Final Chance For Polish Shipyards

The European Commission has rejected the Polish Government's plans for restructuring the shipyards in Szczecin and Gdynia.

The Commission's view is that the plans are incompatible with EC state aid rules but it has agreed to postpone its final decision until 12 September 2008. This is when the Polish Government has promised to submit amended plans once its ongoing negotiations with potential investors have been concluded.

This is not the first time the Commission has postponed a decision in these proceedings, which began in 2004.

If the plans submitted in September are also incompatible with EC state aid rules, the Commission can give a final negative decision and order the recovery of all state aid granted to both yards since May 2004, together with accrued interest.