Possibility of state aid rules breach in db Group's ITS project raised

The European Commission is not in a position to verify whether State aid rules have been breached by the government through the transfer of public land to the Seabank db Group at much lower rates than current market prices, the Times of Malta is informed.
The issue of a possible breach of EU State aid rules was raised in the European Parliament by Germany Green MEP Ska Keller.
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The MEP asked if the EU executive was investigating the Maltese government following the transfer of 24,000 square metres of prime public land, valued at "204 million, to the db Group for just "15 million.
"Given that the entire procedure for the sale of the land in question, including the price for which the land was sold, puts the db Group at a considerable advantage over other companies, can the Commission provide assurances that State aid rules were adhered to '" especially as no formal tender was issued but only a request for proposals," the MEP asked.
"The transfer of the ITS land has not been notified yet by the Maltese authorities, nor has any competitor of San "org Property Ltd '" the db Group company awarded the land '" submitted a...

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