I indledningsbeslutningen af 13. november 2002 var det Kommissionens foreløbige vurdering, at overførslen af delstaten Hessens lån til fremme af boligbyggeri til Helaba sandsynligvis udgjorde en ny statsstøtte efter EF-traktatens artikel 87, stk. 1, da ingen af undtagelsesbestemmelserne i EF-traktatens artikel 87, stk. 2 og 3, eller artikel 86, stk. 2, var opfyldt, og overførslen dermed ikke syntes at være forenelig med fællesmarkedet.
In its decision of 13 November 2002 to initiate proceedings, the Commission took the preliminary view that the transfer of the housing-promotion loans by the Land of Hessen to Helaba probably constituted new state aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty, which, since the derogations provided for in Article 87(2) and (3) and in Article 86(2) of the EC Treaty were not met, appeared to be incompatible with the common market.