Annexes to SEC(2011)1487 - Autumn 2011 Update - - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | SEC(2011)1487 - Autumn 2011 Update -. |
|---|---|
| document | SEC(2011)1487  |
| date | December 1, 2011 |
Scope and content of this Scoreboard
State aid expenditure is expenditure which Member States have actually granted under a given aid measure which was authorised by the Commission pursuant to Article 107 TFEU.[4] All state aid data refer to the implementation of Commission decisions, but exclude cases which are still under examination. General measures that do not favour certain enterprises or sectors, and public subsidies that do not affect trade or distort competition, are not dealt with in the Scoreboard as they are not subject to the Commission’s investigative powers under the state aid rules.
This Autumn 2011 update reports on state aid expenditure for all existing aid measures under which Member States granted aid in 2010; this covers both measures that have not yet expired and measures that were newly introduced in 2010.[5] The Scoreboard consists of two parts. While the Report adopted by the College of Commissioners provides a summary of the facts, the accompanying Staff Working Document gives further details on the data and signals trends.
Apart from providing an update on expenditure by the Member States, this edition also updates the progress achieved in the Commission's state aid control activities, namely on the recovery of unlawful aid.
Methodology
In conceptual terms, since the Autumn 2009 update the Scoreboard has provided separate chapters for information on the state aid situation with respect to non-crisis aid on the one hand and crisis aid granted to the financial sector and aid granted under the Temporary Union Framework on the other hand ("the temporary framework").[6] In this regard it is noted that, in order to better represent the actual volume of the aid measures which Member States implemented in respect of financial institutions, this edition of the Scoreboard has further refined the methodology of how to measure some of these instruments (guarantees, other liquidities and impaired assets). This means that the figures provided in this report for these instruments will differ from the figures in previous Scoreboards. However, in order to make a comparison with the financial crisis aid provided to financial institutions since the start of the crisis, Member States have been asked to also recalculate the amounts used in 2008 and 2009 in accordance with the new methodology. Further details on the methodology to measure state aid to financial institutions is provided in chapter 3.1 and the methodological notes.
More detail on the methodology used in this Scoreboard is provided in the section 'Notes on methodology'.
The Scoreboard presents the state aid situation in five chapters. Chapter 1 provides information on total state aid expenditure in the Member States and indicates the broad sectoral distribution of the aid. Chapter 2 reports on the trend and patterns of aid to industry and services; it also provides more detail on horizontal aid and aid to certain sectors of the economy. Chapter 3.1 gives an update on state aid measures to the financial sector and chapter 3.2 supplies details of aid granted under the temporary framework. Chapter 4 shows the trend of state aid expenditure in terms of numbers and the amount of aid involved. Chapter 5 reports on ongoing efforts to enforce the state aid rules and to recover unlawful aid. Finally, the note on methodology is follwed by tables showing key figures on state aid expenditure in more detail by Member State, a follow-up of legislation and an overview of all aid authorised under the temporary framework.
Publication of the Scoreboard
The Directorate-General for Competition publishes this Scoreboard on its website[7], where previous editions can also be found. Also available on the website are a series of key indicators and in-depth statistics covering the EU as a whole as well as individual Member States.
The EFTA Surveillance Authority also publishes annually a scoreboard[8] showing the volume of state aid granted in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
1. State aid in 2010 1.1. Total state aid[9] in absolute and relative terms 1.1.1. Non-crisis aid
Figure 1: Total non-crisis aid[10]
|| In billion € || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of GDP) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007)
EU 27 || 73.7 || 0.6% || - 0.02% || 0.6% || - 0.02%
1.1.2. Crisis aid granted to the financial sector
Figure 2: Financial Crisis Aid: Amount used[11]
|| In billion € || As % of GDP
Guarantees and liquidity measures || 983.9 || 8%
Recapitalisation and Impaired Assets || 121.3 || 1%
1.1.3. Aid granted under the temporary framework
Figure 3: Aid granted under the temporary framework[12]
|| In billion € || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of GDP) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007)
Approved amount || 1.6 || 0.01% || -0.67% || Not applicable since temporary framework has not been in force over a period of three years.
Amount used || 11.8 || 0.09% || -0.08%
1.2. Broad sectoral distribution of non-crisis state aid
Figure 4: Broad sectoral distribution of non-crisis state aid[13]
Broad sectoral distribution of non-crisis state aid || || || || ||
In billion € || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of GDP) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007)
|| Aid to industry and services
EU 27 || 61.0[14] || 0.5% || + 0.01% || 0.49% || +0.06%
|| Aid to agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and transport
EU 27 || 12.7 || 0.10% || -0.02% || 0.12% || - 0.07%
Agriculture (EU 27) || 10.2 || 0.08% || - 0.01% || 0.09% || - 0.01%
Fisheries and aquaculture (EU 27) || 0.13 || 0.001% || -0.0006% || 0.002% || - 0.0014%
Transport (EU 27) || 2.3 || 0.02% || - 0.001% || 0.02% || - 0.06%
2. Trends and patterns of state aid expenditure on non-crisis aid in the member states
While Chapter 1 above provides an overview of total state aid expenditure in 2010, Chapter 2 goes on to examine the trend and patterns of expenditure in non-crisis aid. By studying expenditure over a longer period, i.e. 2005 to 2010, it will show the extent to which individual Member States have (or have not) been able to reduce their aid levels.
2.1. Trends of levels of state aid to industry and services[15]
Figure 5: Total state aid to industry and services as of 1992[16]
In 2010, state aid granted to industry and services had increased, both when compared to 2009 and when observing the trend. However, it has remained at a low level overall, i.e. between 0.4% and 0.5% of EU GDP when looking at the period 2007 to 2010, and has also remained lower than during the years prior to 2006.[17]
Apart from the overall downward trend observed since 1992, the relatively small increase seen in 2010 might be explained by the fact that Member States responded to the crisis situation in the real economy while maintaining a strict discipline on expenditure. Moreover, it cannot be entirely ruled out that the tightening of Member States' budgets as a result of support for the financial crisis may have limited the scope for a further increase in aid to industry and services.
Figure 6: Trend in state aid to industry and services as % of GDP[18]
Eleven Member States were able to further reduce their aid expenditure to industry and services in the period 2008-2010 compared to 2005-2008. Some Member States, in particular Malta and Latvia, reduced their aid levels by more than 0.5% of their GDP. Many Member States posted smaller increases which represented less than 0.2% of their GDP. In most instances, more aid was granted under horizontal objectives of common interest. The most substantial increases were in Greece[19] and Hungary.[20]
2.2. State aid earmarked for the horizontal objectives of common interest
The concept of horizontal aid, which represents aid that is not granted to specific sectors of the economy, was derived from the Treaty. This leaves room for the Commission to make policy choices according to which state aid can be considered compatible with the internal market in order to provide effective support to common policy objectives. Most prominent is the aid earmarked for research, development and innovation, safeguarding the environment and fostering energy saving and promoting the use of renewable energies; this is, followed by regional development, aid to SMEs, creation of employment and promotion of training.
Following the calls from numerous European Councils, Member States have re-oriented their state aid efforts by gradually ending their support to individual sectors and by providing support earmarked for horizontal objectives of common interest instead.
In this light, some of the Europe 2020 strategy targets[21] generally fit into the concept of horizontal aid, inter alia to increase employment, to invest in research, development and innovation, to increase energy efficiency and to foster energy production from renewable energy sources.
2.2.1. Horizontal versus sectoral aid
Figure 7: Horizontal versus sectoral aid in the EU-27[22]
Horizontal versus sectoral aid in the EU-27 || In billion € || As % of total aid to industry and services || Difference when compared to previous year; by % of total aid to industry and services || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of total aid to industry and services) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007)
Total horizontal aid || 51.9 || 85% || + 1% || 84.4% || + 2.2%
Environmental aid[23] || 14.4 || 23.7% || - 0.8% || 23.8% || - 2.3%
Regional development || 14.8 || 24.3% || + 1.1% || 23.5% || + 4.0%
Research and development and innovation || 10.9 || 18.3% || + 0.5% || 15.5% || + 2.5%
SME || 2.6 || 4.2% || - 2.2% || 6.5% || -3.6%
Risk capital || 0.8 || 1.3% || +0.4% || 1.0% || + 0.2%
Training || 0.8 || 1.3% || - 0.3% || 1.4% || +0.1%
Employment || 2.8 || 4.6% || 0% || 4.8% || - 1.6%
Other || 5.9 || 9.7% || + 2.5% || 7.8% || + 2.3%
Total sectoral aid || 9.1 || 15% || - 0.6% || 15.6% || - 2.2%
The positive trend during the period 2008-2010, when Member States preserved with their efforts to earmark more aid under horizontal objectives of common interest, has also been seen in 2010. The main reason why sectoral aid has decreased is the smaller amounts of aid granted to the coal sector and the service industries in general.
In 2010, the main areas where Member States focused the greatest amount of horizontal aid were environmental protection and energy saving, research and development and innovation, and regional aid. The individual horizontal objectives are described in more detail in the following paragraphs.
2.2.2. Aid to horizontal objectives
While an average of 85% of the total aid to industry and services was earmarked for horizontal objectives at aggregate level in the EU in 2010[24], some disparities can be found when examining the individual Member States. The EU-27 average was exceeded in 19 Member States.[25] Only two Member States were found in which aid to horizontal objectives accounted for 50% or less of the total aid to industry and services.[26]
Greece, Italy, Romania and Slovakia stood out in terms of their efforts made to direct aid further towards those horizontal objectives for which a substantial increase in horizontal aid had been identified. On the other hand, only a few Member States showed a small or moderate decline in horizontal aid.[27]
There are large disparities between Member States in the share of aid allocated to the various horizontal objectives.
It is recalled that the horizontal aid objective, which is the so-called ‘primary objective’ of the aid, is established when the aid measure is approved by the Commission or, in the case of block exempted aid, when the Member State informs the Commission that the aid measure has been implemented.[28] Consequently, the horizontal aid is not measured as a function of the beneficiary, i.e. the sector of the economy in which it has its activity.
In 2010, by far the majority of horizontal aid was earmarked for regional development, with 24.3% of total aid on average going to industry and services, whereby Greece, Lithuania and Romania granted at least 50% or more when compared to their individual total expenditure on industry and services.
Aid earmarked for protecting the environment comes a close second, accounting for 23.7% of total aid to industry and services, whereas Latvia, the Netherlands and Sweden granted more than 50% of their aid to industry and services.
Aid earmarked for research, development and innovation, representing 17.9% of total aid to industry and services, comes in third place. While Luxembourg is the country that spent most (51%), spending in other Member States ranges between 25% and 50% (8 Member States[29]).
Together, these three horizontal objectives account for roughly two thirds of the total aid to industry and services in the EU-27, and they are identified as the most widely used objectives of common interest.
Furthermore, aid to SMEs, training and employment accounts for approximately 10% of total aid to industry and services, while the remainder of the horizontal aid[30] accounts for 9.7%.
2.2.2.1. Block exempted aid
Figure 8: Share of block exempted aid as % of total aid earmarked for the same horizontal objective[31]
Figure 9: Trend in the share of block exempted[32] aid as % of total aid earmarked for the same horizontal objective[33]
(Expenditure in € billion) || 2005 || 2006 || 2007 || 2008 || 2009 || 2010 ||
Block exempted aid to SMEs incl. Risk capital || 1.7 || 1.9 || 2.7 || 2.6 || 2.4 || 1.5 ||
Total aid to SMEs incl. Risk capital || 6.0 || 5.5 || 5.8 || 5.7 || 4.5 || 3.4 ||
Share of that aid as % of total expenditure to this objective || 28.7 || 33.6 || 46.2 || 46.0 || 53.3 || 43.5 ||
Block exempted aid to Employment || 0.5 || 0.7 || 0.8 || 1.5 || 1.3 || 1.4 ||
Total aid to Employment || 3.4 || 3.8 || 3.0 || 3.2 || 2.7 || 2.8 ||
Share of that aid as % of total expenditure to this objective || 13.8 || 18.2 || 27.7 || 47.7 || 46.6 || 50.8 ||
Block exempted aid to Training || 0.5 || 0.6 || 0.6 || 0.7 || 0.8 || 0.6 ||
Total aid to Training || 0.6 || 0.8 || 0.6 || 0.8 || 1.0 || 0.8 ||
Share of that aid as % of total expenditure to this objective || 84.4 || 77.0 || 86.7 || 92.8 || 87.8 || 75.9 ||
Block exempted aid to Regional development || 0.1 || 0.2 || 2.4 || 4.2 || 5.1 || 6.9 ||
Total aid to Regional development || 9.8 || 11.0 || 10.1 || 13.3 || 14.1 || 14.9 ||
Share of that aid as % of total expenditure to this objective || 1.2 || 1.6 || 23.7 || 31.5 || 36.0 || 46.2 ||
Block exempted aid to Research and development incl. Innovation || 0.0 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 1.0 || 1.1 ||
Total aid to Research and development incl. Innovation || 6.2 || 7.2 || 7.7 || 8.8 || 10.6 || 10.9 ||
Share of that aid as % of total expenditure to this objective || 0.3 || 0.8 || 1.5 || 1.4 || 9.4 || 10.4 ||
Block exempted aid to Environmental protection incl. Energy saving || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.7 || 0.7 ||
Total aid to Environmental protection incl. Energy saving || 13.8 || 15.0 || 12.5 || 13.5 || 14.9 || 14.5 ||
Share of that aid as % of total expenditure to this objective || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 4.4 || 4.9 ||
Total horizontal aid || 42.2 || 45.4 || 42.6 || 48.5 || 51.3 || 51.9 ||
Share of above block exempted aid as % of total aid earmarked for the same horizontal objectives (in billion €) || 6.8 || 7.6 || 15.4 || 19.0 || 21.9 || 23.4 ||
Figure 10: Block exempted aid as % of total aid to industry and services (earmarked to the same horizontal objective)[34]
In total, block exempted aid earmarked for the same horizontal objective amounted to approximately € 12.6 billion in 2010, representing around 20.6% of total aid to industry and services.
