Global Trade Alert

On 9 january 2009 French authorities notified the European Comission regarding their intention to introduce a measure for temporary state aid regime of a limited amount in order to facilitate access to funding for companies affected by the current financial crisis.
 
The overall budget of this scheme is EUR50 million (US$714,000). Eachcompany can be granted an aid of up to EUR500 000 (US$ 714 000).
 
The Commisson assesses that the measure is selective, because the state aid can be granted to only certain companies. The measure confers an advantage to beneficiaries by providing aid of a limited amount which would not be available in the absence of the measure, which distorts competition. Thus, the aid regime is likely to affect trade since the regime is not limited to areas where no intra-Community trade exists. (par. 28-30 of the letter from the European Commission to France - Brussels, 19.1.2009 C(2009) 249 final, 'French')
 
The Commission decided to consider the notified aid regime compatible with the internal market according to the Article 87 par 3 b) of the Treaty.

 
On 22 December 2010 French authorities contacted the European Commission regarding their intention to extend the temporary state aid regime. - SA.32140
 
The extension of this state aid is valid from 24 January 2011 until 31 December 2011. (C(2011)338 final)
 
A state measure in the GTA database is assessed solely in terms of theextent to which its implementation affects the extent of discriminationagainst foreign commercial interests. On this metric, the state aidproposed here is discriminatory.