19/12/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 19 December, the European Commission announced that it had approved France’s plan to provide Agence France-Presse (AFP) with annual compensation of €120 million for missions of general interest, for the period 2024-2028. The French measure was found to comply with EU State aid rules, in particular the rules on public service compensation under the framework for services of general economic interest (SGEI). The measure was also examined in the light of Article 106(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which concerns undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest or having the character of a revenue-producing monopoly. (EV)