Brussels, 22/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - UEAPME, the European Craft and SME association, welcomes the widening of the scope of the new state aid regulation unveiled by the European Commission that extends the exemption from prior notification requirements (see EUROPE 11084).
UEAPME General Secretary Peter Faross said: “Today's Block Exemption Regulation on State aid is an important step to reduce administrative burdens for the providers of State aid and it will contribute to faster and more targeted support measures for SMEs. Yet, UEAPME also sees a clear risk to this wider scope of the GBER. Assuming that up to 90% of all State aid measures are excluded from pre-notification, there is a high risk for distortion of competition if Member States do not apply the requirements for these exemptions. The European Commission therefore has to ensure an efficient ex-post monitoring of the measures implemented by Member States and an effective enforcement in the case miss-use is discovered. UEAPME hence welcomes the new provisions for transparency requiring a publication of a list of all companies having received State aid above €500,000 as well as the kind of aid received. This will allow competitors to complain if aid measures are not in line with the regulation”.
The Greens/EFA comment that the Commission's proposed exemptions do not do enough to ensure the transition to a sustainable economy. Green spokesman on industrial policy issues Reinhard Bütikofer explained: “The criteria for renewable energy are too stringent and inflexible and will make it very difficult for the block exemption to be used. This is a major flaw. Given all the lip service from the Commission on resource efficiency, it is extremely disappointing that there is no mention of it at all in the proposals”. (EL)