EU-konsultasjon om gruppeunntak for statsstøtte

EU-konsultasjon om gruppeunntak for statsstøtte

Consultation on a draft General Block Exemption Regulation (the GBER) on state aid measures

Åpen konsultasjon igangsatt av Kommisjonen 8.5.2013 (28.6.2013

Nærmere omtale

BAKGRUNN (fra Kommisjonens pressemelding 8.5.2013, engelsk utgave)

State aid: Commission's competition service consults on review of General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER)
As part of its state aid modernisation (SAM) initiative, the European Commission's competition service consults the public on a first proposal for the review of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER). The proposal follows a public consultation held in 2012 and is aimed at collecting views from Member States and stakeholders so as to prepare for the adoption of a Commission proposal for a revised Regulation later this year. The GBER sets out the conditions under which state aid can be exempted from prior notification to the Commission. The GBER aims at promoting Member States' support measures for EU 2020 objectives, which do not distort competition and trade in the internal market. Today's draft proposes a number of changes to the current GBER in line with the SAM objectives of promoting "good" aid and more effective and efficient public support. The main changes concern:

• wider possibilities to promote investments in R&D&I, green investments, risk capital and finance for SMEs, including aid to alternative trading platforms;

• increased notification thresholds for R&D measures and risk finance, new exemption for R&D infrastructure;

• simplified provisions for innovation and start-up aid to SMEs;

• new provisions for renewable energy, district heating, remediation of polluted sites - based on a simplified cost calculation method;

• new provisions for regional development in order to promote cross-border co-operation projects and to address handicaps of outermost regions, while better targeting aid to large companies in assisted regions towards EU 2020 objectives;

• wider possibilities to support the employment of young people and simplified provisions for training aid;

• strengthened transparency provisions and evaluation of large schemes to promote efficient and effective public spending and minimise distortions in the internal market.

The consultation closes on 28th June 2013. Contributions received will be published on the Commission's competition website unless clearly marked as confidential.