Brussels, 31/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European commission has authorised an aid to investment scheme that France is considering granting Pilkington plc and Interpane International Glas GmbH for the building of a new plant for the production of float, laminated and coated glass, located in Freyming Merlebach (Alsace-Lorraine), an assisted region. The total cost of the project amounts to 182..21 million euro, 164.7 million of which may benefit from aid. Called Pilkington Glass France SAS and Interpane Glass Coating France SAS, the two joint companies built on the same site will not operate autonomously on the market but will constitute an integrated manufacturing joint venture, producing and processing float glass, allowing for the creation of 245 direct jobs. Aid will consist in various measures for the purchase and clearing of the land, a loan at favourable interest rate and a subsidy from the European Regional Development Fund. In all, it will amount to 21.02 million euro, or 10.3% in terms of net grant equivalent (NGE, or the final benefit which a firm is deemed to derive from an aid after corporate taxes payable on this have been deducted). Based on the calculation formula laid down by the Multisectoral framework, the maximum allowable aid for this project amounts to 12.24% NGE. The intensity of aid being envisaged standing at 10.3%, it is below this threshold and the Commission has therefore decided that it was compatible with the EC treaty.