3.5.1.2 Formal investigation

As noted above, the Commission may initiate the formal investigation procedure if it has doubts regarding the compatibility of a State aid measure with the internal market. The aim of the decision to initiate the formal investigation procedure is to summarize the relevant issues of fact and law, to include a preliminary assessment as to the qualification of the aid as State aid, and to set out the doubts regarding the compatibility with the internal market.1 The formal investigation procedure is closed by means of one of the following decisions by the Commission where appropriate, following modification of the aid measure by the Member State concerned: 1) the aid measure does not constitute State aid, 2) the doubts as to the compatibility of the aid measure with the internal market have been removed (positive decision), 3) the doubts as to the compatibility of the aid measure with the internal market have been removed, taking into account the conditions stipulated by the Commission (conditional decision), or 4) the aid is not compatible with the internal market and may not be granted (negative decision).2 The Commission should, as far as possible, endeavor to adopt a decision within a period of 18 months.3