Has the French State overcompensated certain shipping companies under public contracts? This is one of the questions of the European Commission, which announced this Friday, February 23, that it had opened an “in-depth investigation” into the state aid granted by France to two maritime carriers providing services in Corsica.
Share connections between the island and Marseille
“The opening of the investigation gives France and other interested parties the opportunity to present their comments and does not in any way prejudge its outcome,” insists Brussels, the competition watchdog in the single market.
In 2022, the Corsican Assembly voted to grant a maritime public service delegation, from 2023 to the end of 2029, to Corsica Linea and La Méridionale for the “maritime transport of passengers and goods”.
Therefore, since January 2023, these two companies have shared, individually or in coordination, the five connections between the island (ports of Ajaccio, Bastia, Propriano, L’Île-Rousse and Porto-Vecchio) and Marseille.
Compensation of 853.6 million euros
France has notified Brussels of “compensation (total) of 853.6 million euros for the provision of these services,” the statement recalls.
“À ce stade, sur la basis de son évaluation préliminaire, la Commission considère que des informations complémentaires sont nécessaires pour déterminer si ces compensations Públicas versées à la Corsica Linea et La Méridionale sont conforms to aux règles de l’EU”, ajoute-t- He.
A traffic volume greater than needs?
Likewise, the European executive wonders if the volume of freight traffic foreseen in the contracts “does not exceed the public service need identified by the authorities.”
Under EU state aid rules for compensation of public services, companies can be compensated for the additional cost of providing a public service, but subject to certain strictly regulated criteria.
And it is about ensuring that they do not receive “excessive compensation”: the idea is to guarantee optimal use of public funds “minimizing distortions of competition,” Brussels reminds.
Source: BFM TV
