Other uncertainties come in this explosive area

The transportation of the Corse (OTC) Agency must submit this morning to the Executive Board of the territorial Assembly his report on the responses to the call for tenders to renew the public service delegation (DSP) for the maritime service between the island and the Mainland. According to our information, it recommends that community to retain the overall supply of the SNCM, privatized last year and now owned by Veolia and Butler Capital company. In their agreements with the State, the new shareholders had negotiated a clause providing for the possibility of surrendering their interests in the hypothesis where the SNCM would not obtain the DSP. In other words, that it would be renationalised, unthinkable scenario a few months of the presidential elections.

Most surprising however, CTA makes its verdict, which will have to be validated by a vote in plenary on 22 December. A slap to the elders of the Council of competition even they must decide Monday on a referral "concerning the practices implemented by the Société Nationale Corse Méditerranée, the territorial collectivity of Corsica and Corsica transport Office" at the initiative of the company South of Navigation, former ally of the SNCM and Corsica Ferries who filed with the NMC offers. According to our information, Bruno Lasserre, President of the institution, was careful, at the hearing of the parties on 29 November, to ask given the context the deadline until which the Board could make its decision, and it had been agreed to on 12 December. Despite a tight schedule, the OTC therefore could, it seems, push a few days the presentation of his report.

Explosive folder

However, without prejudging the content of its decision, the competition authority will be required to rule on a possible dominant position of SNCM and the abuse that she could do for the DSP. The SNCM has 85 of cargo to the island of Corsica, its leaders have clearly suggested that this service will be provided with the SPC, which they want to take control. Antoine Sindali, the President of the CTA, would have even received a letter of commitment of the SNCM in this sense, while Gérard Couturier, the Director General of the privatized company, said at the "voices" that "whatever happens, it will propose a partnership in the NMC. Concerns about some local operators reluctant to see their supply depend on a single company which strikes are sadly famous.

Other uncertainties come in this explosive area. The Court of appeal of Paris must make December 22, his judgment on the validity of the shareholders Pact denounced in March by the NMC. The European Commission, also seized but observing a deafening silence, has warned of the risk of see STEF-TFE, majority shareholder of the NMC, before an administrative court on the basis of article 87 of the Treaty of Rome which said illegal "aid granted by States or through State resources in any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings". However, the SNCM has received for some 220 million euros between 2003 and 2006, and these are likely so to be returned have not been provisioned in the accounts of the company, says STEF-TFE. From there to say that they are inaccurate, justice could still be called upon to decide.