2.2.2.2. Trend (2008-2010 compared with 2005-2007)
Figure 11: Trend in the share of horizontal objectives as % of total aid to industry and services[35]
The above diagram reflects the continuing efforts by Member States to earmark a large amount of aid to horizontal objectives of common interest, in particular regional development, research, development and innovation ("R&D&I") and environmental protection, while aid to SMEs, employment and training play only a fairly minor role. Furthermore, the graphs also demonstrate Member States' efforts to reduce the levels of aid granted to individual sectors of the economy, which also includes rescue and restructuring aid and aid to the coal sector.
Nevertheless, there are disparities among Member States with regard to the proportion of individual horizontal objectives in relation to the total aid to industry and services.[36]
2.2.3. Research, development and innovation
Figure 12: Aid earmarked for research, development and innovation[37]
R&D&I is a linchpin one of the key elements in the effort to strengthen the competitiveness of the EU economy and to ensure sustainable growth. Therefore, R&D&I has been placed at the heart of the Europe 2020 Strategy[38] as one of its flagship initiatives, with the target of spending 3 % of EU GDP on R&D by 2020.[39]
In its Communication on "Europe 2020 Flagship initiative Innovation Union"[40], the Commission describes what in its view needs to be done in order to boost innovation and to re-focus R&D&I policy on the challenges facing our society, such as climate change, energy and resource efficiency, health and demographic change.
In 2010, state aid represented only 4.7% of overall R&D expenditure[41], equal to € 10.9 billion or 0.09 % of EU GDP. Around 54 % of total R&D&I state aid in 2010 was granted by three Member States: Germany[42] (€ 2.8 billion), France[43] (€ 1.8 billion) and Spain[44] (€ 1.1 billion).
Block exempted aid reported as R&D&I aid amounted to around € 1.1 billion in 2010. This represented 10.4% of total horizontal aid granted to the same objective. Germany (€ 258.6 million)[45], Spain (€ 174.7 million), Italy (€ 152.2 million) and Belgium (€ 121.1 million) made the most use of this instrument.
The Community Framework for state aid for Research and Development and Innovation[46] and the General Block Exemption Regulation ("GBER")[47] form the legal basis for the assessment of R&D&I state aid measures. In 2011, the Commission has conducted a mid-term review[48] of the Framework, taking stock of recent case experience and reflecting on the contribution of the R&D&I state aid rules to the EU innovation goals in order to further promote private investment in R&D, smarter public investment and overall innovation.
2.2.4. Environmental protection
The Europe 2020 Strategy has highlighted "sustainable growth"[49] as one of the main priorities for the coming years. It includes the so-called '20/20/20' environmental protection targets of a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions, a 20% share for renewable energy in EU energy consumption and a 20% increase in energy efficiency. A long-term framework for actions is provided by the flagship initiative entitled "A resource-efficient Europe". State aid can contribute directly or indirectly to these objectives, in particular when it tackles market failures or complements insufficient incentives to ensure greater environmental protection (e.g. general regulatory measures).
In 2010, the largest grantors of total state aid for environmental purposes were Germany[50] (€ 5.5 billion), Sweden[51] (€ 2.3 billion), the United Kingdom (€ 1.4 billion), the Netherlands (€ 1.05 billion) and Austria (€ 1.02 billion). In relative terms, environmental aid accounted for 23.7 % of the total aid for industry and services, or 0.12 % of EU GDP.
Environmental aid covers a wide range of objectives, including support measures for renewable energy, energy-saving, waste management and remediation of contaminated sites and improvement of production processes. For these types of measures, aid granted by Member States pursues a direct benefit to the environment. State aid expenditure can therefore be taken as a proxy to indicate the intended environmental benefit. This represented 31.9% of environmental aid in 2010, equivalent to around € 4.6 billion. The largest contributors to this amount were: the Netherlands[52] (€ 1.04 billion), Austria[53] (€ 0.9 billion), Spain[54] (€ 0.7 billion) and France[55] (€ 0.4 billion).
A second category of state aid measures that are covered under the environmental aid guidelines is reductions in or exemptions from environmental taxes. Expenditure under this category of aid scheme indicates the amount of tax revenue foregone and therefore cannot be used as a proxy measure of the environmental benefit which the taxes themselves have brought. In 2010, 53.9% of environmental aid, equal to around € 7.8 billion, fell into this category. Within this total, Germany granted more than two thirds of the aid (around € 5 billion), followed by Sweden (€ 1.8 billion), the United Kingdom (€ 0.4 billion), Finland (€ 0.2 billion), the Netherlands (€ 0.1 billion), Slovakia (€ 0.08 billion) and Denmark (€ 0.003 billion).
Since the environmental aid guidelines introduced new criteria to the necessity and proportionality test for tax exemptions below EU minimum tax levels (harmonised taxes), the Commission has approved one such tax exemption case concerning Denmark (N 327/2008)[56]. Member States have to adopt appropriate measures to bring existing tax reductions into line with the environmental guidelines by 31 December 2012, including when taxes are below EU minimum levels.
Block exempted aid for environmental protection that can collectively be classified as having a direct benefit on the environment, amounted to € 0.7 billion in 2010, corresponding to around 4.9% of total aid for environmental objectives. This share is particularly low by comparison with the share for the other horizontal objectives, mainly because of a small number of tax exemption schemes approved in the past, which are so significant in terms of their monetary value that they continue to account for most of the state aid granted in this field. Almost 80 % of the block exempted aid granted in this field was granted by Germany, Belgium, Italy and Austria.
For the EU as a whole, the trend of aid for the environment decreased from 26.1% to 23.8% of total aid to industry and services between 2005-2007 and 2008-2010. Several reasons can justify the decrease. The first reason is the effect of the market-based incentives already implemented, through which operators internalise their environmental costs and no state aid is needed. Higher EU environmental standards are another aspect which contributes to the reduction of state aid: adaptation to EU standards is compulsory for operators and they are obliged to comply without any public support. Finally, budgetary constraints due to the crisis may also have had an impact on the public expenditure earmarked for environmental protection, at least in the second period identified above.
2.2.5. Regional development and cohesion
Figure 13: Aid to regional development[57]
|| In billion € || As % of total aid to industry and services || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of total aid to industry and services || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of total aid to industry and services) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007)
Aid earmarked for regional development || 14.8 || 24.3% || + 1.1% || 23.5% || + 4.0%
|| || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of GDP || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of GDP) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007)
Aid pursuant to Article 107(3)(a) || 16.2 || 0.13% || + 0.01% || 0.013% || - 0.1%
Aid pursuant to Article 107(3)(c) || 2.7 || 0.02% || + 0.01% || 0.015% || + 0.007%
The Commission Guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013[58], applicable as of 1 January 2007, explain the general approach taken by the Commission in considering whether aid granted to promote the economic development of certain disadvantaged areas within the European Union is compatible with the internal market. The aim of regional aid is to develop the economic, social and territorial cohesion of a Member State and of the EU as a whole.
The Commission encourages Member States to grant regional aid on the basis of multi-sectoral schemes which form part of a national regional policy. These schemes should lay down the general conditions under which a Member State may grant regional aid, normally without needing to notify individual cases to the Commission. In October 2006, the Commission adopted a block exemption regulation concerning national regional investment aid[59] which remains applicable until the end of 2013, although Member States may also grant regional aid measures under GBER.
Aid for regional development can also be assessed directly under Article 107(3)(a) or Article 107(3)(c) TFEU. Article 107(3)(a) authorises aid that promotes the economic development of areas where the standard of living is abnormally low or where there is serious underemployment, the so-called category a' regions. The regional aid angle under Article 107(3)(c) relates to aid for facilitating the development of certain economic areas, where such aid does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent that is contrary to the common interest - the so-called category 'c' regions.
Furthermore, it is worth recalling that aid earmarked for category 'a' or 'c' regions does not necessarily have regional development as the primary horizontal objective; it could alternatively be earmarked for other objectives. For this reason, the aggregate aid volumes of the category 'a' and category 'c' regions are different from those quoted under "aid earmarked for regional development".
2.3. State aid earmarked for specific sectors 2.3.1. Rescue and restructuring of firms in difficulty
Figure 14: Rescue and restructuring aid[60]
|| In billion € || As % of total aid to industry and services || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of total aid to industry and services || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of total aid to industry and services) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007)
Rescue and restructuring aid || 0.48 || 0.8% || + 0.08% || 0.8% || - 1.3%
During the trend period 2008-2010, Member States continued their efforts to reduce aid levels for rescue and restructuring. While Czech Republic, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom accounted for roughly 89% of all rescue and restructuring aid, expenditures by other Member States were rather low and 14 Member States granted no such aid.[61]
2.3.2. Shipbuilding
Figure 15: Aid to the shipbuilding sector[62]
|| In billion € || As % of total aid to industry and services || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of total aid to industry and services || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of total aid to industry and services) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007)
Aid to the ship building sector || 0.15 || 0.26% || - 0.22% || 0.5% || -0.16%
2.3.3. Steel industry
Figure 16: Aid to the steel industry[63]
|| In billion € || As % of total aid to industry and services || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of total aid to industry and services || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of total aid to industry and services) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007)
Aid to the steel industry || 0.015 || 0.03% || - 0.16% || 0.17% || - 0.33%
Since the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) Treaty expired on 23 July 2002, general state aid rules have been applied to the steel sector, with the exception that no investment or restructuring aid may be granted to steel production unless it is closure aid.[64]
In 2010, aid to the steel sector decreased significantly. When looking at trends, the decrease in aid to the steel sector continued during the period 2008-2010 in comparison to the previous trend period (2005-2007). In 2010, only the United Kingdom granted an essential amount of aid to this sector, while other Member States phased out such aid during the period 2008‑2010.
2.3.4. Coal
Figure 17: Aid to the coal sector[65]
|| In billion € || As % of total aid to industry and services || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of total aid to industry and services || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of total aid to industry and services) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007)
Aid to the coal sector || 2.8 || 4.7% || 0.18% || 4.8% || - 2.7%
State aid to the coal industry was governed until 31 December 2010 by a specific legal framework, the Coal Regulation 1407/2002.[66] Regulation 1407/2002[67] expired on 31 December 2010 and is replaced by Council Decision 2010/787/EU of 10 December 2010 on state aid to facilitate the closure of uncompetitive coal mines.[68]
The Decision adopted by the Council provides for aid for uncompetitive mines within a closure plan. It provides for only two categories of aid: (i) operating aid for the closure of mines (Article 3) and (ii) aid for exceptional costs (Article 4). The uncompetitive mines must be closed by 31 December 2018 and the coal production progressively reduced over the period. Aid for exceptional costs includes redundancy payments, re-training costs, and site cleaning-up or safety costs.
2.3.5. Transport
Figure 18: Aid to the transport sector[69]
|| In billion € || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of GDP || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of GDP) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007)
Total aid to the transport sector || 2.3 || 0.019% || - 0.007% || 0.022% || - 0.062%
Road and combined transport || 0.4 || 0.003% || - 0.001% || 0.005% || - 0.063%
Maritime transport || 1.8 || 0.015% || - 0.001% || 0.015% || + 0.001
Inland water transport || 0.009 || 0.0001% || 0% || 0.0001% || 0%
Air transport || 0.1 || 0.001% || - 0.005% || 0.0029% || 0%
State aid to the transport sector is governed by specific rules in the Treaty, as well as secondary legislation and rules of soft law.
Member States spend considerable resources for the provision of Services of General Economic Interest (SGEI) in the transport sector and for the construction, management and maintenance of infrastructure. EU law foresees indeed a number of mechanisms allowing for and encouraging the provision of such services. Member States must, however, ensure that the public financing complies with the applicable rules and in particular that it avoids overcompensation and undue distortion of competition.
2.3.5.1. Land
In February 2010 the Commission adopted its first decision applying the new regulation on public passenger transport services (in force since 3 December 2009). The Commission thus concluded the formal investigation procedure initiated in 2008 regarding the public-service contracts of the Danish railway company, Danske Statsbaner (DSB). It found that the compensation paid by the Danish government every year to DSB for the costs incurred in meeting its public-service obligations was limited to what was strictly necessary to cover those costs.
Also in February 2010 the Commission opened the proceedings against the loan granted to Železničná spoločnosť Slovakia Cargo. In May 2010 the Commission authorised on the basis of the specific provisions of the Railway Guidelines the plan of Société nationale des chemins de fer belges (SNCB) to restructure its freight activities; in December 2010 it authorised a rescue aid of around € 128 million for BDZ EAD, the State-owned Bulgarian railway operating on both freight and passenger railway markets.
During 2010, as in previous years, the Commission approved several schemes to support intermodality and combined transport (France, Belgium, Italy, Germany and Hungary).
2.3.5.2. Maritime
By comparison with 2007-2009, the annual average of aid for 2008-2010 remains constant, at € 1.8 billion.
Most cases in this sector concern social aid to seafarers and special taxation rules for shipping companies ("tonnage tax" schemes). In this regard the Commission approved the introduction of the Cypriot tonnage tax scheme, as well as amendments to the Slovenian tonnage tax scheme. It also authorised the extension of the Dutch tonnage tax scheme to cable layers, pipeline layers, research vessels and crane vessels.
There were also a few cases where Member States notified public financing of port infrastructure. In the same year the Commission partially authorised a Greek port infrastructure development project.
