Brussels, 19/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - The Commission's proposal on “de minimis” aid (EUROPE 9269), regarding the threshold of €200.000, below which it does not have to be notified, is a step in the right direction but which, according to the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME), could go further. Although the European organisation welcomes the progress made by the Commission on the issue of non-transparent aid, its Secretary General Hans-Werner Müller declared in a press release published on Thursday that, “The latest text is a good basis for discussion, but there is definitely room for substantial improvement”. He insisted that, “We would like to see a different approach on the way the maximum amount for loans supported by guarantees is calculated” as well as clarifications on aid cumulation.
The UEAPME points out that in many cases, guarantees granted for loans are less than the 80% ceiling envisaged in the Commission's proposal. It proposes that a new system on de minimis aid exemption is established that sets the maximum amount of the guarantee based on the loan (€1.5 million according to UEAPME), rather than setting a maximum for the loan. Mr Müller stated that, “This provision would allow a more flexible use of the guarantee instrument and would better fit in the current practices of some Member States, for instance Germany, without having any influence on the amount of aid provided under the 'de minimis' rule, and without questioning the EC calculation methods”. In its proposal, the Commission stipulates that guarantees are covered as long as the amount of the loan does not exceed €1.7 million. Similarly, the UEAPME considers that the cumulation of different aid for the same loan should clearly be authorised, as long as the total does not overshoot the €200.000 ceiling. The Commission's proposal is expected to be adopted before the end of the year. (ab)