BRUSSELS, July 8 (Reuters) – The European Commission opened on Friday two investigations into whether or not tax exemptions for Belgian and French ports breach EU state help guidelines.

In France, the EU govt cited full company earnings tax exemptions for 11 ports, together with Marseilles, Nantes and le Havre, whereas, in Belgium, quite a lot of ports additionally take pleasure in privileged tax regimes, together with Antwerp, Brussels and Ostend.

“Ports play a key role in the EU’s economy,” European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager stated in an announcement. “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)

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