Press Release: State aid: Commission approves €500 million in aid for freight in the French overseas departments for 2007-2013.

The European Commission approved aid for freight in the French overseas departments for the period 2007-2013, under the terms of the EC Treaty on state aid rules. The aid scheme in support of freight aims to offset specific disadvantages (recognised by the EC Treaty in Article 299) in the outermost regions, of which the French overseas departments form part. This decision conformed to the overall framework of the review of existing regional aid in all the Member States, in accordance with the new Guidelines on national regional aid adopted in December 2005. The new guidelines aimed to redirect regional aid towards the most disadvantaged regions of the enlarged EU, whilst recognising the need to improve competitiveness and ensure a smooth transition.