The state will support the cross-Channel company Eurostar, in great difficulty because of the health crisis, in connection with the British government, Minister Delegate in charge of Transport, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said Thursday.
Read also: Eurostar sounds the alarm
"
The State will be present alongside Eurostar in order to maintain this strategic link between our two countries
", assured Jean-Baptiste Djebbari before the commission for sustainable development of the National Assembly.
"
We are working in conjunction with the British on aid mechanisms proportionate to the involvement of each person in Eurostar, so as to sustain the economic model on the financial level
" of the company, he added. he added, specifying that he had been discussing it "
for many weeks
" with his British counterpart Grant Shapps.
"
When the time comes, we will lay down the principles and methods of support, which will most certainly go through the SNCF
", which is a 55% shareholder in Eurostar, continued the minister.
In addition to SNCF, Eurostar is 40% owned by the Patina Rail consortium - made up of 30% of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and 10% of the British fund Hermes Infrastructure - and 5% by the Belgian SNCB.
Read also: British companies call for a Eurostar bailout
Very affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Eurostar warned that it risked being in insolvency at the end of the spring if the British and French governments did not come to its rescue.
"
The disaster is possible,
" told AFP on Monday its managing director Jacques Damas, noting that the turnover had fallen by 82% last year and that the situation had worsened further since the beginning of the year .
