Jan 2010 12

Ruling the Waves4

The French are notoriously energetic about using taxpayers’ money to support their language in the face of global English.

In 1997, the French government went one further and modified an existing aid scheme. Radio stations that received less than a fifth of their total turn over from commercial revenue would receive money hypothecated from taxing advertisers. Controversially, this “parafiscal charge” would also apply to advertisers on radio stations outside of French territory.

The Commission indicated that it was not going to block the changes under state aid rules. But ten years on, in an ECJ case (C-333/07) that has been slow to see print, the Court decided that the Commission’s ruling was invalid. Even if the objective was legal under the treaties, the measures to raise the money were not.

The European Commission is apparently in the process of reviewing the case. Depending on which way it bends, business will get an early pointer as to the willingness of the new Commission to fall in behind big member states when they push for state aid in the face of the Single Market.

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  • Ken Collins

    Cameron should promise a referendum on EU removal, as Brown denied us a vote on the so-called constitution, perhaps this is one for TPA members to vote on.

  • John Barton

    I agree with Ken and think that it is the only way the Tories will make a government. The fact that all thre main parties are refusing to sddress the EU issue and its destruction of England and English democracy is one reason why I will not be voting for the three main parties and would reccoment every one els in England to do so as well.

  • Margaret Jeffery

    I agree with Ken and John’s comments. I will also not be voting for the main parties, hoping we will have another choice.

  • Jerry Wraith

    There IS another choice. Vote UKIP the only respectable party which is going to give us a referendum on leaving the EU, membership of which costs the UK economy £14 million/hour EVERY hour. (TPA Figure)
    Jerry Wraith