Ms Margrethe Vestager:

It is very difficult to say anything about how the Brexit will work as we do not know what the outcome will be. We can indicate what we do in a number of other cases. The Single Market involves free trade and we trade happily with one another because we know that there is no company for which the taxpayer has picked up the bill, as that would amount to unfair competition. Wherever I travel, I promote the state aid control system. I did this last year when I was in China and will do so again when I get there. We want to have fair competition on it merits. It is based on how skilled, efficient and innovative a company is and what can be presented to its customers. That is why we also have state aid arrangements with Norway, the Swiss and the countries in the European economic area in order to have a level playing field. I do not know at this point what will happen in the discussions with the United Kingdom, but there are examples to show it is an ongoing concern for us to protect the level playing field.