Brussels, 24/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - Following adoption on 22 July of a revised Council Regulation enabling the European Commission to adopt state aid exemptions for additional categories of aid, the European Commission is planning to extend the current General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) by category from the state aid notification requirements, adding the following categories of aid: making good damage caused by natural disasters, social aid for transport for residents of remote regions, broadband infrastructure, innovation, culture, heritage conservation and sports and multi-functional infrastructure. In this connection, it launched a public consultation on GBER that will run until 10 December 2013. In the light of the comments received, along with comments in a previous consultation in May this year, the Commission will prepare a consolidated proposal for a revised GBER, on which stakeholders will again be consulted towards the end of the year. Meanwhile, the Commission plans to extend the current GBER until 30 June 2014. (FG/transl.fl)