2000/410/EC: Commission Decision of 22 December 1999 on the aid scheme which France is planning to implement in favour of the French port sector (notified under document number C(1999) 5204) (Text with EEA relevance) (Only the French text is authentic)

• Articles: 4

Article 1

1. Aid for the transfer of existing equipment on the basis of open and non-discriminatory procedures and the replacement of this equipment which France is planning to implement in favour of private cargo handling companies in the 23 French ports specified in the Annex in an amount of FRF 275,94 million during the period 2000 to 2006 is compatible with the common market.

The aid is compatible provided it is linked to the investment(s) in that aid may only be granted for the fiscal year(s) when the investments in such equipment are made and during the subsequent amortisation of this equipment until the expiry of the scheme.

2. Aid for the purpose of purchasing new, additional equipment in favour of cargo handling companies in the ports of Le Havre and Dunkerque in an amount of FRF 91,98 million is incompatible with the common market.

As a result, this aid may not be put into effect.

Article 2

France shall inform the Commission, within two months following the notification of this Decision, of the measures taken to comply with it.

The French authorities shall provide the Commission with appropriate annual reports about the implementation of the aid scheme, notably the public tenders, the investments, the amount of aid granted and its intensity. The first report is to be submitted within one year from the notification of this decision.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the French Republic.

Done at Brussels, 22 December 1999.

For the Commission

Loyola De Palacio

Vice-President

(1) OJ C 233, 14.8.1999, p. 25.

(2) See footnote 1.

(3) OJ C 384, 10.12.1998, p. 3.

(4) Rec. 1991 I-, p. 5889.

(5) OJ C 74, 10.3.1998, p. 4.

(6) OJ C 283, 19.9.1997, p. 2.

(7) COM(97) 678 final of 10.12.1997, paragraphs 81 and 82.

(8) OJ C 213, 23.7.1996, p. 4.

Schedules & Appendices

ANNEX

The 23 French ports covered by the decision

I. Nord-Pas-de-Calais coastal area:

1. Port of Calais

2. Port of Boulogne sur Mer

3. Port of Dunkirk

II. Normandy coastal area:

4. Autonomous port of Le Havre

5. Port of Dieppe

6. Port of Rouen

7. Port of Honfleur

8. Port of Fécamp

9. Port of Caen

III. Channel coastal area:

10. Port of Cherbourg

11. Port of Granville

IV. Brittany coastal area:

12. Port of Saint-Malo

13. Port of Brest

14. Port of Lorient

V. Atlantic coastal area:

15. Port of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire

16. Port of La Rochelle

17. Port of Bordeaux

18. Port of Bayonne

VI. Mediterranean coastal area:

19. Port of Port-Vendres

20. Port of Port La Nouvelle

21. Port of Sète

22. Port of Marseille

23. Port of Toulon