E2003C0703(04)

Authorisation of State aid pursuant to Article 61 and 63 of the EEA Agreement and Article 1(1) of Protocol 3 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement

EFTA Surveillance Authority decision to propose appropriate measures

(2003/C 155/08)

Date of adoption: 4.12.2002

EFTA State: Norway

Aid No: SAM 070.019

Title: To propose appropriate measures to Norway with regard to State aid in the form of guarantees under the Act on State Enterprises ("Lov om statsforetak")

Legal basis: Act on State Enterprises (Norwegian Act No 71 of 30 August 1991 on State Enterprises; "Lov om statsforetak")

Form of aid: State guarantee

Decision: The appropriate measures, proposed by the Authority and accepted by the Norwegian authorities are as follows:

(a) The Norwegian authorities shall take any legislative, administrative and other measures necessary to eliminate any incompatible aid resulting from Sections 4, 51 and 53 of the Act on State Enterprises. The aid should be abolished with effect from 1 January 2003, unless the Authority agrees to a later date, should that be considered objectively necessary and justified by the Authority;

(b) The Norwegian Government shall communicate to the Authority the relevant measures it will take to discontinue the aid as soon as possible and in any event not later than six weeks from receipt of this decision.

The authentic text of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at http://www.eftasurv.int