Press Release: State aid: Commission orders France to recover incompatible aid received by SNCM

Following an in-depth investigation, the European Commission has concluded that public service compensation which Société nationale Corse-Méditerranée (SNCM) and Compagnie Maritime de Navigation (CMN) have been receiving since 1 July 2007 for “basic” shipping services between Corsica and Marseille to ensure territorial continuity is in line with EU rules on state aid applicable to public services. However, the aid received by SNCM for an “additional service” to cover peak periods during the holiday season does not compensate a real public service need (see MEMO/13/396). These grants have given an unjustified advantage to SNCM, which should therefore hand back the money to the taxpayers.