The day Brussels starts a procedure for excess deficit against the United Kingdom and sentences some European chemical manufacturers to pay a fine of 79 million euros for "abuse of a dominant position" (a market-distorting factor), the news arrives of the investigation of Alitalia. "At this stage, the EU Commission thinks this measure in support of Alitalia might be a governmental aid, incompatible with the EU rules", and "might give it an unjustified advantage over its competitors". The EU Executive explains that, "broadly speaking, the Italian Government can no longer give any aids for the bailout or reorganisation of Alitalia, since it has already benefited from such aids". The opening of the procedure "must enable the EU Commission to review in depth the exact nature of this measure and the grounds on which it has been granted to Alitalia, to find out whether this is a governmental aid pursuant to the Treaty. From this perspective, the EU Commission will judge whether a private investor would have done the same as the Italian Government". The EU Commission explains that the investigation "will enable all the parties involved to voice their opinions".
