EU to Investigate Tax Exemptions for Belgian, French Ports

The European Commission opened on Friday two investigations into whether tax exemptions for Belgian and French ports breach EU state aid rules.

In France, the EU executive cited full corporate income tax exemptions for 11 ports, including Marseilles, Nantes and le Havre, while, in Belgium, a number of ports also enjoy privileged tax regimes, including Antwerp, Brussels and Ostend.

"Ports play a key role in the EU's economy," European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. "Tax exemptions shouldn't distort competition by giving an unfair advantage to some ports over others in Europe."


(Reporting by Alissa de Carbonnel; Editing by Foo Yun Chee)