French authorities to demand from Bridgestone to return the funds invested in the tire plant

The city community of Bethune-Bruet (Pas-de-Calais) on Tuesday demanded from Bridgestone to reimburse its earlier financial assistance in the amount of 1.25 million euros. The decision came after the Japanese tire giant's management finally set out to close its Bethune plant.

The City Council believes it has the right to demand the return of financial assistance provided to the plant between 2007 and 2010 and used for the modernization.

In 2007, Bridgestone launched a € 30 million investment plan to increase the plant's production capacity, with the support of the state, region and local communities. The local community has funded the plant, and Bridgestone has pledged to create 50 jobs between 2007 and 2010 and maintain them for five years after the end of the program, that is, until the end of 2015. However, according to local authorities, this condition was not met. The company was notified of non-compliance with the conditions for receiving assistance back in 2016, but now, after Bridgestone's decision to close the plant, the authorities plan to demand a refund from the Japanese tire manufacturer.