On July 23rd, the European Commission adopted an extension of the scope of the ๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง (๐๐๐๐), which will allow Member States to implement certain aid measures without prior Commission scrutiny. The revised rules concern:
aid granted by national authorities for projects funded via certain EU centrally managed programmes under the new Multiannual Financial Framework; and certain State aid measures that to support the green and digital transition and are, at the same time, relevant for the recovery from the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.The concerned national funds are those relating to:
- Financing and investment operations supported by the InvestEU Fund;
- Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) projects having received a โSeal of Excellenceโ under Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe, as well as co-funded research and development projects or Teaming actions under Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe;
- European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) projects, also known as Interreg.
With this modification of the GBER, Member States can now directly implement these measures with the ย ex-post notification of the European Commission.
More to it, EC introduces new aid categories that are exempted from notification, considered as top priorities for the twin transition:
- Aid for energy efficiency projects in buildings;
- Aid for recharging and refuelling infrastructure for low emission road vehicles;
- Aid for fixed broadband networks, 4G and 5G mobile networks, certain trans-European digital connectivity infrastructure projects and certain vouchers.
Find more here.