Lastly, the Commission also approved rescue aid to the French maritime company SeaFrance in August 2010, but subsequently opened proceedings with regard to the restructuring aid to the company. The Commission closed this proceeding by decision.[70]
In 2010 the Commission decided to launch a study in order to obtain a more accurate knowledge of the functioning of European ports and their financing. This study will assist the Commission to identify a reliable approach for moving forward in the enforcement of state aid rules.
2.3.5.3. Aviation
The reported figures over 2008-2010 show a decrease of 23% in the aid amount granted by Member States for the air transport sector compared to the previous triennial period.
In 2010 the Commission approved 7 cases concerning projects for financing airport infrastructure (Finland, Germany, Latvia, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom). Three start-up aids for establishing new lines and increasing existing frequencies were approved in 2010 (Belgium, Italy and France). One case of rescue aid for an airline was approved (Malta) and one social aid scheme concerning the French overseas departments. In these cases, the Commission considered that the planned investments had a positive impact on the accessibility of the region, which outweighed the negative impact on competition. On the basis of the criteria, set out respectively in paragraphs 61 and 79 of the guidelines of 2005 on financing of airports and start-up aid to airlines departing from regional airports, the Commission concluded that these forms of public support were compatible with the internal market.
In 2010 the Commission continued with its substantial workload resulting from the examination of a large number of complaints concerning investment aid and aid to airlines. In some of these cases, a formal investigation procedure is still ongoing. Nevertheless, one of the formal investigation procedures was concluded and a final decision was taken in 2010, where the Commission found that the agreement between Bratislava airport (Slovakia) and Ryanair had been concluded in accordance with the behaviour of a market economy operator. In other cases, where the formal investigation procedure was opened or continued in 2010, there is a need to examine whether the public investment constitutes state aid, and whether this state aid could still be declared compatible if the relevant conditions, laid down in the 2005 guidelines, are met.
2.3.6. Agriculture
Figure 19: Aid to the agricultural sector[71]
|| New notifications in 2010 || Decisions in 2010 || New block exempted measures in 2010
Number of aid measures || 146 || 150 || 258
|| In billion € || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of GDP
Aid granted to the agricultural sector || 10.2 || 0.08% || - 0.01%
Of which is block exempted aid || 1.7 || 0.013% || - 0.002%
The highest expenditures were reported by France (€ 2.4 billion) and Finland (€ 1.2 billion).
When comparing 2010 with the previous year, the majority of Member States (22) reduced their state aid expenditure, while Czech Republic, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia granted more aid to the agricultural sector.
Block exempted aid in agriculture
The trend in the number of measures (258) implemented in 2010 under the Block Exemption Regulation was at a similar level to the previous year (267), but considerably lower in comparison with 2007 (496) and 2008 (433).
Until now, only Luxembourg, Portugal and Malta have not notified under this Regulation.
It should be noted that, since 2009 all block exempted aid schemes have been submitted by Member States under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. This is due to the fact that, since the entry into force of the GBER, under which Member States communicate directly to DG Competition, agricultural measures in the fields of research and development, aid in the form of risk capital, training aid, environmental aid and aid for disadvantaged and disabled workers (to the extent that these categories of aid are not covered by Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006). Measures published under Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 are only recorded until August 2008.
Block exempted aid accounted for 14.9% of the total state aid expenditure in agriculture for 2010, whereas in 2009 it was 13.9%. Analysing the results per country, it appears that Italy, Cyprus and The Netherlands spend more than 30% of their state aid under a block exemption.
2.3.7. Fisheries and aquaculture
Figure 20: Aid to the fisheries and aquaculture sector[72]
|| New notifications in 2010 || Decisions in 2010 || New block exempted measures in 2010
Number of aid measures || 20 || 14 || 43
|| In billion € || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of GDP
Aid granted to the fisheries sector || 0.130 || 0.01% || - 0.0006%
Of which is block exempted aid || 0.019 || 0.002% || 0.001%
France reported the highest overall state aid expenditure (€ 72.5 million), followed by the Czech Republic (€ 21.3 million), Spain (€ 13.5 million), the Netherlands (€ 5.4 million) and Portugal (€ 3.6 million). 65% of the total block-exemption aid was granted by Spain (€ 12.4 million).
With respect to the number of aid measures, Spain reported the most schemes in numbers (27), followed by Denmark (18), the Netherlands (16) and the United Kingdom (11).
No legislation has been adopted in 2010 as regards state aid in the sector of fisheries and aquaculture. In the context of the ongoing reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) state aid issues may be taken into account. A proposal for a new financial Regulation will be presented in November 2011. The Commission will submit a proposal for a new financial instrument covering Maritime affairs and Fisheries at the end of 2011.
2.4. Use of the state aid instruments
Figure 21: Expenditure as per aid instrument[73]
Expenditure as per aid instrument; year 2010 || In billion € || % of total aid to industry and services || Difference when compared to previous year; by % of total aid to industry and services || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of total aid to industry and services) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007)
Grants || 33.5 || 54.9% || + 3.8% || 52.0% || - 1.4%
Soft loans || 1.6[74] || 2.7% || - 0.8% || 3.2% || + 0.5%
Guarantees || 1.5[75] || 2.5% || + 0.5% || 2.1% || + 0.8%
Equity participation || 0.6 || 1.0% || - 0.8% || 1.1% || + 0.7%
Tax exemptions (incl. tax deferrals) || 23.7 || 39.0% || - 2.7% || 41.6% || - 0.5%
Tax exemptions are the instrument used for the most part in connection with aid measures earmarked for environmental protection (approximately € 10 billion), followed by regional development (around € 6.5 billion), sectoral development (approximately € 3.9 billion) and R&D&I (about € 1 billion). Venture capital aid (around € 0.5 billion), together with aid to SMEs (approximately € 0.7 billion) accounts for a further major share. Moreover, 6 Member States granted more than 50% of their aid volume through tax exemption.[76]
With respect to direct grants, 9 Member States contributed more than 80% of their aid in the form of grants.[77]
3. State aid in the context of the financial and economic crisis 3.1. State aid measures for the financial sector
3.1.1. General background
Before the financial and economic crisis hit Europe in the autumn of 2008, the EU had been experiencing steady economic growth. Budget deficits were down to an average of 0.8% of GDP in 2007 – the best result in thirty years.[78] Unemployment during this period fell and stayed at a long-time low of 7% EU-wide in 2008. In parallel, the level of state aid to industry and services in the EU decreased annually by 2% on average since 2002, and stood at € 65 billion, i.e. less than 0.5% of GDP, in 2007.
The crisis brought the steady GDP growth, low levels of state aid and decreasing budget deficits to an abrupt end. Member States pumped unprecedented amounts of state aid into the financial sector in order to restore financial stability and the normal functioning of the financial markets, including continued access to finance by EU companies. When inter-bank lending dried up in September 2008, Member States started to inject large amounts of aid into the banking sector to ensure that lending to the economy could continue. Guided by the temporary framework, Member States also began taking steps from the end of 2009 to ease business's financing constraints. This led to a sharp increase – of more than 10% of GDP - in the level of state aid, and this increase continued in 2010, as a result of crisis aid to the financial sector in particular.
The European Commission's state aid control policy was one of the key factors which ensured that this – generally successful – rescue process was achieved in a coordinated manner. It allowed the swift implementation of unprecedented support measures and ensured at the same time that the Internal Market was kept intact.[79]
While economic growth returned to positive levels again in 2010 for the EU as a whole, after having dropped to -5% of GDP in 2009, there were signs of big differences in economic performance between Member States. Although Member States which were severely hit by the financial turmoil and the subsequent sovereign debt crisis are still facing distress, in other Member States, particularly those with sound economic fundamentals or small open export countries, the recovery seems to be on track. However, the sovereign debt crisis and high levels of unemployment in some Member States and the overall world-wide economic situation give rise to uncertainty and adversely affect growth prospects. The Commission's forecast expects 2011 GDP to grow at +1.7 % in the EU, fuelled by Germany's GDP growth (+ 2.9% of GDP), whereas growth estimates in other large European economies are weaker (FR 1.6%, UK 1.1, IT 0.7, ES 0.8). However, there are signs that the recovery is becoming self-sustained. Growth in economic activities is shifting slightly from exclusive reliance on export-led demand to a higher contribution from internal sources of growth, such as investment, and - to a lesser extent -private consumption. However the overall outlook is not immune from downside risks related to the interplay between vulnerabilities on sovereign debts and the financial sector. Whether or not these risks actually materialize, they could potentially trigger negative spill-over on the real side of the economy.
3.1.2. State aid granted to the financial sector
In the period between 1 October 2008 and 1 October 2011,[80] the Commission took a total of around 290 decisions in the financial services sector based on Article 107(3)(b) TFEU, aimed at remedying a serious disturbance in Member States’ economies. These decisions authorised, amended or prolonged 41 schemes and addressed the situation in more than 55 financial institutions.. The Commission has so far taken only one prohibition decision. Financial crisis measures were taken in all Member States, except Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Malta and Romania.
Given the uncertainty characterizing the financial sector and the EU economy as a whole, there is no sign of a general pattern of exit from State support measures. However, by looking at the evolution over time of the measures pledged in the period 2008-2011, and the measures used in the period 2008-2010, we can highlight some positive trends.
In the period between 1 October 2008 and 1 October 2011[81] the Commission approved aid to the financial sector for an overall amount of € 4506.5 billion (36.7% of EU GDP). The bulk of the aid was authorised in 2008 when € 3457 billion (27.7% of EU GDP) were approved, mainly in the form of guarantees on bank's bonds and deposits.[82] After 2008, the aid approved focused more on recapitalisation of banks and impaired asset relief rather than on guarantees.
The overall amount of aid used in the period 2008-2010[83] stands at € 1608 billion (13.1% of EU GDP). Guarantees and liquidity measures account for € 1199 billion or roughly 9.8 % of EU GDP. The remainder of the aid used refers to recapitalisation and impaired assets measures which amount to € 409 billion (3.3% of EU GDP). Slightly over 72 % of the aid used has been granted through schemes while the remainder was provided on ad hoc basis.
Box 1: The different instruments of state aid to financial institutions and how to measure them
Two different concepts are used in this Report to describe the volumes of state aid to financial institutions: the committed amount of aid and the used amount of aid.[84]
The pledged volume of aid (aid approved) represents the overall maximum amount of state aid measures (such as guarantees, capital injections and other) provided by Member States and approved by the Commission. This figure corresponds to the upper limits of support which Member States are allowed to grant to the financial institutions. However, it expresses neither the amounts actually implemented nor the benefit which individual financial institutions obtained.
The used amount (aid used or aid granted) of the aid expresses the actual volume of the aid measure which Member States implemented:
– For recapitalisation: the used amount of aid is equal to the nominal value of the recapitalisation. [85].
– For impaired asset relief: the used amount of aid is the difference between the transfer value paid to the beneficiary and the market value of the asset.
– For guarantee: the used amount of aid is the outstanding volume of the liability covered by the State in a given year, calculated as the average of end of quarter (31 March; 30 June; 30 September; 30 December) outstanding amounts. [86]
– For liquidity support: the used amount of aid is the outstanding volume of liquidity measures (e.g. value of the loan) in a given year, calculated as the average of end of quarter (31 March; 30 June; 30 September; 30 December) outstanding amounts.
Asset support measures (recapitalisation and impaired asset relief) are recorded at the time of their issuance. For liability support (liquidity and guarantee), aid is recorded as long as the liability matures.
More details on the data coverage of the Scoreboard are provided in the Methodology Notes at page 56.
The tables below show, for each Member State and for the whole of the EU, the overall amount of financial crisis aid to financial institutions approved, as well as the overall amount of aid used for the different instruments.[87]
Figure 22: Approved amounts of aid to financial institutions in the years 2008-2011
Figure 22a: Approved amounts of aid to financial institutions in the years 2008-2010
Figure 23: Used amounts of aid to financial institutions in the years 2008-2010
In 2010, the amount of aid pledged decreased substantially compared to the two previous years. Even though most of the measures approved in previous years are still operational the reduced reliance on new measures suggests that the measures approved in the past have succeeded in providing general relief for the banking system. However despite clear improvements at EU level, the need for State support differs considerably across countries and segments of the banking sector[88]. This circumstance is reflected by the level of concentration in terms of the number of countries which approved further aid support in 2010. Three countries (IE, EL and ES) account for roughly 82%[89] of the overall volume of aid approved in 2010. In 2010, the Commission authorised aid for an overall amount of € 383.8 billion, representing roughly 3.1% of EU GDP. The new aid approved is concentrated in a few countries and involves recapitalisation of € 183.9 billion, guarantees for € 55.4 billion, impaired assets relief for € 77.9 billion and liquidity measures for € 66.7 billion.
The overall volume of aid used in 2010 for recapitalisation and impaired assets stood at € 121.3 billion (1% of EU GDP). New capital injections accounted for € 87.8 billion (0.7% of EU GDP) while impaired asset relief measures accounted for € 33.6 billion (0.3% of EU GDP). With regards to guarantees and liquidity measures the average outstanding amount for the year 2010 stood at € 983.9 billion (8% of GDP) of which € 922.03 billion (7.5% of EU GDP) relates to guarantees while € 61.9 billion (0.5% of EU GDP) relates to liquidity measures.
The same conclusions regarding the concentration of the new aid implemented in 2010 in a small number of countries can be drawn with regard to the amount used. For instance in the case of recapitalisation[90] roughly 88 % of the new capital injections were implemented by three countries (IE, UK and ES) out of a total of just 7 countries which also used this instrument in 2010.
