Brussels, 08/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Competition Directorate General at the European Commission will be requesting the College of Commissioners to begin formal investigation proceedings against the France Telecom company. Tilman Lueder, spokesman for Commissioner Monti indicated that the investigation would be examining the EUR nine billion that the French government granted to the company. This proceeding does not in any way signify that the Commission considers that this aid constitutes State Aid but it aims to grant third parties (the plaintiffs) the right to be head, explained the spokesman. Mr Lueder underlined that the case was important and that the nature of the French government's action was complex and had to be understood.
The Commission is expected to decide in February as to when proceedings will begin. The French government is a majority stakeholder in France Telecom (55%) and it was in this position that it decided to grant the aid to the company as part of the latter's effort to turn itself around. France does not consider this as public aid but as a "heritage operation" carried out under market conditions. This is not the opinion of Italy or that of a French competitor, which lodged the complaint, explained Reuters.