Brussels, 11/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is to open an in-depth inquiry on 17 March on France's new restructuring plan for the IT group Bull, according to a source close to the dossier. The Bull group, for its part, has stated that it will only receive the aid "if the European Commission agrees, after the rescue aid consented to by the State in 2001-2002 has been paid back". At the beginning of the month, Commissioner Monti's services confirmed that they had received the plan from the French authorities, and started their inquiry (see EUROPE of 5 March, p.11). According to French daily Les Echos, a financial body (to be specified) will advance 500 million EUR to Bull, who will use it to pay back the rescue aid. Then, and not before 2005 (Bull, which already received restructuring aid in 1995, may not take more of this kind of aid until 2005), the State will pay 500 million EUR to the IT group under this new restructuring aid. Bull will then be able to settle its debt to the financial body, and the State would abandon 90% of its claim, which is possible with restructuring aid. The Commission will check carefully that this is in line with European rules.