COMMISSION DECISION
of 20 December 2011
on State aid C 25/08 (ex NN 23/08) reform of the arrangements for financing the retirement pensions of civil servants working for France Télécom implemented by the French Republic in favour of France Télécom
(notified under document C(2012) 9403)
(Only the French version is authentic)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2012/540/EU)
1.
PROCEDURE
2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE AID
2.1.
The legal framework of the status of France Télécom and its staff between 1990 and 1996
2.1.1.
Status of France Télécom and situation of its staff between 1990 and 1996
(million EUR) |
||||||
|
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
A/Total pensions paid |
939 |
983 |
1 070 |
1 079 |
1 173 |
1 214 |
a 1/employees’ contributions |
195 |
201 |
217 |
213 |
229 |
238 |
a 2/employer’s contribution |
743 |
782 |
853 |
866 |
944 |
976 |
B/Compensation and over-compensation |
176 |
188 |
277 |
136 |
201 |
175 |
Total charges (A + B) |
1 115 |
1 171 |
1 348 |
1 215 |
1 375 |
1 389 |
Total share from France Télécom (a2 + B) |
920 |
970 |
1 131 |
1 002 |
1 146 |
1 151 |
2.1.2.
The changes made to the status of France Télécom and the position of its civil service staff from 1996
Year |
Rate of contribution |
Million EUR |
1997 |
36,20 % |
1 088,9 |
1998 |
35,40 % |
1 069,6 |
1999 |
36,70 % |
1 108,5 |
2000 |
36,40 % |
1 085,0 |
2001 |
37,00 % |
1 088,6 |
2002 |
37,70 % |
1 100,1 |
2003 |
37,60 % |
1 085,0 |
2004 |
[…] % |
1 048,6 |
2005 |
[…] % |
984,6 |
2006 |
[…] % |
957,6 |
2007 |
[…] % |
917,6 |
2008 |
[…] % |
859,2 |
2009 |
[…] % |
805,4 |
2010 |
[…] % |
744,5 |
(million EUR) |
||||
|
Contributions (employer’s and employees’) |
Annual payments by the public body managing the exceptional contribution from France Télécom |
Benefits paid |
Costs to the State |
1997 |
[…] |
152,4 |
[…] |
[…] |
1998 |
[…] |
167,7 |
[…] |
[…] |
1999 |
[…] |
184,5 |
[…] |
[…] |
2000 |
[…] |
202,9 |
[…] |
[…] |
2001 |
[…] |
223,2 |
[…] |
[…] |
2002 |
[…] |
245,5 |
[…] |
[…] |
2003 |
[…] |
270,0 |
[…] |
[…] |
2004 |
[…] |
297,1 |
[…] |
[…] |
2005 |
[…] |
326,9 |
[…] |
[…] |
2006 |
[…] |
1 359,5 |
[…] |
[…] |
2007 |
[…] |
395,4 |
[…] |
[…] |
2008 |
[…] |
435,0 |
[…] |
[…] |
2009 |
[…] |
578,0 |
[…] |
[…] |
2010 |
[…] |
635,8 |
[…] |
[…] |
Total |
[…] |
5 473,9 |
[…] |
[…] |
2.2.
The gradual, then total opening-up of the telecommunications markets
3.
REASONS FOR INITIATING THE PROCEDURE
4.
COMMENTS BY INTERESTED PARTIES
4.1.
France Télécom
4.2.
The complainants
4.3.
The telecommunications operator
5.
COMMENTS OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
5.1.
Concerning the existence of State aid
5.2.
Concerning the compatibility of possible State aid with the internal market
Year |
TEC |
EUR million |
TEC* |
EUR million |
TEC-TEC* |
1997 |
36,2 % |
1 088,9 |
48,1 % |
1 446,9 |
– 358,0 |
1998 |
35,4 % |
1 069,6 |
47,1 % |
1 423,1 |
– 353,5 |
1999 |
36,7 % |
1 108,5 |
48,4 % |
1 460,3 |
– 351,8 |
2000 |
36,4 % |
1 085,0 |
48,0 % |
1 429,3 |
– 344,3 |
2001 |
37,0 % |
1 088,6 |
47,9 % |
1 407,9 |
– 319,3 |
2002 |
37,7 % |
1 100,1 |
43,5 % |
1 267,9 |
– 167,8 |
2003 |
37,6 % |
1 085,0 |
45,0 % |
1 298,5 |
– 213,5 |
2004 |
[…] % |
1 048,6 |
[…] % |
[…] |
[…] |
2005 |
[…] % |
984,6 |
[…] % |
[…] |
[…] |
2006 |
[…] % |
957,6 |
[…] % |
[…] |
[…] |
2007 |
[…] % |
917,6 |
[…] % |
[…] |
[…] |
2008 |
[…] % |
859,2 |
[…] % |
[…] |
[…] |
2009 |
[…] % |
805,4 |
[…] % |
[…] |
[…] |
2010 |
[…] % |
744,5 |
[…] % |
[…] |
[…] |
6.
ASSESSMENT OF THE AID
6.1.
Existence of aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the TFEU
6.1.1.
Aid granted by the State through State resources
6.1.2.
Favouring certain undertakings
6.1.3.
Economic advantage distorting or threatening to distort competition
6.1.4.
Effect on trade between Member States
6.1.5.
Conclusion on the existence of aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) of the TFEU
6.2.
Alternative legal bases for compatibility of the aid
6.3.
Compatibility of the aid in terms of Article 107(3)(c) of the TFEU
6.3.1.
Conformity of the aid measure with an objective of common interest
6.3.2.
Necessity for the aid measure
6.3.3.
Proportionality of the aid measure
(million EUR) |
|||||||
Year |
Pensions paid (A) |
Compensation and over-compensation (B) |
Annual contributions (C) |
Advantage FT (D) (A + B – C)(76) |
Balance compensation 1 January (E) |
Interest (F) |
Balance compensation 31 Dec. (E + F – D) |
1997 (77) |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
122,3 |
5 716,8 |
184,4 |
5 777,9 |
1998 |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
188,2 |
5 777,9 |
319,5 |
5 909,2 |
1999 |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
189,8 |
5 909,2 |
326,8 |
6 046,2 |
2000 |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
298,3 |
6 046,2 |
334,4 |
6 082,2 |
2001 |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
302,9 |
6 082,2 |
336,3 |
6 115,6 |
2002 |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
305,9 |
6 115,6 |
338,2 |
6 148,0 |
2003 |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
364,7 |
6 148,0 |
340,0 |
6 123,3 |
2004 |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
477,4 |
6 123,3 |
338,6 |
5 984,5 |
2005 |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
619,1 |
5 984,5 |
330,9 |
5 696,3 |
2006 |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
744,4 |
5 696,3 |
315,0 |
5 266,9 |
2007 |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
909,9 |
5 266,9 |
291,3 |
4 648,2 |
2008 |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
1 101,0 |
4 648,2 |
257,0 |
3 804,3 |
2009 |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
1 255,8 |
3 804,3 |
210,4 |
2 758,9 |
2010 |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
1 386,6 |
2 758,9 |
152,6 |
1 524,8 |
2011 (est.) |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
1 497,5 |
1 524,8 |
84,3 |
111,6 |