I Frankrig sondres der principielt mellem de offentlige forvaltningsvirksomheder (EPA), som varetager de traditionelle administrative opgaver, og de offentlige erhvervsvirksomheder (EPIC), der udøver erhvervsaktiviteter.
In France a distinction in principle is made within public establishments between administrative public establishments (EPAs), which perform the traditional tasks of the administration, and industrial and commercial public establishments (EPICs), which engage in activities of an economic nature.