Ulster Unionist MLA Steve Aiken has demanded that the Executive provide clarity as a matter of urgency as to who decided that the £9M of Executive funding awarded to United Airlines, was inadmissible under EU rules.
Steve Aiken said:
“Last Friday the Economy Minister was quoted as saying it was ‘deeply regrettable that unelected Bureaucrats in Brussels have effectively scuppered this important flight for Northern Ireland.’
“Yesterday in the Assembly the First Minister said ‘unfortunately the European Union did not agree with us. It has decided that we cannot proceed with what it calls a state aid.’
“However, today we have received a statement from the European Commission Office in Northern Ireland which says:
"To be clear, the European Commission received a complaint alleging that the measure was in breach of EU rules, which it looked into, but we did not take any decision on the matter. The Northern Irish authorities and United Airlines have themselves decided to end their arrangement."
“This is absolute dynamite. It now appears that the vital direct link to North America was pulled without a formal ruling being received from Brussels. Indeed, if a formal ruling had been received, we could probably have found ourselves in a much better position to marshal opposition to the un-named complainant and maintain this vital strategic air link.”