fbg mb element state aid letter date april german author inform commiss select arthur andersen compani make evalu includ propos methodolog valuat examin methodolog commiss letter date septemb accept propos made number observ receiv valuat appoint date commiss letter decemb urgent request transmiss threaten seek interim order case complianc letter date februari german govern transmit valuat content question put commiss discuss meet march clarifi commiss letter march remain issu clarifi german govern letter date april april issu consid mb plan natur content condit agreement mb purchas remain fbg tha restructur plan nl implement determin net aid grant fbg tha contract fbg concern chang plan net capac reduct nl mb involv iv compat propos aid measur common market german govern refer provis treati articl aid area feder republ germani affect divis germani german govern provis legal basi commiss assess compat aid measur fact germani unifi octob laender suffer econom disadvantag attribut divis countri commiss need examin econom disadvantag justifi state aid case assess criteria set commun framework motor vehicl industri includ sector consider risk overcapac appli articl aid area standard live abnorm low underemploy regard permiss level aid german author claim laender qualifi develop area latest statist account refer delor ii packag area propos object area make elig region aid net grant equival articl aid remedi disturb economi member state german author regard provis addit legal basi grant aid question view problem integr restructur plan economi market economi repres disturb germani economi regard joint ventur nl egl german govern merced benz argu complet monetari union part germani juli sale ifa truck collaps altogeth order safeguard employ ludwigsfeld nl set februari part restructur ifa nutzfahrzeug kombinat talk held truck produc commit ludwigsfeld mb potenti oper declin high risk project consortium agreement tha ifa mb truck product eastern germani continu larg number job involv safeguard origin mb agre assist restructur nl time greenfield project establish effect transfer part product light medium truck western eastern germani mb product nl necessarili satisfi market demand product volum nl mb plant partli partner addit invest recruit mb pai transfer price nl product truck produc compar merced factori product nl site confer addit advantag mb interest free invest loan dm million grant tha fbg establish minimum condit term build machineri continu product site loss nl origin put dm million reduc dm million end manag servic perform mb nl share loss assum tha origin consortium agreement limit dm million reduc dm million mb assum rest nl ifa train centr basic train apprentic nl mechan engin firm brandenburg exchang make train post exce nl mb receiv train assist dm million german author result invest plan laender mb acquir remain fbg effect januari guarante product ln truck successor model minimum annual volum ludwigsfeld unit includ bodi white paint shop final assembl person emploi mb oblig invest addit dm million plant end mb fulfil contractu oblig pai fine dm million tha agreement specifi oblig replac consortium agreement parti sale nl tha financ expenditur clean ecolog damag past altlastensanierung tune dm million dm million expect futur year tha attempt obtain waiver respect amount feder govern obtain tha bear cost event mb pai remain agreement improv financi situat tha significantli net cash result sale nl dm million estim dm million nl egl wound time job safeguard region capac nl replac ifa kombinat capac oper capac previous amount unit year product volum half stabl unit nl capac unit product forecast unit year involv mb lead signific reduct capac abandon ahrensdorf project project bring consider reduct truck capac eastern germani time market eastern europ expand inform obtain german author articl procedur commiss summar restructur effort cost product plan mb tha substanti revis open procedur phase truck capac ludwigsfeld ifa heavi medium size truck convert temporari capac medium size ln light mb truck account abandon phase establish truck plant ahrensdorf phase revis plant ludwigsfeld perman produc mb light truck close end origin plan order interrupt product mb transfer facil ludwigsfeld truck product mb truck rapidli start make facil plant product facil optim worker retain job capac plant share ln ln light truck model product model halt earli implement revis phase truck plant ludwigsfeld bodi shop paint shop assembl facil annual capac unit product ln light truck model seri order make plant suffici larg paint shop construct van deriv ln model kastenwagen consider invest complet ration instal layout plant modern build logist delai restructur process complet end employ nl engin compani egl emploi person develop ludwigsfeld site mb ration product structur commerci vehicl divis