Brussels, 30/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission decided not to raise any objections towards an investment aid of EUR 73 million aimed at enlarging the semiconductor production site of ATMEL Rousset in the French department of Bouches-du-Rhone. The eligible costs of the aid amount to EUR 373 million. Given the size of the project and the importance of the aid, the Commission assessed the measures under the so-called "Multisectoral framework for large investment projects". It felt that, despite the slowdown presently seen in the semiconductor sector, the market in question is not in decline. Also when taking into account the intensity of the capital and the low number of indirect jobs that will be created, the Commission calculated that the maximum aid intensity for the projects could be set at 14%. The true level of the aid remains below this percentage (11.8%), and it could thus be approved.