The Commission said Tuesday it found the measure to be in line with its guidelines on the rescue and restructuring of distressed companies, in particular in view of the government's commitment to submit a restructuring plan aimed at ensuring the future viability of the group.

The aid to Cimos was approved by the government in late May in the form of liquidity loans, which were to be converted into equity when the state aid is cleared by the European Commission.

The group around the troubled car parts maker, which employs some 7,000 people, generated a net loss of almost EUR 98m in 2012, with the core company's net loss accounting for EUR 74m.

The Commission also said it initiated an "in-depth investigation" to examine whether Slovenian plans to grant public financing to car maker Revoz, a subsidiary of French car maker Renault, were in line with EU state aid rules.

In particular, the Commission will verify "whether the positive effects of the project for regional development outweigh the distortions of competition triggered by the public support".

"The Commission welcomes aid to encourage investment projects in disadvantaged regions. At the same time, such investments must not do more harm to competition than they help the region concerned," Commission Vice-President in charge of competition policy Joaquin Almunia was quoted as saying.

In 2011, Slovenia notified the EU of plans to offer Revoz a EUR 40m grant for a EUR 300m investment project for the production of two models of small city cars, the Renault Twingo and the new Smart 4-seater.