The European Commission announced a number of State Aid decisions on 7 May:
(i) The European Commission has approved under EU state aid rules Greek's map for granting regional development aid between 2014 and 2020.
Commission Vice-President in charge of competition policy Joaquín Almunia said: “The Greek regional aid map supports the Commission's cohesion policy and contributes to the objective of better targeted and more effective regional state aid. Greece will now be able to organise a smooth transition from the current regional aid system towards its regional development strategy for 2014-2020 for all its regions.''
(ii) The European Commission has approved under EU state aid rules Malta's map for granting state aid between 2014 and 2020 within the framework of the Commission's new regional aid guidelines adopted in June 2013.
Commission Vice President in charge of competition policy Joaquín Almunia said: “Under the new guidelines, Malta's entire territory continues to be eligible for regional aid. This will allow the Maltese authorities to support regional investment in line with the objectives of EU state aid policy and in a way that also ensures the continuity of the Maltese regional policy.''
(iii) The European Commission has approved France's map for granting regional development aid between 2014 and 2020.
Commission Vice-President in charge of competition policy Joaquín Almunia said: “France's regional aid map supports the Commission's cohesion policy and contributes to foster well-targeted, more effective state aid. France will now be able to organise a smooth transition from the current regional aid system towards its regional development strategy for 2014-2020.''
(iv) The European Commission has found that a series of measures by the Dublin local authorities to participate in the Waste-to-Energy project in Poolbeg, Dublin, are in line with the EU state aid rules.
The Dublin authorities will participate in the project through a series of measures, such as a waste revenue guarantee, a waste and electricity revenue sharing mechanism and a profit sharing schedule.
(v) The European Commission has found public financing for infrastructure renovations at the two UK airports St. Mary's and Land's End to be in line with EU state aid rules.
The investment project at Land's End airport is a good example of state aid that furthers the development of remote regions while keeping distortions of competition to a minimum. The guidelines encourage this type of aid.
(vi) The European Commission has approved under EU state aid rules Denmark's map for granting regional development aid between 2014 and 2020.
Commission Vice President in charge of competition policy Joaquin Almunia said: “Denmark's new regional aid map allows national and local authorities to support investment where there is a need for it, in particular in areas undergoing major structural change. This will contribute to the development of these areas and support EU cohesion policy objectives.”
(vii) The European Commission has found that restructuring aid granted by Ireland to Allied Irish Banks plc (AIB) and its subsidiary EBS is in line with EU state aid rules.
Commission Vice President in charge of competition policy Joaquín Almunia said: "Today, the Commission closed an important chapter in the ongoing restructuring of the Irish banking sector. AIB is one of the two largest Irish banks. Its restructuring plan sets out the right measures for this bank to return to profitability without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market. In particular, AIB will implement market opening measures over the next three years to attract new entrants to the concentrated Irish banking market".
(viii) The European Commission has concluded that the financing regime of Belgium's French language public service broadcaster RTBF, in its amended form, is in line with EU state aid rules.
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