Brussels, 31/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 30 May, the European commissioner for competition, Joaquin Almunia, briefed the parliamentary committee on regional development on the forthcoming guidelines for state aid of a regional nature for 2013-2020. The guidelines are to be presented by the end of July. Almunia pointed out that this was in the context of a complete overhaul of state aid, launched one year ago. He said the guidelines should be, as far as possible, in line with cohesion policy, reform of which is currently being negotiated (see other article) but not 100% in line as the objectives are no longer the same. MEPs are concerned about coherence and complementarity between the two legislations. Another area of concern for MEPs is the restriction of state aid for large companies in the so-called C regions (over 75% of EU average GDP). The commissioner acknowledges that the upcoming guidelines will be more “restrictive” as the added value of public aid is less as far as large businesses are concerned, and aid has more of an effect when it targets SMEs. Nonetheless, aid to large companies could still be compatible according to other guidelines on research and development, energy, innovation, or venture capital. Almunia highlighted the importance of not causing distortion, or a race to regional aid or relocation. Further to this debate, the REGI committee adopted the draft report by Oldfich Vlasak (ECR, Czech Republic) on regional policy as an integral part of the state aid regime. (MD/transl.jl)