The European Commission has authorised an extension of the Mont Blanc Tunnel concession held by the Societa Italiana del Traforo del Monte Bianco (SITMB) company, to enable the latter to comply with the new safety rules for tunnels introduced unilaterally by the Italian and French authorities and adopted following the accident in the Mont Blanc Tunnel in 1999.

The Commission has examined the compatibility of the Italian request with the rules of the Treaty relating to State aid.

In the wake of the accident in the Mont Blanc Tunnel on 24th March 1999, the French and Italian Governments were compelled to carry out a thorough review of safety standards in the Mont Blanc Tunnel.

The safety improvements undertaken by the concessionaire in the Italian part of the tunnel, imposed unilaterally and as an exceptional measure by the Italian State, have had serious implications for its financial well-being and have been raising doubts about the continued operation of the tunnel.

The Commission has therefore accepted Italy's proposal that Società Italiana del Traforo del Monte Bianco (SITMB)'s concession be extended by 15 years (up to 2050). The Commission considers that the operation of a concession such as this constitutes a service of general economic interest and that the extension of the concession operating period meets the conditions laid down in the Commission Decision of 28th November 2006 on the application of Article 86(2) of the EC Treaty to State aid in the form of public service compensation granted to certain undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest.