Brussels, 17/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 16 September, the European Commission approved the 2014-2020 regional aid maps of Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium. The areas designated by Italy cover 34.07% of the country's population, almost identical to the previous map. The maximum levels of aid that can be granted to investment projects carried out by large enterprises in the assisted areas are between 10% and 25% of total investment costs, depending on the area concerned. These can be increased by 10 percentage points for medium-sized and 20 percentage points for small enterprises.
The Dutch map defines seven areas as eligible for regional aid covering 7.478% of the total population, virtually the same as for the previous period. The aid ceiling is 10% of the investment cost for projects carried out by large companies. The same percentage increases as apply to Italy are available to medium-sized and small companies.
The areas designated by Belgium cover 29.95% of the total population, a slight increase on the previous map. The Province of Hainaut is covered in its entirety, along with a number of smaller zones containing 8% of the Belgian population in the Flemish Region, 8% in the Walloon Region and 1.89% in the Brussels-Capital Region. The maximum level of aid has been set at 10% of the investment cost, except in the Province of Hainaut, where the maximum aid ceiling has been set at 15% until 31 December 2017. For medium-sized and small companies, this percentage can be increased by the same amounts as in Italy and the Netherlands. (EL)