Brussels

Abstract

− Case E 2/2005 Following a notification by the Dutch authorities of the general system of State aid to the wocos, on 14 July 2005 the Commission services sent a letter pursuant to article 17 of the Procedural Regulation to the Netherlands qualifying the aid as existing and expressing doubts as regards the compatibility of the system with State aid rules ('Article 17 letter'). Since the Article 17 letter there have been ongoing consultations between the Commission and the Dutch authorities on the possible ways of reforming the system for it to comply with State aid rules. Equally, as the case is strongly linked to social policy it was subject to a national debate within the Netherlands. Following this, the Dutch