
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether certain French support measures in favour of Fret SNCF are in line with EU State aid rules.
The beneficiary of the measures is Fret SNCF SAS, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French railway operator SNCF SA (‘SNCF’). Fret SNCF has been constantly loss-making, except in 2021.
In the period from 2007 to 2019, its losses were continuously covered by its parent company SNCF through intra-group cash advances, which constitute State resources because of shareholding and control by the State.
Read more: SNCF Wants Its 2014 Commitments Revisited By French Regulator
At this stage, based on its preliminary examination, the Commission has concerns that certain measures in favour of Fret SNCF, which were taken during the period 2007-2019, are not in line with EU State aid rules.
Therefore, the Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into the existence of State aid and, if proven, its compatibility with the abovementioned State aid rules.
Featured News
FTC Withdraws Case Against Microsoft-Activision Merger, Citing Public Interest
May 23, 2025 by
CPI
Charter to Acquire Cox Communications in $35 Billion Deal
May 22, 2025 by
CPI
FTC Targets Media Watchdog Over Alleged Collusion Against Musk’s X
May 22, 2025 by
CPI
FTC Drops Antitrust Case Accusing Pepsi of Squeezing Small Retailers
May 22, 2025 by
CPI
Shein Warns of Higher Costs for French Shoppers Amid EU Fee Proposal
May 22, 2025 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Industrial Policy
May 21, 2025 by
CPI
Industrial Strategy and the Role of Competition – Taking a Business Lens
May 21, 2025 by
Marcus Bokkerink
Industrial Policy, Antitrust, and Economic Growth: Some Observations
May 21, 2025 by
David S. Evans
Bolder by Design: Crafting Pro-Competitive Industrial Policies For Complex Challenges
May 21, 2025 by
Antonio Capobianco & Beatriz Marques
Competition-Friendly Industrial Policy
May 21, 2025 by
Philippe Aghion, Mathias Dewatripont & Patrick Legros