product site special product model light van vitoria spain heavi van duesseldorf light truck ludwigsfeld medium heavi truck woerth time joint ventur merced benz treuhandanstalt set total oper loss nl forecast excess dm million treuhandanstalt agre cover loss proport share compani maximum dm million actual loss limit dm million end loss due start train cost restructur effort excess number employe ifa kombinat lack paint facil kastenwagen variant ln bodi ship duesseldorf paint back ludwigsfeld final assembl tha paid advanc dm million fbg loss compens oblig fbg repaid tha unus amount interest earn advanc parallel product ln truck period ludwigsfeld woerth caus addit cost mb termin parallel product ludwigsfeld reduct workforc cost compani maximum dm million born full mb direct nl invest dm million modern facil end invest dm million year year invest financ invest loan dm million tha tha written loan line depreci machineri bought waiv repay part loan loss nl concomit oblig tha cover loss reduc agreement requir mb pai interest dm million tha unus part loan part dm million loan adapt build legal requir dm million dm million invest ifa site clearanc infrastructur measur invest maintain site oper made earlier neglect econom system german democrat republ invest sale price land build mb significantli lower end cost restructur nl egl amount dm million invest machineri build infrastructur neg cash flow work capit amount ad dm million invest mb year upgrad instal land rehabilit social cost voluntari redund restructur cost higher origin foreseen total amount period dm million merced benz purchas remain share fbg effect januari total dm million line sale contract mb paid dm tha provis made previous releas addit purchas dm million land build previous rent nl sale price land build establish basi independ evalu result negoti tha ifa mb bidder pre emption right plot drop negoti price squar metr higher compar plot ludwigsfeld site previous sold ifa privat compani market price consider higher agreement stipul mb resel rent part land higher price revalu carri addit payment made tha differ excess invest privat nl hold compani fbg profit product produc instal paint shop kastenwagen variant transport cost fallen effici increas transfer price base total cost compar site reduct product volum improv nl earn truck vi assess case commiss measur author member state state aid element caught state aid provis articl treati inform obtain german author mb procedur enabl commiss gain full pictur aid element measur favour tha compani nl quantifi aid accur nl egl german author author state aid region aid scheme dm million form invest grant investitionszuschuess total dm million invest allow investitionszulagen total dm million special depreci total dm million amount dm million amount dm million paid unlawfulli nl payment stop commenc procedur regard undertak tha cover loss nl subject ceil dm million commiss consid undertak keep normal behaviour privat investor particip joint ventur fact tha held share fbg onward fbg mb effect januari price base compani asset tha posit recov fund hitherto earmark cover joint ventur loss payment stop januari treuhandanstalt paid advanc loss compens oblig dm million accumul loss fbg total dm million merced benz reimburs tha part advanc payment cover loss share tha inclus interest bought remain share fbg tha commiss conclud net payment tha dm million inclus interest partial reimburs mb tha advanc compens loss fbg constitut state aid part sharehold loan tha nl invest machineri equip dm million commiss note intent tha forgo advanc repay full loan line depreci compani asset keep normal behaviour privat investor particip joint ventur part loan repaid mb dm million regard state aid part sharehold loan tha invest ifa restor modern build accord legal requir dm million addit dm million invest ifa give total dm million site clearanc infrastructur measur regard state aid cover sale price paid mb tha receiv dm million includ cost mb assess ecolog damag invest land build nl cover real estat site rehabilit virtual potenti buyer exist commiss take view sale transact element state aid dm million incur tha clean ecolog damag past altlastensanierung dm million total dm million spent tha futur purpos commiss state previous public expenditur altlastensanierung state aid approach present case train assist dm million provid germani nl basic vocat train traine manufactur compani constitut state aid sale remain fbg share mb tha commiss concern result price market fbg line origin agreement tha mb actual sale price amount dm million correspond nomin fbg subscrib capit order verifi price reflect true market fbg commiss request independ valuat fbg date sale carri valuat undertaken audit firm arthur andersen yield decemb dm million actual amount paid mb dm million differ estim compani actual purchas price