Brussels, 22/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 21 May, the European Commission gave the go-ahead to regional state aid maps for 2014 to 2020 for Lithuania, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Austria, Estonia and Spain, which will come into force on 1 July 2014.
In Lithuania, the entire country is eligible for regional state aid, which can amount to up to 25% of the total investment costs for big companies for projects in the country. This applies to projects with eligible costs of less than €50 million. This rises to up to 40% of eligible costs in investment by small companies and 30% for medium-sized companies.
The eligible areas of Ireland cover 51.28% of the population, one percent higher than during the previous programming period. Aid intensity has remained largely unchanged apart from the Border and Midland area, where it is 5% lower than during the period from 1 January 2011 to 30 June 2014. The Western region is no longer eligible. The maximum aid intensity for large companies is 10% of the total investment costs, rising to 20% for medium-sized companies and 30% for small companies.
The British regional aid map covers 27.05% of the population. Depending on the region, the upper limit on aid ranges from 10% to 25% of total investment costs. For small and medium-sized companies, a higher amount of aid is possible. The upper limit on aid is slightly lower than during the previous programming period.
The eligible areas of Austria cover 25.87% of the population, around 3.4% higher than during the previous programming period. The upper limit on aid has reduced slightly to 10% for big companies, 20% for medium-sized companies and 30% for small companies.
The whole of Estonia is eligible for regional aid. The upper limit on aid for big companies is 25% of total investment costs, rising to 35% for medium-sized companies and 45% for small companies. The upper limits are 20% to 25% lower than under the previous programming period due to the rise in Estonian GDP and the 5% reduction in aid intensity across the board.
Eligible regions in Spain cover 68.59% of the population, more than under the previous regional aid map. The upper limit on aid for big companies ranges from 10% to 35% of total investment costs, depending on the region. This can rise by 10% for medium-sized companies and by 20% for small companies. For outermost regions (where eligible areas represent 6.9% of the Spanish population), the upper limit on aid is 25% of eligible investment costs in Estremadura and 35% for the Canary Islands. Some regions of Spain, such as Galicia and Andalucia, are no longer eligible for aid, but will continue to be allowed to grant aid of up to 15% of investment costs until 2017 in order to ease the transition, and 10% post-2017. Some regions, less disadvantaged than those where the GDP per inhabitant is less than 75% (covering 33% of the Spanish population) can be granted aid of up to 10% of investment costs because of the high levels of unemployment in those areas. (EL)