* Volkswagen 2008 sees 2009 earnings down year-on-year * VW 2008 operating profit up 3 pct to 6.33 billion euros * Porsche says H1 operating profit falls * GM's Opel awaits state aid news * French, Italian, Belgian car sales drop (Recasts with Volkswagen, adds detail) By Christiaan Hetzner and Helen Massy-Beresford FRANKFURT/GENEVA, March 2 (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG(VOWG.DE) forecast lower 2009 earnings on Monday as its majorityshareholder Porsche SE (PSHG_p.DE) reported a fall in first-halfoperating profit. With carmakers worldwide still reeling from a sharp industrydownturn, latest auto sales figures showed no let-up in thecrisis as industry executives from around the world gathered inGeneva for the annual motor show. Japanese car sales were down 24.3 percent in February, whileFrench sales fell 13.1 percent and sales in Spain were down 48.8percent on a year ago. In Italy new car registrations were expected to show a sharpfall, though orders should see a boost from state aid, studygroup Promotor said. VW said 2008 operating profit rose 3 percent to 6.33 billioneuros, beating an average forecast of 6.14 billion from analystspolled by Reuters, on revenue up 4.5 percent to 113.81 billion.But the company expected a profit decline this year. 'The high volatility of market developments does notcurrently permit any reliable forecasts to be made for fiscalyear 2009,' Europe's biggest carmaker said. 'Based on the extremely weak business at the beginning ofthe year, earnings will not reach the high levels of previousyears'. NEW FINANCING Manufacturers, some of which are relying on government aidearmarked for research into emissions-cutting technologies, areexpected to put the spotlight on their green initiatives at theGeneva show.