Brussels, 26/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 26 May, the European Commission said that tax relief granted by France to the French post office (La Poste) to ensure that a high density of postal services is maintained over the period 2013-2017 is in line with EU rules on state aid. It also authorised the payment of a grant to fund La Poste's task of transporting and delivering the press over the period 2013-2015. The Commission considers that the two aid measures, totalling €1.45 billion, are not likely to unduly distort competition in the single market because they only partially offset the net costs of the public service tasks incumbent on La Poste.
The group also enjoys a grant of €597 million from 2013 to 2015 for transporting and delivering newpapers. Under its public service duties, La Poste must provide low postage rates for publications recognised as being in the public interest.
Last month, the European Court of Justice confirmed a General Court ruling of September 2012 in which the implicit unlimited guarantee granted to La Poste by the French state was ruled to be state aid that is now allowed under EU state aid rules (see EUROPE 10693 and 11055). (MB)