The Official Journal of the European Union has published the information related to the state aids for France Télévisions. It is an invitation to submit comments pursuant to Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty. The European Commission authorized only 450 out of 2,000 meuros.

Background

The procedure started on 23 January 2009, France notified its plan to provide to France Télévisions a budgetary grant of EUR 450 million in 2009. By letter dated 13 March 2009, the Commission requested additional information. In the reply of 25 May 2009, France amended its notification to the effect of including not only the grant for 2009, but also indicative amounts of grant for 2010, 2011 and 2012 totalling in excess of EUR 2,000 million, in the context of a global multi- annual public financing mechanism.

Assessment of the aid

The assessment of the compatibility of the aid with the common market is based on the derogation for services of general economic interest provided for in Article 86(2) EC and, in particular on the rules applicable to public broadcasting as laid down in the relevant Commission communication of 2001.

The figures provided by France indicate a public compensation in excess of the public service costs in 2012 and a serious risk as well in 2010 and 2011. This contradicts the conditions of the approval decision of the Commission in April 2005, which required the principle of non-overcompensation be enshrined in the law. However, the revised figures available for 2009 indicate a deficit of the public service mission, thereby ruling out any overcompensation this year.

However, the assessment is different for the aid of EUR 450 million planned for 2009, which the French authorities are authorised to grant.

Interested parties may submit their comments within one month of the date of publication of this summary and the following letter, to:
European Commission
Directorate-General for Competition
State Aid Greffe
Rue de Spa 3
1049 Brussels (BELGIUM)
Fax +32 22961242