European State Aid regulations place restrictions on the amount of public money that can be granted to private companies in order to uphold competition across the EU. As a result they have a major impact on local authority economic development and regeneration activities.
The Association monitors the impact of State Aid regulations on the ground, assists in informing European policy and provides up-to-date information on policy implications and practical approaches for local government in Wales.
State Aid regulations need to be far more proportionate, streamlined, and clearer across the whole EU. Uncertainties regarding the scope and application of regulations have acted as a major brake upon regeneration activity in deprived areas, and we fully support the European Commission's approach to simplify the regulations.
Due to the fact that there are new challenges facing the enlarged European Union, the WLGA believes that any new State Aids regime needs to be more aligned with the Lisbon Strategy and the Third Cohesion report, as State Aid control plays an important role in the contribution of both these policies throughout Europe.
Welsh Local Government Registered Schemes:
The links below will take you directly to the details of the three registered schemes for local government.
Please note, these schemes are awaiting Commission registration numbers in line with Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2001 (training Aid Block Exemption Regulation) Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 amended by (EC) No 364/2004 to include aid for R&D by SMEs/ Commission Regulation 1628/2006 (National Regional Investment Aid) and may therefore be subject to change.
- Welsh Local Government Regional Investment Aid Scheme
- Welsh Local Government SME Development Scheme
- Welsh Local Government Training Support Scheme
Recent briefings on State Aids:
- January 2007 - Block exemption extended
- January 2007 - Clarification of Regional aid and block exemptions working together
- January 2007 - Regional aid maps for 2007-2013 published
- December 2006 - New de minimus agreed
- November 2006 - General State Aid update
- November 2006 - New research, development and innovation framework agreed
- January 2006 - Commisssion publishes draft communication on regional aid guidelines
- July 2005 - Commission revises regional state aid proposal
- February 2005 - Member states discuss regional aid guidelines with the Commission
- June 2004 - Commission reviews regional aid guidelines
- June 2003 - Commission approves UK scheme for land remediation
WLGA Consultation responses on State Aids:
- June 2007 - Environmental Aid Guidelines
- May 2007 - General Block Exemption Regulation
- August 2006 - DTI Stage 2 - Draft Assisted Area Map
- April 2006 - DTI Stage 1 - Review of Assisted Area Map
- July 2005 - Commissions Road Map for State Aids