When the engine is in a specified operation state in which the EGR valve is brought into the full-close condition, the holding force for holding the EGR valve at the full-close position is corrected by correcting the control duty signal of the EGR valve. The control duty signal is corrected according to the target valve overlap quantity or the target phase of the valve timing. Thus, even when a proper holding force of the EGR valve is varied due to a variation in differential pressure between the intake pressure and the exhaust pressure, the holding force of the EGR valve is corrected to be a proper holding force.