Brussels, 07/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 7 May, the European Commission found that the financing regime of Belgium's French language public service broadcaster RTBF, in its amended form, is in line with EU state aid rules. In particular, Belgium has made several commitments to clarify RTBF's public service remit and ensure that RTBF's public financing is limited to what is necessary to fulfil its tasks as a public service broadcaster. This will ensure that RTBF does not use public money for commercial activities (where it competes with private players that receive no such subsidies). In April 2013, the Commission opened an investigation into the financing of RTBF following a complaint from JFB (“Journaux Francophones Belges”), the association of Belgian French-speaking press, in February 2011. To address the concerns, a new management contract between the “Communauté française” and RTBF introduced for the first time a prior evaluation of whether significant new audiovisual services would serve public needs and take account of potential effects on competition. Belgium has now agreed to broaden the scope of the prior evaluation. There will also be a clear separation between RTBF's public service activities and its commercial activities. Independent accountants (the Collège des Commissaires aux Comptes) will issue a special report and the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA), an independent authority, will be able to impose sanctions if RTBF exceeds its public service remit or does not effectively reimburse over-compensation. Belgium has now one year to implement the commitments. (EL)