Brussels, 20/07/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission decided to open an inquiry into the subject of State aid granted by France between 1991 and 2002 in favour of fruit and vegetable producers. The Commission doubts the compatibility of measures financed by France with EU competition rules. Such measures include: price support to contain the surplus supply of French fruit and vegetables on the internal market, support for temporary storage, destruction of products, and support for processing. The Commission suspects the French government of having granted subsidies to promote the sale of French products outside the EU at times of crisis (EUR 50 million annually). Also, the Commission is in the possession of documents indicating that there was awareness that the support measures violated common market rules and that the aid should be kept confidential. The Commission intends to take a final decision within 18 months. If the aid is confirmed to be incompatible with State aid rules, then it will have to be clawed back from beneficiaries. Reimbursement would have to include interest from the day of receiving the aid.