The European Commission decided, on Monday 20 December, to open an in-depth investigation into potential aid from the French State to the Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives (INRAP).
Following a complaint from the company EHEVA (Études et valorisations archéologiques), the Commission has preliminary concerns about the existence and compatibility with EU State aid rules of a “possible cross-subsidisation” between the non-competitive activities of INRAP subsidised by the State (preventive archaeology diagnostics, scientific exploitation of preventive archaeology operations, dissemination of results, teaching, cultural dissemination and development of archaeology) and the competitive activities of archaeological excavations in which the complainant is also active.
The Commission will conduct a further investigation to determine whether its initial concerns are confirmed.
The opening of an in-depth investigation gives France and all interested parties the opportunity to comment on the measure in question. It does not in any way prejudge the outcome of the investigation. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)