Consultation: General Block Exemption Regulation
The Commission have published their official draft of the
General Block Exemption Regulation for third party
consultation.
The document can be viewed here
This is a very wide ranging document which will allow aid to be
granted without the need for formal notification in a wide range of
different policy areas. It covers aid for the following
purposes:
- Regional Aid
- SME investment aid
- Aid for environmental protection
- Aid for consultancy and SME participation in fairs
- Risk capital,
- R&D,
- Training,
- Aid for the employment of disadvantaged and disabled
workers
At present there are no provisions for aid in the cultural,
sport, tourism or heritage areas. However, this is likely to
reflect the vires restrictions under which the Commission operates
and provisions covering these areas may be incorporated later in
the process of finalising the document once the vires is
extended. In addition there is no explicit coverage for
"innovation aid".
We would be very grateful if you could consider, in particular,
the overall common provisions/restrictions which are applicable to
all aid under the block exemption and the particular provisions
relating to aid which is particularly relevant to your subject
areas. You may wish to distribute the draft General Block
Exemption to other colleagues who may have an interest in its
provisions and to your make stakeholder base aware of the paper and
encourage them to respond with their views. We intend to
circulate, as soon as possible, a short summary paper which will
outline the main provisions of the draft Regulation and highlight
areas which we consider of particular interest/controversial.
However, because of the short time allowed by the Commission for
comments and the importance of this particular measure we
would ask you to begin your consideration of the draft Regulation
as soon as possible.
The Commission are seeking responses by 28 May 2008.
Return your comments to: jayant.mehta@nwda.co.uk or
pernille.kousgaard@nwda.co.uk
Further information on State Aid in the Northwest can be found
on the State Aid
Extranet