The European Commission has approved under EU state aid rules Slovakia’s support to rail operator ZSSK for the building of new light maintenance workshops for passenger trains. The Commission has concluded that the aid of €96.5 million will contribute to objectives of common interest of the Union, in particular a shift in transport from road to rail, fostering environmental protection and decongestion of roads.
The workshops will be located in Nove Zamky, Zvolen and Humenne. The light maintenance covers routine work that does not require the removal of the vehicle from service, e.g. cleaning of vehicles, refilling of the water supply or other small repairs.
Slovakia has offered commitments to ensure that the aid will not hinder the development of competition on the Slovak rail transport market with respect to access to light maintenance facilities. In particular, after the initial construction phase is concluded, ownership of the workshops will be transferred to a separate company to be set up by the Ministry of Transport and Construction.
Moreover, while operation of the workshops will initially be carried out by ZSSK, in the future, it can be transferred to other rail transport companies, if they win new tenders for rail transport services under Public Service Contracts. In addition, whereas the workshops will serve mainly trains operated by ZSSK, an equal and non-discriminatory access for other train operators is safeguarded pursuant to EU transport rules for the railway sector.
Taking into account the commitments offered by Slovakia and the contribution of the aid to objectives of common interest of the Union, the Commission found that that measure will not cause undue distortions of competition, and can be cleared.
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