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European Commission - Daily News Daily News 27 / 04 / 2026 Brussels, 27 April 2026 Commission approves close to €72 million Hungarian State aid measure to support new tyre manufacturing line The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €71.6 million (HUF 28 billion) Hungarian measure in favour of Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd. The measure will support Hankook in setting up a truck and bus rad...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 27 / 04 / 2026 Brussels, 27 April 2026 Commission approves close to €72 million Hungarian State aid measure to support new tyre manufacturing line The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €71.6 million (HUF 28 billion) Hungarian measure in favour of Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd. The measure will support Hankook in setting up a truck and bus radial tyre factory in the Central Transdanubia region, Hungary. This project has a total budget of €538 million. With the investment, the company will diversify its existing plant in Fejér County, which so far only produces tyres for passenger cars and light trucks. The measure will take the form of a direct grant and is expected to contribute to the economic development of the region by creating 469 jobs, mainly in manufacturing. The Commission assessed the Hungarian measure under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which enables Member States to grant aid to promote the economic development of the most disadvantaged areas in Europe, and the Regional Aid Guidelines . The Commission found that the measure is necessary and appropriate to contribute towards the economic development, competitiveness and increase of employment rate of the region. Furthermore, the aid has an incentive effect , as the beneficiary would not have carried out the project in the European Economic Area without the public support. Finally, the Commission found that the measure is proportionate as it is limited to the minimum necessary to trigger the investment in Hungary. In particular, the support will not exceed the maximum amount of aid calculated on the basis of the aid intensity set out in the Hungarian regional aid map , and has a limited impact on competition and trade within the EU. On this basis, the Commission approved the Hungarian measure under EU State aid rules. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.116666 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 2 299 47 74) Commission clears creation of joint venture by Sumitomo and Ennoconn The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by Sumitomo Corporation (‘Sumitomo') of Japan and Ennoconn Group (‘Ennoconn') of Taiwan. The transaction relates primarily to facility management and engineering services for semiconductor factories in Japan. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the limited impact on the European Economic Area. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website , in the public case register under the case number M.12360 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) Commission clears acquisition of Volue by AFK, Advent and TA The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Volue AS by Arendals Fossekompani ASA (‘AFK'), both of Norway, Advent International, L.P. (‘Advent') and TA Associates Management, L.P. (‘TA'), both of the US. The transaction relates primarily to software applications in the energy sector. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies' limited combined and individual market positions resulting from the proposed transaction. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website , in the public case register under the case number M.12386 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) ANNOUNCEMENTS Commissioner Hoekstra in Colombia to discuss transitioning away from fossil fuels Tomorrow and on Wednesday, 28 and 29 April, Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra , will be in Santa Marta, Colombia, to participate in the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels . Co-hosted by the governments of Colombia and the Netherlands, this is the first international gathering aiming to officially form a coalition of countries that want to advance the transition away from fossil fuels, as committed to at COP28 . Over 80 countries, including the EU Member States, supported the Belem Declaration on the transition away from fossil fuels and launched this partnership under the Brazil's leadership at COP30 . The Santa Marta conference also follows last week's Petersberg Climate Dialogue, where Commissioner Hoekstra and global leaders began preparations for the COP31 UN Climate Conference that will take place in November, in Antalya. Tomorrow, Commissioner Hoekstra will join the opening of the conference's high-level segment as well as thematic sessions on transforming energy supply and demand. He will meet bilaterally with Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, Irene Vélez Torres; Minister for Environment and the Protection of Nature of Cameroon, Pierre Hélé; and Minister for Niger Delta Development of Nigeria, Abubakar Momoh. He will also engage with European business representatives investing in renewable energy and promoting the clean energy transition in Colombia. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Ana Crespo Parrondo – Tel.: +32 2 298 13 25) Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings Note that these items can be subject to changes. Upcoming events of the European Commission Eurostat press releases Calendar items of the President and Commissioners Individual calendars of the President and Commissioners MEX/26/892
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