The European Commission has opened an in-depth state aid investigation into a capital injection of about €15.4m (US$18.2m) into PostNord Logistics.
The funding was provided by PostNord Group to its subsidiary PostNord Logistics. PostNord, the parent company of the group, is jointly owned by Sweden (60%) and Denmark (40%).
The Commission said the investigation will assess whether the capital injection complies with EU state aid rules. It will examine whether the funding is imputable to the Danish and Swedish states and whether it was made on market terms, in line with the market economy operator principle.
The move follows a 2023 ruling by the General Court of the European Union that partially annulled a 2020 Commission decision that concluded that the capital injection did not constitute state aid. The court found the Commission’s assessment was incomplete and insufficient when it came to whether it was made by the Danish and Swedish states.
As a result, the Commission has reopened its examination. If the funding is determined to constitute state aid, the Commission will then assess whether it is compatible with the EU internal market.
Opening an in-depth investigation allows Denmark, Sweden and other interested parties, including PostNord Logistics, to submit comments. The Commission said the step does not prejudge the outcome of the inquiry.
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