Brussels, 13 March 2026

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €107.5 million French State aid scheme to support single-copy printed press distribution via a network of national distributors, wholesalers and retailers.

The scheme aims to encourage publishers to use pooled distribution methods in order to reduce costs and maintain a balanced territorial press distribution network, ensuring all citizens have access to the national press. It would increase the dissemination of reliable, high-quality information at a reasonable price, while ensuring media pluralism, democratic debate and cultural diversity.

Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants. The scheme will be open to press publishers using a single-copy distribution network. The scheme will finance up to 40% of the distribution costs of national daily and weekly newspapers of political and general interest. It also targets periodicals providing sports information. The scheme will run until 31 December 2030.

The Commission assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which allows Member States to support the development of certain economic activities under certain conditions. The Commission found that the scheme is necessary and appropriate to facilitate the development of press publishing and distribution activities. The Commission also 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 today’s decision will be made available under the case number SA.118124 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.