Nokia Romania: EC suspects Romanian government to have given 30 million euro as state assistance

The European Commission urges Romanian government to explain the possible state aids offered to Finnish group Nokia which recently opened its factory in Romania. HotNews.ro presents the letter EC official from the Competition Directorate General Robert Hankin sent to Romanian authorities inquiring whether the information in the press regarding state aids of over 30 million euro was true.

The letter of the European official warns that, if the state truly invested the money, then it has breached European competition regulations. According to EU regulations, member states cannot favor any private company that would give them a competitive advantage.

One year ago, local authorities declared after signing the Nokia contract that they engaged to invest some 30 million euro in facilities for the new industrial park to host Nokia. Thus, authorities publicly declared that state subsidies amounted to some 30 million euro to lure Nokia to Romania.