France public aid to businesses estimated at up to €187 billion in 2023

The Haut‑Commissariat à la Stratégie et au Plan released a report on 17 July estimating the total public assistance given to French companies in 2023. Using two calculation methods, the study puts the amount between €82 billion (direct, targeted subsidies, tax breaks and specific social‑security exemptions) and €187 billion (including broader measures such as general payroll tax relief, reduced VAT rates and indirect local interventions). The figures follow a July 2025 Senate report that claimed €211 billion in aid, a number the business community had contested. Minister Sébastien Lecornu commissioned the Haut‑Commissariat to produce a reliable calculation, noting the lack of consensus on the scope of aid and the importance of transparent data for the public debate.