State aid — France (Articles 87 to 89 of the Treaty establishing the European Community) — Commission notice pursuant to Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty to other Member States and interested parties — State aid C 24/02 (ex N 635/2001) — PSA/Ford Douvrin (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2003-01-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: France, State aid, control of State aid, engine, investment aid, motor vehicle industry

14.1.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 8/3

STATE AID — FRANCE

(Articles 87 to 89 of the Treaty establishing the European Community)

Commission notice pursuant to Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty to other Member States and
interested parties

State aid C 24/02 (ex N 635/2001) — PSA/Ford Douvrin

(2003/C 8/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

By the letter reproduced below, dated 6 November 2002, the
Commission informed France that it had decided to terminate
the proceedings initiated under Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty.

‘By letter dated 1 October 2001, the French authorities notified
the Commission of the abovementioned aid. The Commission
requested further information on 5 November and the French
authorities replied by letter dated 29 January 2002.

On 27 March 2002 the Commission decided to initiate the
procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in
respect of the aid.

Journal of

The decision to initiate the procedure was published in the
the European Communities (1) and interested
Official
third parties were invited to present their observations. The
Commission did not receive any observations following publi-
cation.

By letter dated 24 September 2002, France withdrew the aid
notification.

The Commission notes that, in accordance with Article 8 of
Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 (2), the Member State
concerned may withdraw its notification in due time before
In cases
the Commission has taken a decision on the aid.

where it has initiated the formal investigation procedure, it is
required to close that procedure.

Accordingly, the Commission has decided to close the formal
investigation procedure opened under Article 88(2) of the EC
Treaty in respect of the aid, noting that France has withdrawn
its notification.

applicable. According

Any aid planned by the French authorities for the PSA/Ford
project at Douvrin before 31 December 2002 will have to be
notified in advance to the Commission. After 1 January 2003,
the new multisectoral
framework on regional aid for large
investment projects, approved by the Commission on 13
February 2002, will be
to that
framework, the maximum aid intensity for regional investment
aid in the motor vehicle industry (as defined in Annex C to the
framework) granted under an authorised aid scheme for
projects involving eligible expenditure of more than EUR 50
million or receiving aid of more than EUR 5 million expressed
in terms of gross grant equivalent will be equivalent to 30 % of
the corresponding regional aid ceiling. These rules will remain
in force until the date on which the list of sectors provided for
in point 31 of the framework becomes applicable. In order to
guarantee transparency and to permit effective monitoring, the
Member States will be called upon to provide summary
information using the form laid down in Annex A to the
framework.’

(1) OJ C 102, 27.4.2002, p. 28.
(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying
down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC
Treaty (OJ L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1).