1. Anna Nykiel-Mateo Nuria Mariñas Rojo DG COMP
State Aid Modernisation – review of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) and of Regional Aid Guidelines (RAG) Annual meeting with the Managing Authorities of the European territorial cooperation programmes 23 April 2013, Brussels, Charlemagne building
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Anna Nykiel-Mateo
Nuria Mariñas Rojo
DG COMP

2. SAM Objectives
More with less: re-launch growth by a more effective and efficient use of (scarcer) public finances (good vs. bad aid)
Simplify & diversify enforcement rules, according to competition threat and impact on the Single Market (GBER & GLs)
Clarify rules and improve procedures for faster decisions, based on a common economic approach, and better compliance
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3. Building-blocks of the package
Across the package
Larger notification exemptions (ER & GBER)
Coordinated review of major Guidelines
New Communication on the notion of aid
Simplification
Consistency
Increased MS commitment
Reviewed de minimis Regulation
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Second level bullet points: 28
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Should expand on the points in the slides and provide background information.
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Review of the Procedural Regulation 3

4. Review of the GBER Goals Fast-track for small & good aids
Simpler rules
More transparency
Evaluation of large schemes

5. But subject to safeguards !
Expansion of scope
under discussion - in two dimensions:
horizontally, e.g. new instruments
vertically, e.g. higher thresholds
But subject to safeguards !

6. New GBER
Simplification
Compliance

7. Withdrawal of the benefit of the GBER Cumulation
DRAFT NEW GBER – GENERAL PART – MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES UNDER DISCUSSION
Incentive effect
Transparency
Repayable advances
Withdrawal of the benefit of the GBER
Cumulation

8. NEW DRAFT GBER – THEMATIC SECTIONS – MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES UNDER DISCUSSION
Regional aid:
Regional operating aid
Aid for SMEs:
SMEs' access to finance: Risk finance aid
Start-up aid
RDI:
RD infrastructures
Innovation aid for SMEs
Training aid
Employment of disabled & disadvantaged workers

9. How to address ETC-specific issues in the GBER?
Currently under discussion

10. New Draft Regional Aid Guidelines (RAG)
Second RAG Draft was presented at a Multilateral meeting with MS held on 11/12 February 2013.
Draft text still under discussion.
Adoption of RAG is foreseen before summer 2013.
Notification of regional maps and approval by the Commission before end of 2013.
Draft text includes a specific provision on ETC (point 78). This provision is a derogation from the existing rules regarding applicable aid intensities. Would this provision facilitate the implementation of ETC projects or not?
Your comments/suggestions are welcome.

11. Draft RAG Text
P. 78:"For European Territorial Cooperation measures, the aid ceiling of the area in which a project is located shall apply to all beneficiaries participating in the European Territorial Cooperation project, provided that the eligible costs are attributed to an initial investment project."…
Project must be located in an assisted region
It must be an "initial investment project" according to RAG (p.16.k):
An investment (tangibles and intangibles) related to:
Setting-up of a new establishment
Extension of the capacity of an existing establishment
Diversification of the output into new products
Fundamental change in the overall production process of an existing establishment
Acquisition of assets directly linked to an establishment provided it has closed or it would have closed if it had not been purchased.

12. Draft RAG Text
P. 78 :…"If a project has several locations, the aid ceiling applicable to this project is the one which applies to the area where the largest amount of aid is granted because one of the initial investments is located in an assisted area."…
MS indicated a preference for the "largest percentage of eligible cost " instead of largest amount of aid.
"Elegible cost " are those defined according to RAG
"
P. 78: …"However, in ‘c’ areas these provisions are applicable only to SMEs in line with the provisions of point 9 of these guidelines."

13. Thank you!