13.6.4 Concluding remarks

Although it has already been set out in several places in this PhD-study, it might nonetheless be worthwhile to stress the following: an inconsistency can occur at two levels. In the first place, there is an inconsistency when the Commission does not assess in every case whether the restructuring plan provides for a balance sheet reduction. In the second place, there is an inconsistency when the Commission does not take into account the differences in the modalities of the balance sheet reduction. As set out in subsection 13.6.2, there is no inconsistency on the first level.

By contrast, subsection 13.6.3 has shown that the balance sheet reduction is elaborated inconsistently. Firstly, the percentage of the balance sheet reduction is not always mentioned in combination with the relative aid amount. Secondly, in some decisions, the emphasis is on the way how the balance sheet reduction is achieved (i.e. which activities are divested), while in other decisions, the emphasis is on the percentage of the balance sheet reduction.