3.1.3. State aid per instrument
3.1.3.1 Guarantees on bank debt
Guarantees were the first category of instruments used by Member States to respond to the turmoil in the financial sector. The bulk of guarantees schemes were approved at the onset of the crisis, between autumn 2008 and mid 2009. Overall, roughly 90 % of the guarantees were granted through schemes, since they were directed at the whole financial system rather than the weaknesses of specific banks. Guarantees, in particular, have proved to be effective in tackling the liquidity constraints arising from the systemic loss of confidence which paralysed the interbank market and prompted a sudden increase in the cost of wholesale funding. These developments even affected banks with strong fundamentals and good solvency perspectives. Against this background, State intervention facilitated banks' access to funding by issuing State guaranteed bonds. Their attractiveness in comparison to non-guaranteed instruments helped overcome the lack of confidence in the market and enabled banks to roll-over their maturing debt.
Banks' dependency on guaranteed bonds has decreased substantially in the past year. The gradual improvement in financial market conditions led to a stabilisation of the funding cost for many banks, in particular for those which had seen their credit risk outlook improve. The amount of State-guaranteed bonds issued by banks was down in 2010, while the overall amount of bonds issued in the same year did not decrease with respect to 2009, adding weight to the assumption that most banks have regained access to markets without the need to use State guarantees. Moreover, from mid 2009, most State guaranteed bonds were issued by banks already in the process of restructuring. This suggested that the scope for State guarantees to address contingent liquidity constraints had somehow been exhausted and justified a change in the conditions for the approval of guarantees as from 1 July 2010. The Commission's Staff Working paper on the application of state aid rules to government guarantee schemes covering bank debt to be issued after 30 June 2010[91] laid the foundation to start the process of phasing out guarantees by a) an increase in the guarantee fee paid by the issuer and b) the submission of a restructuring plan for those institutions using new guarantees and exceeding a certain threshold of total outstanding liabilities[92]. The aim of these conditions is to reduce distortions of competition by increasing the cost of guaranteed-bonds relative to non-guaranteed bonds. In addition, the current design of the state aid regulation allows banks to benefit from State guarantees to the extent that they will undertake practical measures to remove their structural vulnerabilities.
Despite the steps taken to stimulate the phasing out of government guarantees, the current market situation suggests that a gradual process of moving away from support measures should be maintained. As mentioned above, the volatility of funding costs, sovereign risk and relevant re-financing needs prevent markets from achieving lasting stability. In particular by the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, a considerable amount of State-guaranteed bonds reach maturity. In the course of 2010, banks have started to roll-over guaranteed bonds and to replace them by ordinary bond issues. However, the underlying risks to which the financial sector is exposed suggest that particular care should be taken in stepping up the exit process. Against this background, the Commission has kept the current state aid rules for government guarantees schemes until 31 December 2011.[93] Eight out of 20 countries have prolonged the validity of their scheme after 2010.
Figure 24: Breakdown of state guaranteed bonds issued by maturity
Source: Commission services and Bloomberg
Concerning the amount approved in the period between 1 October 2008 and 1 October 2011, guarantees worth 3289.5 billion (26.8% of EU GDP) were approved by the Commission in a large number of countries.
In terms of the amount actually used in the years 2008-2010 in the entire EU a maximum[94] of € 1111.84 billion (9% of EU GDP) billion were actually granted. The countries which have made the most use of guarantees are Ireland € 360 billion and UK € 158.4 billion followed by Denmark € 145 billion (the largest part expired) and Germany € 135.04 billion. As a percentage of GDP, Ireland is still the largest user (233.9%) followed by Denmark (61.9%) and Belgium (12.5%).
In 2010, € 55.4 billion of new guarantees were approved by the Commission of which € 40.9 billion was covered by schemes. These are spread across 6 countries: a further € 40 billion have been approved for Greece (17.4% of its GDP), € 10 billion have been approved for Ireland (6.5% of Ireland GDP) and smaller amounts have been approved for Spain, Latvia, Lithuania and United Kingdom.
With respect to the aid actually used in 2010, the average outstanding volume of guarantees amounts to € 922.2 billion (7.5% of EU GDP). The difference between the maximum outstanding amount (€ 1111.8 billion) and the amount outstanding in 2010 represents the volume of guarantees expired. It should be noticed that, with the exception of Denmark, where the sizeable volume of guarantees granted in 2008 was replaced by further schemes for a lower amount, most of the guarantees are still outstanding in the remaining countries.
The country which has shown the largest increase in the volume of outstanding guarantees in 2010 is Ireland which reported an additional outstanding amount of € 55 billion (roughly 42% of IE GDP).
Figure 25: Outstanding guarantees (used amount) per country by year
Figure 26: Schemes expired/in place by country
3.1.3.2. Recapitalisation measures
As follows from figure 27 the total volume of recapitalisation measures approved in the period between 1 October 2008 and 1 October 2011 is € 598.05 billion (4.9% of EU GDP). Three countries (Germany, Spain and United Kingdom), out of a total of 21 countries using this instrument, account for almost 55 % of the overall amount approved. However looking at the figures in terms of national GDP, Ireland emerges as the country with the largest approved budget (58.5% of Ireland's GDP), whereas most of the other countries show figures in line with the EU average. The bulk of the overall volume of aid aimed at recapitalising Irish banks was approved in 2010 (€ 52 billion – 33.8% of Ireland's GDP) and in 2011 (€ 25.5 billion – 16.6 % of GDP). Other appreciable amounts of aid approved in 2010 are reported for Spain (€ 101.1 billion – 9.5% of Spain's GDP) and Greece (€ 10 billion – 4.3% of Greece's GDP). In the case of Spain the budget approved in 2010 represents the entire budget allocated for the recapitalisation of Spanish banks.
Concerning the amount used in 2008-2010 15 countries are relying on recapitalisation measures. The countries which have injected more capital into their banking system are United Kingdom (€ 82.9 billion), Germany (€ 56.6 billion) and Ireland (€ 46.2 billion), whereas in terms of GDP - in line with what is observed for the amount approved - the capital injections provided by Ireland are larger than in other countries since they represents 30 % of Ireland's GDP. Most of the Irish recapitalisation (€ 35.2 billion) took place in 2010. In relative terms other noticeable volumes of recapitalisation over the whole period have been observed in Luxemburg (6.2% of Luxemburg's GDP), Belgium (5.8% of Belgium's GDP) and UK (4.9% of UK's GDP). Apart from Ireland's capital injections the remainder of the aid used in 2010 is divided between the following countries (United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Austria).
Figure 27: Recapitalisation: Used amount per country by year
Slightly over half of the amount used was injected into financial institutions on an ad hoc basis. Six countries (AT, DE, DK, ES, FR and UK) used both ad hoc measures and schemes. All the other countries except IT, PT and HU relied on ad hoc measures.
By looking at the concentration of aid among beneficiaries, it is noticeable that three banks account for more than one third of the total amount used. Two of them are UK banks: The Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Bank received approximately € 50 billion and € 25 billion respectively. The second largest recipient is the Anglo Irish Bank, which raised around € 29 billion of capital from the Irish Government in 2010.
Almost 85% of the recapitalisation has been directed either to banks under restructuring or to banks where the restructuring plan has either not yet been submitted or has not yet been approved by the Commission. In the case of ad hoc measures, this percentage is as high as 99%, whereas for schemes it stood at roughly 63%. One of the reasons to explain this difference is that some Member States (ES, FR, IT, DK and SE) required that the banks applying for the aid under schemes had to be in a sound financial condition. Moreover, at the beginning of the crisis, the Commission introduced a distinction between sound banks and distressed banks, in order to distinguish between institutions with structural solvency problems and institutions experiencing temporary liquidity constraints. The assessment of banks’ specific situation was also aimed at ascertaining whether a restructuring plan was required in order to ensure the long-term viability of the business and to minimise distortions in competition. Therefore, those banks which were not facing serious structural difficulties were allowed to benefit from capital injections without undertaking restructuring actions.[95]
Since January 2011, every bank applying for capital injections has had to submit a restructuring plan, irrespective of the amount of aid and of whether the aid is provided in the form of schemes or ad hoc measures.
Figure 28: Schemes expired/in place by country
More than 51 % (€ 160 billion) of recapitalisation aid are represented by Core Tier 1 instruments, most of which are common equity. According to the European Bank Authority, without additional Government capital injections 18 banks would have had their Core Tier 1 capital under the 5% risk threshold at the end of 2010 compared with the three banks actually in this situation under the baseline scenario.[96]
Exit from recapitalisation aid can also take the form of repayments from private banks to governments in order to return the capital received. The total repayments which were made during the whole period considered (2008-2010) amount to € 17.7 billion.[97] Most of the repayments were made by French banks; they amount to € 15 billion. This value accounts for almost 70% of the total capital injected in the French banking system (€ 22 billion). In the case of Hungary, the only bank which received capital injections (FHB) has returned them to the government in their entirety. In the other case (NL, DE and UK), the amount repaid still accounts for a small share of the total amount of capital injected by the State. In the course of 2011 further repayments were made by the French BPCE, the Italian Banco popolare and the Dutch Aegon. These banks repayments accounting in all cases for 100 per cent of the capital injected, amounts in total to € 9.5 billion. Further repayment amounting respectively to €11.8 billion and € 7 billion has been made in 2011 by the German Commerzbank and the Dutch ING; they accounts respectively for 65% and 70% of the capital received from the State. The total amount of repayments up to October 2011 stands at € 46 billion. The main strategy used, in particular by French and UK banks, to repay the capital received was to replace it with capital raised in the market. This strategy has been complemented by retaining earnings, selling business units and deleveraging.
3.1.3.3. Impaired asset relief
The threat of impaired assets, namely the uncertainty about the realisable value effectively achievable on risky assets held by banks, is still relevant, in particular in some segments of the European financial sector. However in 2010, the number of write-downs recorded in Europe has been lower than in previous years and in many cases new injections of capital, raised directly on the market, have compensated for the losses arising from the difference between the revised market value of the assets and the book value.
State aid in the form of impaired asset relief measures was granted in Europe in a second phase of the crisis when the problem of toxic assets had acquired more prominence. Lessons from the past crises highlight the importance of cleaning the banks' balance sheet, and the difficulties in pricing toxic assets correctly. The overall amount of impaired asset relief approved in the period between 1 October 2008 and 1 October 2011 was € 421.13 billion. Impaired asset measures are concentrated in a few Member States. Indeed, this kind of state aid has been approved in only 11 out of 27 countries. By far the majority of the amount approved in absolute value (€ 248 billion) relates to the United Kingdom's intervention. Other countries which approved considerable impaired asset relief measures are Ireland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. In GDP term the largest volume of aid was approved for Ireland (35.1% of Ireland's GDP) followed by the United Kingdom (14.6% of the United Kingdom's GDP).
In 2010 the bulk of the aid was approved for Ireland (€ 54 billion -35.1% of Ireland's GDP) and Germany (€ 20 billion – 0.8% of Germany's GDP).
Figure 29: Impaired assets: Used amount per country by year
The overall amount of aid actually used for impaired assets stood at € 121.2 billion in the period 2008-2010. The intervention was concentrated mainly in two countries (Germany and the United Kingdom) which used € 56.1 billion and € 40.4 billion respectively. These figures accounts for roughly 80% of the overall impaired assets intervention in Europe. In GDP terms Ireland ends up in being the country which relied more on this type of instruments (4.5% of GDP); the whole amount was used in 2010.
In 2010, besides the amount approved under the new Irish scheme, other impaired asset measures have been put in place for banks. Two Spanish cajas (Caja Castilla-la Mancha and Caja Sur) received aid amounting respectively to € 2.5 billion and to € 0.4 billion. The German Landesbank West LB benefitted from € 3.3 billion of state aid in 2010, in addition to a total of € 8.3 billion granted between 2008 and 2009, while Hypo Real Estates received support amounting to € 20 billion in the form of asset relief.
In Germany the measures are distributed among five beneficiaries, mostly commercial banks and Landesbanken. In the UK, asset relief is concentrated on a single beneficiary (Royal Banks of Scotland). However, several banks have experienced considerable write downs on their assets, largely compensated by additional capital raised through the State and directly on the market. This may suggest that the impaired assets troubles in the UK have been mostly resolved by capital injections.
More than 90% of asset relief measures have been approved by means of ad hoc interventions. Owing to the difficulties concerning the correct assessment of the valuation of the assets, combined with the need to ensure burden-sharing for the beneficiary, many States have preferred to tailor the intervention on the basis of the specific individual circumstances of the institution, rather than using general schemes. The only country which has an operating scheme for asset relief is Ireland, where a general plan for asset relief (NAMA) was approved in 2010. Other countries designed either specific schemes (Germany) or schemes incorporated into a more general programme to deal with the effects of the financial crisis (Hungary, Austria and Lithuania). Both in Germany and in Hungary, the schemes have expired without being used. In Germany as well as in Austria, despite the existence of schemes, asset relief intervention has taken place on an ad hoc basis, whereas in the case of Lithuania no specific amount was allocated for this kind of aid.
A large proportion (80%) of asset relief interventions benefitted banks that were undergoing a restructuring process. The remaining banks which benefitted from impaired asset relief have either already submitted a restructuring plan which is under evaluation by the Commission or will be required to submit a restructuring plan to the Commission for approval.
As in the case of recapitalisation, since January 2011, state aid rules have required every bank applying for impaired asset measures to present a restructuring plan.
3.1.3.4. Liquidity interventions other than guarantees
In the period between 1 October 2008 and 1 October 2011 the total volume of aid approved in the form of liquidity intervention other than guarantees amounts to € 197.7 billion 1.6% of GDP). Four countries - the Netherlands (€ 52.9 billion), the United Kingdom (€ 51.9 billion), Ireland (€ 40 billion) and Spain (€ 31.8 billion) - account for roughly 89% of the whole aid approved whereas in terms of GDP the largest budget was allocated by Ireland (26% of Ireland's GDP) Luxemburg (12.6% of Luxembourg's GDP) followed by the Netherlands (8.9% of the Netherlands' GDP).
