In-depth assessment of Regional Aid to large investment projects
In follow up to the Guidelines on National Regional Aid 2007-13, the EC has produced draft guidance for the in-depth assessment of regional aid to large investment projects. Large investment projects are those projects where eligible expenditure exceeds €50m.
While the guidelines require a scaling down of regional aid for large projects, in-depth assessments are carried out for large projects meeting certain criteria. This is to verify that aid is necessary to provide an incentive effect for the investment and that the benefits outweigh any distortion of competition and trade between Member States.
This consultation has now closed.
Training Aid and Aid to Disabled and Disadvantaged Workers
Training Aid
As you are aware the Lisbon European Council in March 2000 set a strategic goal for Europe to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world. The Lisbon conclusions stressed the central role of education and training as the main instruments to increase human capital and its impact on growth, productivity and employment. Training usually has positive external effects for society as a whole since it increases the pool of skilled workers from which firms can draw and it improves the competitiveness of the economy and promotes a knowledge society capable of embracing a more innovative development path.
Disabled and Disadvantaged workers
The promotion of employment and social cohesion is a central aim for the economic and social policies of the Community and of its Member States. Unemployment and, in particular, structural unemployment, remains a significant problem in some parts of the Community, and certain categories of workers still find difficulty in entering the labour market. State aid in the form of wage subsidies can provide additional incentives to enterprises to increase their levels of employment of disadvantaged and disabled workers. The objective of the aid is thus to raise the demand for labour of the targeted categories of workers.
Comments have now been submitted. We will keep you informed of developments.
Criteria for the Compatibility Analysis of Training State Aid Cases Subject to Individual Notification
Criteria for the Compatibility Analysis of State Aid to Disadvantaged and Disabled Workers Subject to Individual Notification