Brussels, 25/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is to hold consultations on new draft rules to exempt more subsidies from the notification obligation laid down in EC Treaty state aid rules. In a “frequently asked questions” press release on the subject, the Commission stresses that it is not a question of relaxing the exemption criteria, but rather a measure to lighten the administrative burden on the Commission and the member states.
The new block exemption rules would simplify and consolidate into one text five existing block exemptions for aid to SMEs, research and development aid in favour of SMEs, aid for employment, training aid and regional aid. The new rules would also extend block exemption to three new types of aid: environmental aid, aid in the form of risk capital, and research and development aid in favour of large companies.
Subsidies fulfilling the conditions laid down in the new regulation would be considered as compatible with state aid rules without requiring prior notification to the Commission. Interested parties are invited to present their comments between now and 3 June 2007. Further information is available at http: //ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/state_aid/reform/reform.html, or by writing to stateaidgreffe@ec.europa.eu. Following a further round of consultations, the Commission intends to adopt the final version of the regulation before summer 2008. (cd)