Press Release: The Commission investigates French state aid in the fruit and vegetable sector

The European Commission on 20 July 2005 opened a formal investigation into potentially illegal State aid granted by France between 1991 and 2002 in the fruit and vegetable sector. The aid was granted by means of yearly 'contingency plans' (plans de campagne). It included measures designed to counter the oversupply of French fruit and vegetables on the internal market by means of price support, support for temporary stockage, destruction of products or support for processing. Subsidies may also have been paid to favour sales of French products outside the EU at times of crisis. Support would seem to have been as high as €50 million per year.