STATE AID - Spain: Q&A
Yes, good afternoon, Many Thanks for the floor. Tommaso in Cronos, Italy.
It's just a question about the visit that Andrea Orcel, the CEO of UniCredit, will pay to,
tonight, this afternoon, I think, or, or this evening to the commissioner, to Commissioner Albuquerque.
And Vice President Ribeira,
I assume that it is about the an attempted takeover of Union Credit on Commerce Bank.
May you tell us something more about this visit? Many thanks. Hello Tommaso.
I think what I can confirm is that indeed those meetings are taking place,
but I cannot go into detail beyond saying that there are meetings covering issues within each commissioner's portfolio.
If we have more information after the meeting, then we'll gladly share.
Angelo, shall we give it another go online? OK, I think, yes, thanks.
My question is about the state aid approved this morning,
authorized this morning for Andalusia and Extremadura 1.5 billion.
I was wondering if you can tell us when Spain notified the notified the state aid and the request for,
for, for the approval. Question on state aid.
Freshly adopted I would have to check for the precise date,
but normally the Commission takes its decisions within 2 days, within 2 months of a formal notification coming in.
So it will have been in the past 2 months that the decision was formally notified to the Commission. Thank you, Ricardo. Other questions to Ricardo.
Another colleague from Angelo or a colleague from Angelo, go ahead, Claudine. Hi.
Hi, Claudia Moro from your active again, asking for my colleagues indeed.
These, state aids, they were released just before elections I understand in Andalusia. Could this be perceived as election interference? I would certainly not think so.
The Commission takes its decision on the basis of the facts and the law, and once we receive a full notification, we are bound to take our decision. Even with deadlines, as Ricardo recalled. Other questions to Ricardo. No, I haven't forgotten Tatiana.
Let's come to Tatiana's question on the Ukrainian loan,
and in particular the defense part of the loan.
Tatiana, do you mind just for the recording,
repeat your question, that will be for Balazs.