The European Commission has opened a formal investigation under EC Treaty state aid rules regardingover EUR 7 million of training aid which it said Germany intends to grant for the DHL Express air
hub at Leipzig/Halle Airport.Following its move to Leipzig, DHL envisages a significant training project for itsemployees, around 60% of the costs of which would be covered by state aid, the European Commissionannounced.
The Commission said that at this stage it has doubts as to the compatibility of the aid withthe EC Treaty rules on state aid since much of the training seems to be required by law or beotherwise necessary to operate in the new location.
EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said: “I am always happy to approve training aidwhich has positive external effects for the society as a whole. However, in this case, I haveconcerns that DHL would have carried out this training project in any event, and therefore does notneed the aid.”
DHL is planning to employ around 1500 people at Leipzig, and to provide training to 480employees, the Commission said. Training covers jobs such as ground handling of airfreight,security agents, and pre-flight and ramp mechanics. Germany plans to grant subsidies of EUR 7.7million and claims that the training goes beyond what is necessary for the operation.
The Commission said it has opened the formal investigation to look at this issue in moredetail and in order to obtain information from interested parties as regards the general situationof the national and European labour market for airfreight services, and all legal qualifications,safety requirements and usual standards for the handling of freight and aircraft.