As regards the aid used the overall volume of liquidity measures implemented in the period 2008-2010 amounts to € 87.15 billion (0.7 % of EU GDP). In absolute terms the Netherlands (€ 30.4 billion), the UK (€ 19.8 billion)) and Spain (€ 19.3 billion) have been the countries relying the most on this instrument. In relative terms the support granted by Latvia (5.4% of Latvia's GDP) is followed by the amount granted by the Dutch government (5.1% of the Netherlands' GDP) and by Greece (3.3% of Greece's GDP). Two-thirds of the overall liquidity provided has been granted on the basis of ad hoc measures. The remainder consists of schemes implemented by three countries: Greece, Hungary and Spain. The latter Member States' scheme involves a fund aimed at providing liquidity for the acquisition of financial assets.
In 2010 the average volume of outstanding liquidity amounted to € 61.9 billion. The decrease in the outstanding amount of liquidity is mainly due to the fact that the bulk of the liquidity accounted for by the facility provided by the Dutch government to Fortis-ABM has expired. The countries recording the largest amount of average outstanding liquidity in 2010 are United Kingdom (€ 19.8 billion) and Spain (€ 19 billion) while Latvia shows the largest outstanding amount in GDP terms (5%).
Figure 30: Liquidity measures: Used amount per country by year
3.1.4. Restructuring
While the temporary state aid rules applicable to the financial sector have proved to be an important instrument for containing the crisis, there is a need to make a gradual exit from the exceptional State support. In the previous sections, the importance of restructuring has been emphasized, in order to ensure a return to normal market conditions and to phase out State intervention measures. Since January 2011 every bank which receives state aid support in whatever form has to submit a restructuring plan to the Commission for approval. The broad features of this plan are illustrated in the Commission's "Restructuring Communication".[98]
The main aim of the assessment undertaken by the Commission prior to the approval of the plan is to ensure that, at the end of the restructuring period, the restructured institutions will return to viability without having to rely on additional state aid. For this reason, when it is deemed that viability cannot be restored and the bank is unable to remain on the market without State support, aid for its resolution is usually provided. Resolution can take different forms (liquidation, sale, and downsizing) depending on numerous factors, such as the specific context in which the bank operates, its reference market and its activities. The restructuring plan also has to comply with other requirements aimed at minimising distortions of competition, limiting moral hazard and ensuring that the aid was kept to the minimum.
As end of September 2011 the Commission had adopted 37 restructuring decisions: 25 approving a restructuring plan to restore viability of financial institutions, 11 approving liquidation plans and one negative decision which led to recovery of the aid which had been granted (Banco Privado Portugues).
In order to restore viability, various measures have been put in place in cooperation with the Commission and the Member States to remedy the structural weaknesses of the banks. Most of them are aimed at limiting the range of bank activities in order to reduce overall risk and ensure the viability of the core business. Divestments of subsidiaries or assets are part of many restructuring plans (e.g. WestLB, ING). In some cases the bank was required to abandon the activities that do not fit into the bank's corporate strategy, as has been the case for the investment banking activities of Germany’s Commerzbank. Other remedies falling within the broad category of divestments involve reductions in balance sheets, personnel and branches. When bank solvency has been endangered by the excessive risk-taking that has been a feature of past bank investment strategy, changes in risk management have also been considered, as in the case of LBBW.
In the 11 cases where viability was deemed impracticable by means of a restructuring plan, the Commission adopted a decision leading to the banks’ liquidation. Danish banks Roskilde and Fionia, as well as the Swedish investment bank Carnegie, went through an ordinary liquidation, whereas Fortis BE and Caja Castilla La Mancha were sold and incorporated in another group. In the case of Northern Rock, liquidation was undertaken for the vast majority of the bank's assets, significantly reducing the size of the bank to a very small entity (a downsizing of 80%). All cases include a general ban on dividend and coupon payments.
Liquidation can be regarded as the most onerous form of burden-sharing, due to the costs borne by shareholders and creditors. Burden-sharing is an essential component of the restructuring plan. A common method of ensuring burden-sharing is the private shareholding dilution involved in the purchase of public shares. In the cases where banks were nationalised (Northern Rock, Fortis) with the purchase of shares for near-zero prices, the shareholders completely lost control of the bank and incurred losses from the forced sale of their shares.
Lastly, the Commission has to ensure that the restructuring plan includes adequate measures to limit the distortions of competition by ensuring that the bank uses the aid exclusively to restore its viability or to liquidate its assets in an orderly fashion. Many of the standard measures of the restructuring plan (dividend/coupon bans, acquisition bans, reduction of balance sheet and market share, and divestment of profit-making entities) are also designed to limit distortions of competition.
Box 2: The Commission’s assessment of rescue and restructuring aid granted to financial institutions during the crisis
Financial rescue and restructuring cases dealt with by the Commission during the crisis were dealt with by means of a one or two-step process, according to the criteria regarding the aid received and the aid beneficiary.
First of all, rescue aid is notified by the Member State pursuant to Article 108(3) TFEU in all cases. According to different criteria laid down in the crisis communications, especially the Restructuring Communication and the Impaired Asset Communication, the aid beneficiary needs to undertake an in-depth restructuring or a simple viability review. These criteria are:
(i) the capital adequacy of the aid beneficiary as reported by the national supervisory authority (a poor capital adequacy outlook generally indicates the need to restructure the beneficiary);
(ii) the size of the aid received in the form of recapitalisation or impaired asset relief (until 1 January 2011, recapitalisations and/or impaired asset measures amounting to more than 2% of the beneficiary's risk weighted assets were generally been considered by the Commission as sizeable aid measures that reveal structural difficulties encountered by the beneficiary and therefore necessitate a restructuring of the latter; after 1 January 2011, all recapitalisations and/or impaired asset measures trigger the restructuring of the beneficiary);
(iii) the current CDS spread of the beneficiary (a CDS spread that is higher than the sector average denotes a higher risk profile and a possible need for restructuring);
(iv) the current rating of the beneficiary and its outlook (a rating below A with a stable or positive outlook has been regarded by the Commission as an indicator of a lower risk profile).
Where these criteria have not been met, and the aid beneficiary is not considered to be in difficulty, the Commission has been able to follow a one-step process, by which it authorised the aid on the condition that the Member States submit, within six months after the rescue measure, a viability report in which the long-term viability of the beneficiary is demonstrated. This viability report should typically contain an assessment of the beneficiary's business model and its financial outlook. This assessment should demonstrate the long-term viability of the beneficiary and its ability to repay the aid received within a reasonable timeframe.[99]
Conversely, when some of the criteria mentioned above have been met and it has been acknowledged that the aid beneficiary is in difficulty, the Commission has followed a two-step process in which it first temporarily approved the aid, as long as a restructuring plan was submitted within six months after the rescue aid ("rescue decision").
Therefore, in a second stage, when a restructuring plan was submitted, the Commission had to assess it with reference to the Restructuring Communication. In particular, the plan should demonstrate the beneficiary's ability to restore its long-term viability within a reasonable timeframe (up to five years), it should appropriately share the burden of the restructuring between the State and the beneficiary shareholders and creditors, and it should include measures to limit the distortions of competition caused by the aid.
Where the Commission had serious doubts about the ability of the restructuring plan to meet these standards and, consequently, about the compatibility of the aid with the internal market, it has decided to open a formal procedure, in accordance with Article 108(2) TFEU. By means of this procedure, the third parties concerned were asked to provide their comments on the aid measures. After a careful assessment of the comments received and negotiations with the Member States concerned on the details of the aid and the content of the restructuring plan, the Commission was able to definitely authorise or reject the aid by closing the formal procedure ("final decision").
Figure 31: List of restructuring/liquidation decisions
3.2. Aid granted under the temporary framework 3.2.1. Context and purpose of the temporary framework
The global and financial crisis caused a serious downturn in the real economy, affecting households, businesses and jobs. In response, the Commission adopted its Communication "Temporary Community framework for state aid measures to support access to finance in the current financial and economic crisis" in December 2009, which allowed Member States, under certain conditions, to introduce additional aid measures aimed at facilitating companies' access to finance, while at the same time encouraging investments. The temporary framework was originally due to expire on 31 December 2010.
The temporary framework, by facilitating companies' access to finance, introduced the possibility of a direct grant of up to € 500 000 per company, to provide guarantees for loans at reduced premiums or subsidised interest rates for loans. In order to encourage companies' future investments, such as in new technology projects, Member States could grant aid in the form of subsidised interest rate loans for the production of green products, and higher ceilings for venture capital investments. Furthermore, the rules on export credit were simplified. Since the temporary framework was designed to provide for a possible horizontal effect in the economy, Member States were allowed to give support to any economic sector.
In order to be able to assess the effectiveness of the temporary framework rules and to decide whether they should be prolonged beyond 2010, the Commission asked Member States to submit a report by October 2009 and sent out two questionnaires.[100] Moreover, in October 2010, the Commission held a public consultation on the prolongation of the temporary framework.[101]
On the basis of the replies received from Member States and some third parties, and in the light of the highly volatile financial markets and the uncertainty about the economic outlook, the Commission decided to prolong certain measures set out in the temporary framework for one year, i.e. until 31 December 2011.[102]
While most instruments of the temporary framework were prolonged, the compatible limited amount of € 500 000 per company was phased out. Furthermore, the prolongation included a tightening of the conditions under which Member States can grant aid under the temporary framework.
3.2.2. Update on measures approved under the temporary framework[103]
In 2010, Member States continued to grant aid under the temporary framework. The Commission authorised six new schemes[104]:
· one scheme for aid of up to € 500 000 per company proposed by Bulgaria;
· one guarantee measure in Spain;
· one risk capital scheme in Spain;
· three export-credit schemes, in Latvia, Hungary and Slovenia.
The Commission furthermore prolonged 10 schemes:
· three schemes for aid of up to € 500 000 per company, in Germany, Italy and Hungary;
· two guarantee schemes, in Germany and Italy;
· two schemes for subsidised interest rate loans, in Germany and Italy;
· three export-credit schemes, in Denmark, Germany and Finland.
In 2010, under the heading of ad hoc aid measures, the Commission authorised one new guarantee scheme and prolonged another guarantee scheme, both of which were in Sweden and granted to car manufacturers. Ten new aid measures were granted to farmers. It is noted that, so far, Cyprus has not notified any aid measure under the temporary framework.
To provide an overview of the aid granted under the temporary framework and authorised by the Commission in 2011 (until 1 October 2011), a total of 17 aid measures were prolonged or amended.[105] During the same period, no new aid measures were authorised under the temporary framework. While most Member States felt that there was a clear need to use the instruments provided by the temporary framework during the first year, i.e. 2009, the few new measures authorised in 2010 and the absence of new measures in 2011 suggest that Member States have made effective use of the tool during 2009 and 2010 when public support to the real economy was mostly needed. However, it cannot be ruled out at this stage that Member States may request to prolong some of their existing measures further.
With respect to the approved aid volumes authorised under the temporary framework, see the figure in the next paragraph.
3.2.3. Aid granted in 2010
Figure 32: Aid granted under the temporary framework[106]
|| 2010 || 2009
(in € billion) || As % of EU GDP || (in € billion) || As % of EU GDP
Approved aid amount || 1.6 || 0.01% || 81.3 || 0.68%
Aid amount used || 11.7 || 0.09% || 21 || 0.17%
The small amount of the approved aid volume can be explained by the fact that only a few new aid measures were introduced by Member States under the temporary framework in 2010, while a large number of aid measures were introduced in 2009 and also allowed aid to be granted in 2010.
Nevertheless, Member States have been very cautious when drawing up the budget, given the uncertainties as to the depth and the duration of the crisis in the real economy. Still, there is still a large discrepancy between the total approved aid amount and the amount used, which can be explained by the fact that Member States have continued to exercise strict discipline when granting aid under the temporary framework. Moreover, the budgetary restrictions imposed in 2010 may have had contributed to this effect.
With respect to the preferred arrangements through which Member States provided aid under the temporary framework, the tool that was most used was the subsidised guarantee, followed by the subsidised interest rate loan and the maximum aid amount of € 500 000 per undertaking. This ranking is the result obtained from looking at the amount used. If one calculates the aid element for the corresponding amount used, the ranking shows that the maximum aid amount of € 500 000 per undertaking is used the most, followed by risk capital, the subsidised guarantee and subsidised interest rate loans.[107]
In the context of preparing the Commission's Staff Working Document on "The effects of temporary state aid rules in the context of the financial and economic crisis"[108], the Commission sent a questionnaire to Member States asking for more details on, inter alia, their aid measures granted under the temporary framework.
It can be concluded from the replies that SMEs benefited most from aid granted under the temporary framework. Some Member States granted aid almost exclusively to SMEs, while a few Member States also included large enterprises.[109] Furthermore, it was found that in many Member States the number of beneficiaries was rather high, in some instances more than 10,000 small companies. The replies from some Member States provided more detail in terms of the sectors which benefitted from the aid granted under the temporary framework. While the information provided in the replies is mostly presented in the form of an estimate, it can be concluded that the sectors which have benefitted the most are the manufacturing-related sectors, followed by services such as tourism and construction activities.
4. Trends in non-crisis state aid expenditure by type of aid measures
Figure 33[110]: Trend by type of aid measures (number of measures); EU-27
When looking at the number of measures, 2010 saw a fall in new aid measures, particularly in relation to schemes and more significantly in new block exempted aid, whereas the number of new individual aid measures remained stable. While the overall number of new aid measures authorised by the Commission or introduced by Member States (with respect to GBER aid measures) fell by almost half, it has to be noted that the proportion of aid granted through block exemptions, schemes and individual aid has not changed significantly. Nevertheless, a large percentage of new aid measures (approximately 66%) were introduced by Member States by means of a block exemption. The remaining aid scrutinised by the Commission represented 34% and even decreased slightly in 2010.
