Press Release: State aid: Commission approves extension of French regional aid map to 111 new ‘communes’ (local authorities)

The European Commission authorised under the EC Treaty state aid rules the extension of the French regional aid map to cover 111 'communes'(local authorities) in 10 employment areas or sites concerned by restructuring in the defence sector and a site suffering economic difficulties in the paper industry. The aim of this extension is to address the serious economic problems these areas have faced recently by allowing firms located there to benefit from aid for investment and job creation. The Commission approved the French regional aid map in March 2007 and an initial use of the zoning pool in June 2008.