Brussels, 02/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 2 March, the European Commission approved a regional aid scheme involving tax support measures in favour of investments in companies located in one of France's seven outermost regions (Guadeloupe, French Guyana, Martinique, Réunion, Mayotte, Saint-Barthélemy and Saint Martin). The Commission acknowledges the level of structural handicaps facing companies in these regions, in particular their problems in accessing the capital markets to obtain financing for the development of their activities and to make the investments they need. The tax assistance regime will run until the end of 2017. The French authorities will assess the effectiveness of the scheme before that date. The Commission finds that the regime will promote the development of the outermost regions of France, without unduly distorting competition on the single market. (Élodie Lamer)