At the end of 2007, The European Commission launched a
consultation on a working document prepared by DG-TREN in reference to the compatibility with EC Treaty of state aid as defined in Directive 91/440/EEC, so as to draw guidelines to improve transparency of public financing and legal certainty with regard to the Treaty rules, in the context of the opening up of markets.
The resulting document ‘Guidelines on state aid for railway
undertakings’ will be released by the Commission end of April
2008. Of importance is the decision of the Commission to consider acceptable under certain conditions, with a view to supporting regional development, state aids for the renewal or the purchase of rolling stock for passenger services.