The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a €40 million French scheme to reduce the risk of wildfires in the forests of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. The scheme is co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development by up to €10 million. The scheme was already approved under the French National Strategic Plan.
Under the scheme, which will run until 31 December 2027, aid will take the form of direct grants to companies that own forests or access roads to forest where the investment can be implemented.
The scheme will finance the necessary equipment, works, and infrastructure to equip forest areas in the region to prevent and limit wildfires, notably by providing fire-fighting forces with accessible and secure roads. The scheme also helps implement work aimed at reducing combustible material in order to manage forest areas and contain the risk of fire.
The Commission assessed the French scheme 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, and the Guidelines for State aid in the fishery and aquaculture sector. The Commission found that the scheme is necessary and appropriate to encourage the relevant investments. Furthermore, the Commission found that the scheme is proportionate, as it is limited to the minimum necessary, and will have a limited impact on competition and trade between member states. On this basis, the Commission approved the French scheme under EU state aid rules.
The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.118498 in the state aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.