Brussels, 23/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 22 February, the European Commission approved the regional aid maps covering the period 2007-2013 for Belgium and Denmark. These decisions form part of a wider exercise to review the regional aid regimes in place in all Member States in accordance with the new Regional Aid Guidelines adopted in December 2005 (see EUROPE 9095). The new Guidelines aim at re-focussing regional aid on the most disadvantaged regions of the enlarged EU, while allowing to improve competitiveness and to provide for a smooth transition. The maps of twenty-two other Member States have already been approved by the Commission (see EUROPE 9361, 9655, 9351, 9348, 9339 and 9335).
Belgium. The region of Hainaut with 12.4% of the Belgian population remains eligible for aid as a statistical effect region under Article 87(3)(a) at a maximum aid intensity of 30% until 31 December 2010. Statistical effect regions have, following the enlargement of the European Union by 10 new Member States in May 2004, a GDP below 75% of the EU-15 average but above 75% of the EU-25 average. In 2010, the Commission will assess whether the GDP of this region is below 75% of the Community average (EU-25). If this is the case, the aid ceiling remains 30%, if not, it becomes eligible under Article 87(3)(c) at an aid ceiling of 20%. For the period 2007-2013, 13.5% of Belgium's population remain eligible for aid under Article 87(3)(c) at an aid ceiling of 15% or 10%, with 6% allocated to the Flemish Region, 6% to the Walloon Region and 1.5% to the Brussels Capital Region.
Denmark. For the period 2007-2013, 8.6% of Denmark's population remain eligible for aid under Article 87(3)(c) at an aid ceiling of 15% or 10%. For the period 2007-2008 a further 2.7% of the Danish population is eligible as a transitional additional coverage at an aid ceiling of 10%. Information on the approved map will soon be published in the EU's Official Journal.
A regional aid map defines the regions of a Member State eligible for national regional investment aid for large enterprises under EC Treaty state aid rules and establishes the maximum permitted levels of such aid in the eligible regions. The adoption of a regional aid map is a pre-condition to ensure the continuity of the regional policy and Structural Fund programmes as from January 2007, as the validity of all previous maps expired on 31 December 2006. The three remaining EU Member States (France, Italy and The Netherlands) are not able to grant any regional aid within their territory until a new map is approved by the Commission.
Further information on the regional aid guidelines can be found at http: //ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/state_aid/regional_aid/regional_aid.html (cd)