The European Commission has found that an Italian public support scheme to encourage a shift of freight transport from road to rail is in line with EU state aid rules. The measure, with a budget of EUR 255 million, aims to boost the shift of freight traffic from road to rail by granting subsidies to rail transport operators.
The Commission’s assessment showed that the scheme is open to all railway companies operating on the freight market in Italy. The measure will in particular boost the Southern part of Italy, where the imbalance between rail and road is significantly more pronounced. In line with the 2008 Commission Guidelines, the level of support beneficiaries can receive under the scheme is based on a reduction of the infrastructure charges and external costs borne by rail transport operators when compared to road transport.
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