Brussels, 02/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission announced on Wednesday that it was preparing, in close collaboration with the Member States, an in-depth review of the rules applicable to regional aid, which will enter into force on 1 January 2007. The existing rules, which will remain in place until that date, were established in December 1997 for the period 2000-2006. They limit the scope of areas eligible for state aid in the EU to 42.7% of the Community population. The allocation of this population ceiling between Member States and the demarcation of the individual assisted areas in the Member States correspond to guidelines on regional aid adopted at the same time. The new rules for 2007 will be reformed to meet the realities of an enlarged Community, says the Commission. The guidelines and the criteria on the granting of this aid will be redefined to pave the way for the structural reform enlargement will necessitate. Reform will be concluded "in time" to allow Member States to draw up new regional aid maps to be sent to the Commission before their entry into force in 2007.