One main reason for the substantial drop in the number of new block exempted aid measures in 2010 is the fact that Member States introduced many new GBER measures in 2009 by phasing out aid measures implemented under the previous block exempted aid measures which fell under the Regulations covering aid for employment[111], to SMEs[112] and for training.[113] Furthermore, some new GBER measures also replaced previous block exempted aid measures falling under regional block exemption aid.[114]
A further reason is the fact that national budgets in the Member States were generally exercising strict budgetary control in 2010, which provided little potential to create new state aid measures.
However, it is too early to detect a trend in future numbers of GBER aid measures from the short period during which the GBER has actually been in force.
Figure 34[115]: Trend by type of aid measures (number of measures); EU-27
The year 2010 saw a further increase in the aid volume granted by Member States under the block exemption. It amounted to approximately € 12.6 billion, or 21% of all aid granted to industry and services. With respect to the notified aid schemes, the aid volume amounted to approximately € 40.4 billion, which is 67.5% of total aid to industry and services or 0.33% of EU GDP. Lastly, individual aid amounted to € 6.8 billion, which is equal to 11.5 % of total aid to industry and services or 0.06% of EU GDP.
Generally, the positive trend by which Member States grant more aid through block exemption also continued in 2010 and allowed the Commission to focus on the examination of individual applications within a scheme and ad-hoc measures; it is these cases which most often have the greatest potential to distort competition.
5. Enforcing the state aid rules 5.1. Unlawful aid
Article 108(3) TFEU requires Member States not only to notify state aid measures to the Commission before their implementation, but also to await the outcome of the Commission's investigation before implementing notified measures. If either of these obligations is not respected, the state aid measure is considered to be unlawful. When, following a formal investigation procedure, the state aid measure is considered incompatible with the internal market, the Commission shall decide that the Member State must take all necessary measures to recover the aid from the beneficiary in accordance with national procedures (negative decision with recovery).
In the period 2000 to 30 June 2011, the Commission took 980 decisions on unlawful aid.[116] In 22% of unlawful aid cases (217 cases) the Commission intervened by taking a negative decision on an incompatible aid measure. This negative decision normally requires the Member State concerned to recover the illegally awarded aid. In a further 2% of unlawful aid cases (31 cases), the Commission took a conditional decision.
In addition, there are 105 pending unlawful aid cases which are still under scrutiny by the Commission. These cases are usually taken up by the Commission in reaction to a complaint or ex officio (case started at the Commission's own initiative). The figures also include cases notified by a Member State, but for which the measure was fully or partially implemented by the Member State before the Commission's final decision (i.e. cases where the standstill clause was not respected).
5.2. Recovery of unlawful aid
Further progress has been made towards in implementing pending recovery decisions. The total number of pending recovery cases stood at 55[117] (compared to 94 cases at the end of 2004). The amount of illegal and incompatible aid recovered since 2000 has further increased and on 30 June 2011 amounted to more than € 11.5 billion. That means that the percentage of illegal and incompatible aid still to be recovered has fallen from 75% at the end of 2004 to around 18.6% on 30 June 2011.
Recovery in the transport sector
In its judgment of 13 September 2010 the General Court partially annulled the Commission decision C 11/2004 on the privatisation of Olympic Airways. The Court held that the Commission had failed to prove that the amount of around € 131 million granted by Greece constituted state aid. At the same time it upheld the Commission's decision according to which the continued forbearance of the Greek State towards Olympic Airways’ non-payment of taxes and social security contributions (of about € 354 million) amounted to illegal and incompatible state aid to be recovered.
Recovery in the fisheries and aquaculture sector
In 2010, no recovery decision was adopted by the Commission. Two cases, which the Commission took before the Court of Justice over the failure to comply with the obligations established by the Treaties, are pending.[118]
5.3. Enforcement of state aid law: Cooperation with national courts
Cooperation with national courts
In the follow-up to the Notice on the Enforcement of State Aid Law by National Courts of 2009[119], advocacy efforts have intensified: an information package was published on DG Competition's website[120] and a booklet[121] compiling the EU materials most relevant for state aid enforcement in the judges' daily work was widely distributed. Specific training for national judges has also been organised, namely in Finland, Poland and Romania.
Through the dedicated contact point, ec-amicus-state-aid@ec.europa.eu several requests for information and requests for opinion sent by national judges have been dealt with.
"Réunions Paquet"
While a swift implementation of Commission decisions which order the recovery of unlawful and incompatible aid is fundamental to make sure that competitive conditions in the internal market are restored, in practice it can raise difficulties for the Member States. In line with the principle of loyal cooperation, the Member States and the Commission must cooperate to overcome these difficulties.
In this context, organising réunions paquet ("package meetings") can be very helpful. Discussions on state aid cases during such package meetings serve to raise the problems encountered, clarify the applicable state aid rules and identify solutions to facilitate the implementation of the Commission decisions.
A first réunion paquet was organised with the Italian authorities in Rome on 22-23 June 2011, focusing in particular on the enforcement of recovery decisions. During the first day of the réunion paquet, several presentations were organised to increase our mutual understanding of national and EU rules and procedures dealing with recovery of state aid. The following day was devoted to technical discussions on specific cases.
The meeting took place in a generally constructive atmosphere but it revealed clear differences in awareness of applicable EU state aid rules. The Italian authorities welcomed the initiative of the Commission and suggested that it could be useful to organise similar meetings in other areas (e.g. for operational cases).
5.4. Ex post monitoring
With the entry into force of the GBER, an even larger number of aid measures are no longer subject to the notification obligation. Article 10 of that Regulation constitutes the basis for conducting ex post monitoring on a sample basis. The results showed that, overall, the share of the existing state aid architecture allowing the approval of aid schemes and enabling Member States to implement aid measures under the GBER and BERs still functions reasonably well. However, a number of individual and horizontal issues were identified which need to be followed up with the Member States. In order to further improve its scrutiny, DG Competition recently decided to considerably enlarge the sample of next year's monitoring exercise to cover one-third of the aids granted under approved aid schemes or block exempted regulations. The exercise will cover all of the main types of aid and all Member States.
Notes on methodology[122]
Scope of the Scoreboard
The Scoreboard provides a summary of state aid expenditure in the Member States in 2010. The Scoreboard is based on the annual reports submitted by Member States, pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation 794/2004.[123] The Scoreboard refers to state aid expenditure authorised under Article 107 TFEU and furthermore includes aid granted to the transport sector which is governed by a specific set of rules[124] that refer to Article 107 TFEU. However, the subsidies to railways is excluded from the total aid reported in the Scoreboard since it is governed by Article 93 TFEU and corresponding regulations.[125]
In their annual reports, Member States provide information on all existing aid measures that fall under the scope of Article 107(1) TFEU and which have been authorised by the Commission or implemented by Member States with respect to aid measures falling under the GBER. Cases which are still being examined are excluded[126]. Annex III of Regulation 794/2004[127] provides further details on the format and content of the information to be reported. The annual report which Member States submitted in 2011 covered aid granted by Member States between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2010 and includes, where appropriate, revised provisional figures that Member States provided in previous years. While Member States supply information on state aid expenditure and co-financing in their annual report, all other information on existing aid measures is provided by Member States in their notifications of aid measures, pursuant to Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) 659/1999, which is verifed by the Commission, such as the primary objective of the aid, aid instrument and sector information. Member States are asked to confirm these data.[128]
Aid granted for Services of General Economic Interest ("SGEI") which fulfils the condition of an SGEI measure is excluded from the Scoreboard, so that only the part of such aid which is beyond the provision of the general service is included.[129] Furthermore, expenditure granted through Union funds and other Union instruments is also excluded, as such measures are not typically financed from the national budget of a Member State.
Since the content of the annual report is guided by different annexes of Regulation 794/2004, namely Annex A for aid granted to industry and services, Annex B for aid granted to the agricultural sector and Annex C for aid granted to fisheries and aquaculture[130], the Scoreboard focusses its observations and trend analysis solely on state aid to industry and services.
Methodology to calculate non crisis aid
The economic advantage passed on to undertakings through state aid measures can be measured in different ways: for grants, the advantage passed on to the beneficiary normally corresponds to budgetary expenditure. For other aid instruments, the advantage to the beneficiary and the cost to government may differ. In the case of guarantees, for example, the beneficiary avoids the risk associated with the guarantee, since it is carried by the State. Such risk-carrying by the State should normally be remunerated by an appropriate premium. Where the State forgoes all or part of such a premium, there is both a benefit for the undertaking and a drain on the resources of the State. Thus, even if it transpires that no payments are ever made by the State under a guarantee, there may nevertheless be state aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU. The aid is granted at the time when the guarantee is given, not when the guarantee is invoked nor when payments are made under the terms of the guarantee.
Generally, Member States are obliged to report state aid expenditure[131] in terms of actual expenditure expressed in the form of the aid element calculated for the aid measure.[132] Where such data were not available in a timely fashion, i.e. by the deadline for submitting the annual report (i.e. 30 June), Member States are requested to provide either the corresponding commitment information or an estimate of the aid component. In absence of this information, Member States are asked either to confirm or to adapt the estimate calculated by the Commission services, in line with the standard method applied and on the basis of information provided in previous years.[133] For the purpose of producing a meaningful Scoreboard, the absence of actual data makes it necessary to include an estimate in order to provide the most complete picture possible of state aid expenditure in the Member States.
Data on state aid expenditure in this Scoreboard may differ from data for the same year published in previous Scoreboards. This can be explained as follows. First, all expenditure information is provided by Member States at current prices (in € million) but is then converted to constant prices referenced to the year for which the Scoreboard gives an update, taking into account the corresponding inflation rates applicable for the individual year and Member State. Secondly, Member States may have replaced provisional figures or estimates from the previous year(s) by final actual expenditure. In particular with respect to expenditure in tax schemes which are particularly difficult to quantify[134], if expenditure is corrected at a later stage it may also change previous data and, moreover, may also shift the distribution of horizontal and sectoral aid in particular. Thirdly, when the Commission adopts a decision on a non-notified aid measure by which it deemed the aid compatible, the aid amount in question is attributed to the year(s) in which it was awarded. Where such expenditure has been made for a number of years, the total aid amount is generally allocated equally over the corresponding years.
Generally, all figures when expressed in percentage of GDP are measured by reference to the year to which the expenditure data relate and include the corresponding GDP value for the calculation. This means that figures expressed as a percentage of GDP in this Scoreboard normally relate to 2010 GDP, unless otherwise indicated.
With respect to the presentation of data in the tables, the following symbols apply: n.a. not available - real zero 0 less than half the unit used
S Scheme IA Individual aid granted within a scheme AH Individual aid granted ad hoc.
Methodology to calculate crisis aid granted to the financial sector
By derogation from the general concept of expressing state aid expenditure in terms of the aid element of the corresponding aid measure, the Commission decided that this Scoreboard should simplify and report on crisis aid granted to the financial sector only the approved volume[135] and the amount actually used.[136] For this reason, crisis aid is excluded from the observations and trends on aid granted to industry and services and is presented in a separate chapter.[137] Aid granted to the financial sector are reported in absolute terms - i.e. without expressing the value in 2010 prices - in order to present stable data in particular on the side of the approved budget. This methodology differes from the one applied in the Autumn 2009 and Autumn 2010 Scoreboard as well as from the methodology used in the current Scoreboard for non-crisis aid. The overall amount of aid in terms of GDP for the entire reference period is calculated on the basis of 2010 GDP.
To adequately capture the amounts actually used, the Commission services have further refined the methodology as regards guarantees and liquidity measures other than guarantees.[138]
· For guarantees on liabilities: the overall volume of outstanding guarantees in 2010 calculated as the average of end of quarter (31 March; 30 June; 30 September; 30 December) outstanding amounts;
· Liquidity measures other than guarantees on liabilities: the overall volume of outstanding liquidity measures (other than guarantees) in 2010 calculated as the average of end of quarter (31 March; 30 June; 30 September; 30 December) outstanding amounts;
· For recapitalisation measures: the overall amount of the recapitalisation for 2010;
· For impaired assets: the nominal amount implemented in 2010 calculated as the transfer value of the assets minus their market value, in accordance with the Impaired assets Communication;
· For restructuring aid: Only the nominal amount implemented in 2010 (and in the previous years) is required.
Moreover, the information from the Member States' annual reports on aid granted to the financial sector is checked against the information which is reported for the individual aid measure that Member States provide according to the provisions set out in the decision of the individual case (either ad hoc or scheme cases) and with other available tools such as ECFIN data, Bloomberg data etc.
As for non-crisis aid, in the absence of reported data, Member States are asked to either confirm or adapt the estimate calculated by the Commission services, in line with the applied standard method and on the basis of information provided in the files.[139] For the purpose of producing a meaningful Scoreboard, the absence of actual data makes it necessary to include an estimate in order to provide the most complete picture possible of state aid expenditure in the Member States. Concerning financial crisis aid, the Commission services made estimates for guarantees and liquidity measures when the Member States’ authorities were unable to provide data in accordance with the new methodology established for these instruments.
Specific provisions with respect to aid granted under the temporary framework
State aid granted under the temporary framework can also be considered as crisis aid. While aid to the financial sector typically involved the use of special instruments targeted at banks and financial services, the temporary framework made use of the classical instruments, e.g. direct grant, guarantee or loan. However, aid granted under the temporary framework is presented in a separate chapter[140] and is excluded from aid to industry and services in order to obtain an undistorted picture of Member States' efforts in granting aid earmarked for objectives of common interest. Alongside the crisis aid to the financial sector, the Commission also decided to simplify and to report in respect of aid granted under the temporary framework only the approved volume[141] and the amount actually used.[142]
Member States were asked to report on aid granted under the temporary framework by following a general method.
