The Commission has decided to formally close an investigation under EC Treaty state aid rules into the financing regime for German public service broadcasters in the light of formal commitments from the German Government to amend the current regime. The Commission's decision accepts these commitments, submitted in December 2006, as an adequate means to ensure compliance with general EU Treaty state aid rules and the 2001 Commission Communication on the application of state aid rules to public service broadcasting. The amendments announced include a more precise definition and a proper entrustment of the public service mission in particular as regards new media activities, adequate safeguards against overcompensation and cross-subsidisation, the respect of market principles in commercial activities and more transparency as regards the sublicensing of sports rights. The Commission's investigation, opened in March 2005, was prompted by complaints
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