Brussels, 29 April 2025
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, French investment aid of around €110 million to support the construction of a channel to allow direct access to the deep-sea container terminals at the port of Le Havre.
This channel will be protected by a dyke between the river Seine and Port 2000, which is part of the port of Le Havre, itself part of the core Trans-European Transport Network.
The aid will be provided in the form of grants totaling €110 million, while the total investment costs amount to €197 million.
The aid aims to enable more vessels to have direct access to Port 2000 to achieve a higher modal shift of container traffic from road onto inland waterways. This will contribute to decarbonisation and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, to a decrease in traffic congestion and to the reduction of noise pollution and road accidents.
The Commission assessed the French measure under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)c of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which allows Member States to support the development of certain economic activities under certain conditions.
The Commission found that the measure will promote common transport and environmental objectives without unduly distorting competition in the internal market. In addition, the aid is proportionate as it does not go beyond what is necessary for achieving the project. Finally, the Commission concluded that the positive effects of the measure outweigh any potential negative effects in terms of distortion of competition or trade between Member States brought about by the public intervention. On this basis, the Commission approved the measure under EU State aid rules.
The non-confidential version of today’s decision will be made available under the case number SA.115739 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.