dm million regard state aid ad amount point measur regard constitut state aid amount dm million aid measur reduc financi burden mb invest laender threaten distort competit motor vehicl manufactur commun high level intra commun trade motor vehicl sector propos measur affect trade member state fall scope articl ec treati articl eea agreement vii german govern infring articl treati fail notifi accord provis invest aid measur loss compens payment made support invest ludwigsfeld direct grant dm million invest allow dm million paid fbg nl receiv tha invest loan dm million advanc dm million cover loss commiss notifi aid measur advanc accord articl unabl comment measur notifi aid grant unlawfulli procedur provis articl signific public order bind court justic confirm direct effect judgment june case capolongo maya unlaw natur aid remedi event commenc procedur pursuant articl germani suspend payment aid termin procedur viii germani argu commiss appli derog provid articl area feder republ germani affect divis germani articl area standard live abnorm low underemploy articl remedi disturb economi member state payment author constitut state aid apprais compat propos measur derog articl appli germani true german unif accompani polit econom neg effect german economi disadvantag suffici warrant appli provis aid scheme ad hoc case aid time commiss consid aid scheme remedi disturb economi member state approv privat programm greek govern decis commiss note privat programm integr part undertak greek govern pursuant council decis eec march connect ration nation economi german situat exempt pursuant articl treati narrowli interpret commiss conclud derog provid articl aid facilit develop econom activ area matter issu commun framework state aid motor vehicl industri deal problem laender face monetari union germani juli exist truck product ludwigsfeld ceas viabl market truck virtual vanish order safeguard truck product tradit locat tha arrang mb establish joint ventur nl egl restructur modern ifa kombinat plant ludwigsfeld interim solut complet product facil stream begin clear restructur entail substanti invest heavi oper loss year product privat investor bear commiss view region invest aid provid german author loss coverag invest provid tha part effort restor long term viabil truck product ludwigsfeld conclud assess restructur aid light guidelin state aid rescu restructur firm difficulti sector special commun rule exist motor vehicl industri commun framework state aid motor vehicl industri guidelin appli extent consist special rule criteria set commun framework differ set horizont guidelin procedur assess base guidelin ix commun rule restructur aid principl approv approv commun interest condit link satisfactori restructur plan capabl restor long term viabil health firm reason timescal basi realist assumpt futur oper condit condit avoid undu distort competit aid question thirdli aid proport restructur cost benefit lastli commiss ensur compani implement restructur plan full satisfi condit laid commiss decis commiss acknowledg econom polit situat unif germani special reconstruct larg plant truck plant direct indirect supplier job depend enorm task author privat investor alik regard social problem creat region closur plant size object socio econom cohes commiss agre german govern keep nl busi interest commun plant save direct job area suffer low product high unemploy abandon ahrensdorf success restructur plan ludwigsfeld guarante continu truck product site condit restor viabil commiss examin busi plan financi forecast fbg nl egl satisfi reflect sound approach restor econom viabil ifa truck plant joint ventur invest dm million restructur exist facil adapt build present dai standard replac equip suitabl product modern truck complet construct paint shop nl transform state art facil commiss appreci produc truck ludwigsfeld inevit loss make busi year earli ln truck product start ludwigsfeld line ifa kombinat plant assembl semi complet knock kit skd ckd priori uneconom compar modern fulli built fbu product plant due lack infrastructur absenc time supplier deliv product desir qualiti lack logist capabl term modern wareh intens train exist workforc requir modern truck product requir reduct excess workforc ifa place consider cost mb exist paint shop instal suitabl vehicl cab kastenwagen variant ship duesseldorf paint enorm cost disadvantag privat investor prepar undertak invest scale long time state aid restructur process nl instal assembl line paint instal kastenwagen variant view suffici parallel product ln truck woerth final termin product exclus locat ludwigsfeld enhanc effici plant result restructur effort mb tha product nl econom viabl end shown financi statement present commiss consolid level fbg prove profit commiss satisfi propos aid link viabl restructur plan condit avoid undu distort competit aid