· In instances where a temporary framework measure is (i) a new ad hoc measure, (ii) a new scheme or (iii) a new framework scheme under which a number of new schemes may be implemented, the Member State simply reports expenditure under this temporary framework measure;
· In instances where a temporary framework measure (i) modifies an existing aid measure or (ii) the Member State uses one or more existing aid measures for its implementation, and hence aid is granted under temporary framework conditions, the Member State reports the aid amounts (including the aid element) under the corresponding temporary framework measure. By contrast, all aid that falls outside the aforementioned conditions (i) and (ii) shall be reported under the case number of the initially authorised non-temporary framework measure.
Moreover, the information from the Member States' annual reports on aid granted under the temporary framework is checked against the information which Member States provided in their reply to the Commission's questionnaire enquiring about the effects of the crisis aid measures which included aid measures granted under the temporary framework.[143]
Key figures on state aid expenditure in the EU and Member States
Figure 35: Total non-crisis aid to industry and services[144]
|| In € billion (2010) || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of GDP) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007)
EU-27 || 61.0 || 0.50% || -0.01% || 0.49% || 0.05%
Belgium || 1.8 || 0.52% || 0.04% || 0.45% || 0.16%
Bulgaria || 0.0 || 0.04% || -0.05% || 0.06% || -0.05%
Czech Republic || 0.9 || 0.65% || 0.13% || 0.66% || 0.11%
Denmark || 2.0 || 0.83% || -0.09% || 0.82% || 0.14%
Germany || 14.7 || 0.59% || -0.03% || 0.59% || -0.06%
Estonia || 0.0 || 0.10% || 0.02% || 0.09% || 0%
Ireland || 0.9 || 0.56% || 0.10% || 0.51% || 0.10%
Greece || 1.8 || 0.78% || 0.02% || 0.69% || 0.47%
Spain || 4.3 || 0.41% || -0.05% || 0.43% || 0.05%
France || 12.6 || 0.65% || 0.03% || 0.60% || 0.18%
Italy || 3.3 || 0.21% || -0.09% || 0.27% || -0.06%
Cyprus || 0.1 || 0.51% || 0.13% || 0.45% || -0.17%
Latvia || 0.1 || 0.40% || 0.28% || 0.24% || -0.39%
Lithuania || 0.1 || 0.29% || 0.03% || 0.23% || 0.07%
Luxembourg || 0.1 || 0.18% || -0.07% || 0.19% || 0.05%
Hungary || 1.9 || 1.94% || 0.56% || 1.72% || 0.65%
Malta || 0.1 || 1.12% || -0.48% || 1.47% || -1.03%
Netherlands || 1.9 || 0.32% || 0.01% || 0.29% || 0.04%
Austria || 2.1 || 0.72% || 0.08% || 0.65% || 0.17%
Poland || 2.5 || 0.72% || -0.01% || 0.72% || 0.28%
Portugal || 1.5 || 0.90% || -0.06% || 0.92% || -0.08%
Romania || 0.2 || 0.17% || 0.03% || 0.17% || -0.28%
Slovenia || 0.3 || 0.89% || 0.10% || 0.71% || 0.28%
Slovakia || 0.2 || 0.37% || 0.01% || 0.39% || -0.02%
Finland || 0.8 || 0.43% || -0.04% || 0.44% || 0.08%
Sweden || 2.6 || 0.76% || -0.06% || 0.80% || -0.07%
United Kingdom || 4.1 || 0.24% || 0.00% || 0.23% || 0.04%
Norway || 2.3 || 0.91% || n/a || n/a || n/a
Iceland || 0.02 || 0.76% || n/a || n/a || n/a
Liechtenstein || 0.001 || 0.04% || n/a || n/a || n/a
Figure 36: Aid to agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and transport[145]
|| In € billion (2010) || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of GDP) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007)
EU-27 || 12.7 || 0.10% || -0.02% || 0.12% || -0.07%
Belgium || 0.32 || 0.09% || -0.04% || 0.11% || 0%
Bulgaria || 0.04 || 0.11% || -0.34% || 0.37% || 0.17%
Czech Republic || 0.24 || 0.17% || -0.02% || 0.18% || 0.00%
Denmark || 0.18 || 0.08% || -0.02% || 0.09% || -0.02%
Germany || 1.22 || 0.05% || -0.01% || 0.05% || 0%
Estonia || 0.03 || 0.19% || -0.02% || 0.20% || 0.02%
Ireland || 0.70 || 0.46% || -0.02% || 0.55% || 0.38%
Greece || 0.04 || 0.02% || -0.08% || 0.09% || -0.12%
Spain || 0.67 || 0.06% || -0.01% || 0.08% || -0.02%
France || 2.79 || 0.14% || 0% || 0.15% || -0.39%
Italy || 1.23 || 0.08% || 0% || 0.08% || 0%
Cyprus || 0.03 || 0.17% || -0.48% || 0.33% || 0.05%
Latvia || 0.10 || 0.54% || -0.06% || 0.50% || -0.43%
Lithuania || 0.08 || 0.28% || -0.08% || 0.31% || -0.08%
Luxembourg || 0.02 || 0.05% || 0.00% || 0.05% || -0.04%
Hungary || 0.34 || 0.34% || -0.12% || 0.47% || -0.89%
Malta || 0.02 || 0.30% || 0.02% || 0.28% || -0.12%
Netherlands || 1.25 || 0.21% || 0.06% || 0.17% || 0.03%
Austria || 0.19 || 0.07% || -0.19% || 0.13% || 0.05%
Poland || 0.68 || 0.19% || -0.03% || 0.21% || -0.10%
Portugal || 0.03 || 0.02% || 0% || 0.02% || -0.01%
Romania || 0.10 || 0.08% || -0.44% || 0.35% || -0.02%
Slovenia || 0.08 || 0.21% || 0.00% || 0.21% || -0.04%
Slovakia || 0.06 || 0.09% || -0.05% || 0.12% || 0.02%
Finland || 1.29 || 0.71% || -0.04% || 0.72% || -0.17%
Sweden || 0.24 || 0.07% || -0.03% || 0.09% || -0.02%
United Kingdom || 0.74 || 0.04% || 0% || 0.05% || 0%
Figure 37: Non-crisis state aid earmarked for horizontal objectives of common interest and sectoral aid as % of total non-crisis aid to industry and services[146]
|| Total of horizontal objectives || Environment and energy savings || Regional development || R&D&I || Risk capital || SME || Training || Employment aid || Compensation of damages caused by natural disaster || Culture || Heritage conservation || Promotion of export and internationalisation || Social support to individual consumers || Other || Total Sectoral Aid || Coal || Other sectoral aid
EU-27 || 85.0 || 23.7 || 24.3 || 17.9 || 1.3 || 4.2 || 1.3 || 4.6 || 0.0 || 2.8 || 0.3 || 0.4 || 3.5 || 0.7 || 15.0 || 4.7 || 10.3
Belgium || 100 || 24 || 7 || 43 || 0 || 12 || 2 || 7 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
Bulgaria || 100 || 7 || 41 || 16 || 0 || 4 || 6 || 25 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
Czech Republic || 81 || 5 || 45 || 27 || 0 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 19 || 0 || 19
Denmark || 97 || 15 || 0 || 12 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 67 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 3 || 0 || 3.0
Germany || 88 || 38 || 25 || 21 || 0 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 12 || 12 || 0
Estonia || 100 || 39 || 15 || 4 || 3 || 7 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 32 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
Ireland || 90 || 8 || 33 || 27 || 3 || 4 || 4 || 2 || 0 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 10 || 0 || 10
Greece || 99 || 0 || 89 || 0 || 1 || 10 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1
Spain || 77 || 17 || 25 || 26 || 0 || 3 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 23 || 19 || 4
France || 79 || 4 || 34 || 14 || 0 || 5 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 17 || 0 || 21 || 0 || 21
Italy || 96 || 7 || 33 || 17 || 0 || 18 || 6 || 6 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 4
Cyprus || 96 || 0 || 9 || 2 || 0 || 5 || 12 || 0 || 0 || 65 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 4
Latvia || 100 || 78 || 13 || 6 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
Lithuania || 100 || 2 || 67 || 14 || 0 || 8 || 0 || 9 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
Luxembourg || 100 || 17 || 2 || 57 || 0 || 14 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 10 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
Hungary || 54 || 1 || 26 || 5 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 9 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 9 || 46 || 2 || 44
Malta || 25 || 0 || 22 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 75 || 0 || 75
Netherlands || 100 || 55 || 1 || 37 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
Austria || 99 || 49 || 6 || 25 || 1 || 4 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 6 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1
Poland || 76 || 11 || 29 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 2 || 28 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 24 || 8 || 16
Portugal || 17 || 0 || 7 || 4 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 83 || 0 || 83
Romania || 71 || 0 || 52 || 16 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 29 || 29 || 0
Slovenia || 96 || 29 || 26 || 30 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 4 || 0
Slovakia || 98 || 36 || 47 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 0
Finland || 100 || 40 || 6 || 31 || 2 || 4 || 3 || 6 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
Sweden || 98 || 86 || 3 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 2
United Kingdom || 93 || 34 || 6 || 20 || 15 || 5 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 7 || 0 || 7
Figures 38: Financial Crisis Aid – Approved amount per year and instrument
Figure 38 a: Guarantees: Approved budget
Figure 38 b: Recapitalisation: Approved budget
Figure 38 c: Impaired Assets: Approved budget
Figure 38 d: Liquidity measures: Approved budget
Figure 39: Overview of measures adopted under the Temporary Framework (until 1 October 2011)
Member State || EUR 500.000 per under-taking || Guarantee || Reduced-interest rate loans || Reduced-interest rate loans for green products || Risk capital aid || Simplification of requirements of the Export Credit Communication
Belgium || || N117/2009, 20/03/2009 || || || N68/2009 03/06/2009 || N532/2009, 06/11/2009 SA.32159[147], 30/05/2011
Bulgaria || N 333/2010, 10/09/2010 || || || || ||
Czech Republic || N236/2009, 07/05/2009 || || N237/2009 06/05/2009 || || ||
Denmark || || || || || || N198/2009, 06/05/2009 N554/2009[148],29/10/2009 SA.32047[149], 21/12/2010 SA.32513[150], 01/03/2011
Germany || N668/2008, 30/12/2008 N299/2009[151], 04/06/2009 N411/2009[152], 17/07/2009 N 255/2010[153], 31/10/2010 SA.32031[154], 17/12/2010 || N27/2009, 27/02/2009 SA.32032[155], 17/12/2010 || N661/2008 30/12/2008 N38/2009 19/02/2009 SA.32030[156] 17/12/2010 || N426/2009 04/08/2009 || N39/2009 3/02/2009 || N384/2009, 05/08/2009 N 91/2010[157], 31/05/2010 SA.32033[158], 21/12/2010
Estonia || N387/2009, 13/07/2009 SA.32104[159], 13/01/2011 || || || || ||
Ireland || N186/2009, 15/04/2009 N473/2009[160], 15/12/2009 || || || || ||
Greece || N304/2009, 15/07/2009 SA.32512[161], 28/02/2011 || N308/2009, 03/06/2009 || N309/2009 03/06/2009 || || ||
Spain || N307/2009, 08/06/2009 || N68/2010, 30/03/2010 N 157/2010[162],24/06/2010 SA.32986[163],31/05/2011 || || N140/2009 30/03/2009 || N683/2009 02/02/2010 ||
France || N7/2009, 19/01/2009 N188/2009[164], 17/04/2009 N278/2009[165], 08/06/2009 SA.32140[166], 24/01/2011 || N23/2009, 27/02/2009 SA.32183[167],24/01/2011 || N15/2009 04/02/2009 SA.32182[168] 28/01/2011 || N11/2009 03/02/2009 || N119/2009 16/03/2009 N36/2009 30/06/2009 || N449/2009, 05/10/2009 SA.32090[169], 30/03/2011
Italy || N248/2009, 28/052009 SA.32036[170], 20/12/2010 || N266/2009, 28/05/2009 SA.32035[171],17/12/2010 || N268/2009 29/052009 SA.32039[172] 20/12/2010 || N542/2009 26/10/2009 || N279/2009 20/05/2009 ||
Latvia || N124/2009, 19/03/2009 N506/2009[173], 22/12/2009 SA.32051[174], 23/05/2011 || N139/2009, 22/04/2009 N670/2009, 15/12/2009 || || || || N84/2010, 10/06/2010
Lithuania || N272/2009, 08/06/2009 N523/2009[175], 13/11/2009 N46/2010[176], 10/03/2010 || || || || || N659/2009, 21/12/2009
Luxembourg || N99/2009, 27/02/2009 || N128/2009, 11/03/2009 || || || || N50/2009, 20/04/2009 SA.32846[177], 27/05/2011
Hungary || N77/2009, 24/02/2009 SA.32040[178], 20/12/2010 || N114/2009, 10/03/2009 N203/2009, 24/04/2009 N341/2009, 01/07/2009 N 56/2010[179], 06/05/2010 SA.32306[180], 22/02/2011 SA.32216[181], 27/01/2011 || N78/2009 24/02/2009 SA.32215[182] 24/01/2011 || || || N 187/2010, 06/07/2010
Malta || N118/2009, 18/05/2009 || || || || ||
Netherland || N156/2009, 01/04/2009 SA.32506[183], 18/02/2011 || || || || || N409/2009, 02/10/2009 N14/2010[184], 05/02/2010
Austria || N47a/2009, 20/03/2009 N317/2009[185], 18/06/2009 SA.32171[186], 30/03/2011 || || || || N47d/2009 26/03/2009 || N434/2009, 17/12/2009
Poland || N408/2009, 17/08/2009 N 22/2010[187], 16/07/2010 N 50/2010[188], 16/07/2010 N 86/2010[189], 16/07/2010 || || || || ||
Portugal || N13/2009, 19/01/2009 || || || || ||
Romania || N547/2009, 03/12/2009 || N286/2009, 05/06/2009 N478/2009[190], 13/11/2009 N680/2009[191], 17/12/2009 N 173/2010[192], 30/07/2010 || || || ||
Slovenia || N228/2009, 12/06/2009 || NN34/2009, 12/06/2009 N105/2010[193], 16/04/2010 || || || || N713/2009, 16/03/2010 SA.32066[194], 20/01/2011
Slovakia || N222/2009, 30/04/2009 N711/2009[195], 02/02/2010 || || || || ||
Finland || N224/2009, 03/06/2009 || N82b/2009, 09/06/2009 || || || || N258/2009, 22/062009 SA.32075[196], 21/12/2010
Sweden || || N80/2009, 05/06/2009 N541/2009, 08/02/2010 N520/2010[197], 16/12/2010 || || || || N605/2009, 25/11/2009
United Kingdom || N43/2009, 04/02/2009 || N71/2009, 27/02/2009 || N257/2009 15/05/2009 N460/2009[198] 14/08/2009 || N72/2009 27/02/2009 || ||
Figures 40: Aid expenditure by Member State
Key state aid data (2010) || Belgium || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[199] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[200]
Total non-crisis aid || 2.15 || 0.6% || 0.2% || 0.56% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 1.83 || 0.52% || 0.04% || 0.45% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.1 || 0.03% || 0.005% || 0.03% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.22 || 0.06% || -0.03% || 0.07% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 793 || 0.22% || 43%
Environmental aid || 440 || 0.12% || 24%
Regional aid || 120 || 0.03% || 7%
Employment & Training || 170 || 0.05% || 9%
SME || 219 || 0.06% || 12%
Other horizontal objectives || 93 || 0.03% || 5%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 200 || 91%
Employment & Training || 146 || 86%
Regional aid || 92 || 76%
Environmental aid || 156 || 36%
Other || 121 || n/a
Total || 715 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
325.37 || 25.86 || 55.46 || 29.37 || 20.5%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
8.1 || 0.22 || 0.06%
Key state aid data (2010) || Bulgaria || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[201] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[202]
