On Tuesday 26 November, the European Commission approved France’s €853.6 million support to Corsica Linea and La Méridionale for services to Corsica over the period 2023-2030.
The European Commission opened an in-depth investigation into this State aid in February (see EUROPE 13357/13). The Commission ultimately concluded that the measures complied with EU State aid rules.
The French authorities have demonstrated that market forces alone cannot meet all user demand for towed freight between the port of Marseille and the five Corsican ports.
The Commission found that the market offer between Marseille and Corsica was irregular and insufficient. As far as the transport of towed freight is concerned, it has established that Marseille can only be substituted for neighbouring ports to a limited extent. The market offer available in Marseille’s neighbouring ports could not satisfy all the demand from users using the port of Marseille for their trade of towed freight with Corsica. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)