object assess demand suppli situat point structur overcapac relev market restructur plan make contribut proportion amount aid receiv restructur branch industri concern irrevers reduc close capac industri specialist agre truck industri suffer excess capac earli princip reason abandon mb ahrensdorf project replac complet outdat nl facil extrem modern plant commiss take consider fact modern nl involv reduct assembl facil capac truck year commiss accept condit basic met condit aid proport restructur cost benefit commiss recogn latest equip plant ifa kombinat ludwigsfeld fell short requir modern truck product equip outdat replac entireti result expenditur tha mb restructur plant total dm million regard amount aid commun rule stipul aid proport problem seek redress commiss consid region invest aid dm million net contribut dm million tha invest machineri equip proportion expenditur transform plant modern truck assembl facil transform essenti compon restructur plan net contribut dm million tha loss coverag nl commiss agre germani privat investor invest outdat ludwigsfeld plant time joint ventur form particip tha undertak cover larg proport oper loss aris uneconom product earli year undertak cover loss essenti part tha plan social viabl privat plant context commiss recal acknowledg special role tha transform plan economi market economi letter sg financ measur scope activ tha except natur measur mean strictli tailor featur individu case vigil support grant compani nl partli privat view justif tha undertak cover oper loss coverag approv extent loss attribut uneconom product method region disadvantag link produc laender commiss satisfi tha ensur contribut nl loss minimum origin expect commiss author restructur aid total dm million view reduct capac truck year aid grant current level truck year repres contribut resolv structur problem sector line approach commiss case restructur aid decis eec renault oj eec rover oj eec enasa oj ec volkswagen sachsen oj restructur aid consid proport restructur effort share aid total restructur cost compani dm million period approxim equival scale capac reduct undertaken case nl share aid slightli exce rel capac reduct slight overcompens commiss opinion justifi difficult econom social condit laender meantim recogn assist area pursuant articl similar overcompens accept commiss volkswagen sachsen case restructur aid fbg consid commiss object restructur compani successfulli complet end commiss establish basi independ valuat sale price paid mb tha share market element state aid addit aid million disproportion expenditur incur justifi region consider resembl oper aid commun framework circumst allow hold addit aid request mb connect invest made full privat fbg end restructur plan german govern reclaim mb differ compani actual purchas price dm million amount increas interest calcul market rate date sale german govern grant restructur aid form german govern present commiss report show mb implement restructur plan full give detail invest made aid grant mb light report submit end commiss ensur effect aid intens exce ceil consid admiss advers effect industri rule adopt decis articl aid grant germani merced benz ag respect invest brandenburg fahrzeugtechnik beteiligungsgesellschaft mbh ludwigsfeld nutzfahrzeug ludwigsfeld gmbh ludwigsfeld entwicklungsgesellschaft fuer kraftfahrzeugtechnik mbh ludwigsfeld compat articl ec treati articl eea agreement aid form invest grant investitionszuschuess dm million dm million grant unlawfulli payment halt form invest allow investitionszulagen dm million dm million grant unlawfulli payment halt form special depreci allow dm million aid form loss compens payment dm million provid treuhandanstalt tha paid unlawfulli payment halt aid form part invest loan tha repay tha forgon line depreci asset question equival net payment dm million articl germani recov merced benz ag differ purchas price paid mb tha fahrzeugbau und fahrzeugtechnik beteiligungsgesellschaft ludwigsfeld market compani establish independ valuat differ dm million repres state aid incompat articl ec treati articl eea agreement repay includ interest charg date sale januari rate appli germani calcul net grant equival type aid differ object articl germani refrain grant aid invest made merced benz part restructur programm fahrzeugbau und fahrzeugtechnik beteiligungsgesellschaft mbh ludwigsfeld nutzfahrzeug ludwigsfeld gmbh ludwigsfeld entwicklungsgesellschaft fuer kraftfahrzeugtechnik mbh ludwigsfeld articl germani submit discuss commiss final report restructur expenditur ludwigsfeld aid payment made ensur intens restructur aid exce commiss expect report present end articl germani inform commiss month notif decis measur compli herewith articl decis address feder republ germani brussel june commiss karel van miert member commiss oj oj letter sg januari footnot oj oj oj