Total non-crisis aid || 0.1 || 0.15% || -0.4% || 0.42% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.01 || 0.04% || -0.05% || 0.06% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.04 || 0.11% || -0.34% || 0.37% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 2.22 || 0.01% || 16%
Environmental aid || 1.03 || 0.003% || 7%
Regional aid || 5.74 || 0.02% || 41%
Employment & Training || 4.31 || 0.01% || 31%
SME || 0.62 || 0.002% || 4%
Other horizontal objectives || 0 || 0% || 0%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 0.62 || 100%
Employment & Training || 4.31 || 100%
Regional aid || 0.43 || 7.52%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0%
Other || 0 || n/a
Total || 5.36 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0.001 || 0 || 0%
Key state aid data (2010) || Czech Republic || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[203] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[204]
Total non-crisis aid || 1.2 || 0.82% || 0.1% || 0.84% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.9 || 0.65% || 0.13% || 0.66% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.21 || 0.14% || -0.003% || 0.15% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.02 || 0.015% || -0.0047% || 0.016% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.01 || 0.01% || -0.01% || 0.02% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 252.08 || 0.17% || 27%
Environmental aid || 42.95 || 0.03% || 5%
Regional aid || 423.03 || 0.29% || 45%
Employment & Training || 13.89 || 0.01% || 1%
SME || 24.94 || 0.02% || 3%
Other horizontal objectives || 7.07 || 0.005% || 1%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 76.06 || 0.05% || 8%
Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 105.56 || 0.07% || 11.2%
Other services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 24.94 || 100%
Employment & Training || 12.19 || 87.75%
Regional aid || 365.69 || 86.44%
Environmental aid || 13.88 || 32.32%
Other || 10.95 || n/a
Total || 427.65 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
1.12 || 0.31 || 0.21%
Key state aid data (2010) || Denmark || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[205] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[206]
Total non-crisis aid || 2.0 || 0.9% || -0.1 || 0.1 || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 2.0 || 0.83% || -0.09 || 0.1 || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.09 || 0.04% || -0.01 || 0.04 || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.001 || 0.00050% || -0.0069% || 0.028 || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.09 || 0.04 || 0.00 || 0.04 || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 224.29 || 0.10% || 12%
Environmental aid || 283.88 || 0.12% || 15%
Regional aid || 0.03 || 0% || 0%
Employment & Training || 98.32 || 0.56% || 67%
SME || 0.70 || 0% || 0%
Other horizontal objectives || 69.09 || 0.03% || 4%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 58.34 || 0.02% || 3.0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 0.70 || 100%
Employment & Training || 103.05 || 7.87%
Regional aid || 0.03 || 100%
Environmental aid || 14.77 || 5.20%
Other || 82.92 || n/a
Total || 201.47 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
600.11 || 585.44 || 14.22 || 0.46 || 67.2%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0 || 0 || 0
Key state aid data (2010) || Germany || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[207] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[208]
Total non-crisis aid || 15.9 || 0.6% || -0.03% || 0.6% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 14.7 || 0.6% || -0.03% || 0.6% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 1.1 || 0.04% || -0.004% || 0.04% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.003 || 0.0001% || -0.00005% || 0.0002% || 0.1 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.2 || 0.01% || -0.002% || 0.01% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research development and innovation || 2809 || 0.1% || 19.1%
Environmental aid || 5535 || 0.2% || 37.7%
Regional aid || 3637 || 0.2% || 24.8%
Employment & Training || 99 || 0.004% || 0.7%
SME || 283 || 0.01% || 1.9%
Other horizontal objectives || 560 || 0.02% || 3.8%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 1758 || 0.07% || 12.0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 14 || 0.001% || 0.1%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 227 || 80%
Employment & Training || 99 || 100%
Regional aid || 3557 || 98%
Environmental aid || 171 || 3%
Other || 259 || n/a
Total || 4312 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2007 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2007+2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2007-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
620.3 || 52.5 || 190.4 || 164.5 || 10.1%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
29.6 || 4.0 || 0.16%
Key state aid data (2010) || Estonia || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[209] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[210]
Total non-crisis aid || 0.042 || 0.3% || -0.002% || -28% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.014 || 0.10% || 0.02% || 0.09% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.03 || 0.19% || -0.02% || 0.19% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.0001 || 0.00055% || -0.001% || 0.0008% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.0002 || 0.0012% || 0.0002% || 0.0012% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 0.56 || 0.004% || 4%
Environmental aid || 5.43 || 0.04% || 39%
Regional aid || 2.09 || 0.01% || 15%
Employment & Training || 0.08 || 0.001% || 1%
SME || 0.98 || 0.01% || 7%
Other horizontal objectives || 4.93 || 0.034% || 35%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 0.979 || 100%
Employment & Training || 0.076 || 100%
Regional aid || 1.991 || 95.35%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0%
Other || 0.562 || n/a
Total || 3.609 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || -
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0.204 || 0.006 || 0.04%
Key state aid data (2010) || Ireland || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[211] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || As % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[212]
Total non-crisis aid || 1.6 || 1.0% || 0.08% || 1.1% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.9 || 0.6% || 0.1% || 0.5% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.7 || 0.5% || -0.02% || 0.5% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.002 || 0.002% || -0.002% || 0.006% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.003 || 0.002% || -0.002% || 0.004% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 237 || 0.2% || 27.4%
Environmental aid || 72 || 0.05% || 8.4%
Regional aid || 289 || 0.2% || 33.3%
Employment & Training || 53 || 0.03% || 6.2%
SME || 31 || 0.02% || 3.6%
Other horizontal objectives || 96 || 0.06% || 11.1%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 53 || 0.03% || 6.1%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 35 || 0.02% || 4.0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 31 || 100%
Employment & Training || 35 || 65%
Regional aid || 41 || 14%
Environmental aid || 0.4 || 0.5%
Other || 0.4 || n/a
Total || 108 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
570.1 || 360.0 || 275.0 || 361.3 || 268.5%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0.4 || 0.09 || 0.06%
Key state aid data (2010) || Greece || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[213] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[214]
Total non-crisis aid || 1.8 || 0.8% || -0.1% || 0.8% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 1.8 || 0.8% || 0.02% || 0.7% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.04 || 0.02% || -0.08% || 0.07% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.001 || 0.0005% || -0.0005% || 0.0006% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.002 || 0.001% || 0.0005% || 0.02% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 1.47 || 0.001% || 0.1%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0% || 0%
Regional aid || 1604.9 || 0.7% || 89%
Employment & Training || 0.017 || 0% || 0.001%
SME || 171.2 || 0.07% || 10%
Other horizontal objectives || 12.42 || 0.005% || 1%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 5 || 0.002% || 0.3%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 4.55 || 0.002% || 0.3%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 171.2 || 100%
Employment & Training || 0.017 || 100%
Regional aid || 136.6 || 8.51%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0%
Other || 1.385 || n/a
Total || 309.2 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
108.5 || 1.88 || 10.55 || 35.08 || 16.9%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
4.0 || 1.54 || 0.67%
Key state aid data (2010) || Spain || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[215] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[216]
Total non-crisis aid || 5.0 || 0.5% || - 0.1% || 0.5% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 4.3 || 0.4% || - 0.05% || 0.4% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.5 || 0.05% || - 0.01% || 0.06% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.01 || 0.001% || - 0.002% || 0.005% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.15 || 0.01% || 0.001% || 0.01% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 1146.7 || 0.11% || 26%
Environmental aid || 747.4 || 0.07% || 17%
Regional aid || 1079.4 || 0.10% || 25%
Employment & Training || 111.9 || 0.01% || 3%
SME || 130.1 || 0.01% || 3%
Other horizontal objectives || 135.5 || 0.01% || 3%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 816.4 || 0.08% || 18.9%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 126.2 || 0.01% || 2.9%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 35.9 || 0.003% || 0.8%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 125.4 || 96.4%
Employment & Training || 84.7 || 75.7%
Regional aid || 451.3 || 41.8%
Environmental aid || 75.8 || 10.2
Other || 174.8 || n/a
Total || 912.0 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
336.96 || 2.33 || 56.74 || 87.15 || 8.4%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
2.5 || 0.35 || 0.03%
Key state aid data (2010) || France || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[217] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[218]
Total non-crisis aid || 15.4 || 0.8% || 0 % || 0.75% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 12.6 || 0.65% || 0.03% || 0.6% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 2.43 || 0.13% || 0% || 0.12% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.073 || 0.003% || -0.0009% || 0.0041% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.29 || 0.01% || -0.01% || 0.02% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 1803.88 || 0.09% || 14%
Environmental aid || 458.18 || 0.02% || 4%
Regional aid || 4306.36 || 0.22% || 34%
Employment & Training || 92.13 || 0% || 1%
SME || 662.53 || 0.03% || 5%
Other horizontal objectives || 2624.61 || 0.14% || 21%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 2539.97 || 0.13% || 20.2%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 1 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 104.97 || 0.01% || 0.8%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 115.60 || 17.45%
Employment & Training || 11.50 || 12.49%
Regional aid || 222.24 || 5.16%
Environmental aid || 19.94 || 4.35%
Other || 41.24 || n/a
Total || 410.53 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
351.1 || 21.86 || 103.18 || 91.53 || 6%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0.6[219] || 1.79 || 0.09%
Key state aid data (2010) || Italy || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[220] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[221]
Total non-crisis aid || 4.6 || 0.3% || - 0.1% || 0.35% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 3.3 || 0.2% || - 0.09% || 0.27% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.85 || 0.05% || 0.003% || 0.05% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.002 || 0.0001% || -0.0001% || 0.0002% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.38 || 0.02% || 0.00% || 0.03% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 569.2 || 0.04% || 17%
Environmental aid || 236.8 || 0.02% || 7%
Regional aid || 1111.6 || 0.07% || 33%
Employment & Training || 424.7 || 0.03% || 13%
SME || 609.7 || 0.04% || 18%
Other horizontal objectives || 248.0 || 0.02% || 7%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 40.11 || 0.003% || 1.2%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 88.06 || 0.01% || 2.6%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 243.3 || 39.9%
Employment & Training || 338.2 || 79.64%
Regional aid || 386.8 || 34.79%
Environmental aid || 130.1 || 54.94%
Other || 160.7 || n/a
Total || 1259.1 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
20 || 0 || 4.05 || 0 || 0.3%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0.4 || 0.27 || 0.02%
Key state aid data (2010) || Cyprus || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[222] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[223]
Total non-crisis aid || 0.1 || 0.7% || -0.3% || 0.78% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.1 || 0.51% || 0.13% || 0.45% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.03 || 0.15% || -0.48% || 0.32% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.0027 || 0.02% || 0.00003% || 0.02% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 1.79 || 0.01% || 2%
Environmental aid || 0.04 || 0.0003% || 0.05%
Regional aid || 8.31 || 0.05% || 9%
Employment & Training || 10.85 || 0.06% || 12%
SME || 4.79 || 0.03% || 5%
Other horizontal objectives || 58.98 || 0.34% || 67%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0.015 || 0.0001% || 0.02%
Other services || 3.8 || 0.02% || 4.3%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 4.79 || 100%
Employment & Training || 10.85 || 100%
Regional aid || 8.31 || 100%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0%
Other || 1.69 || n/a
Total || 25.64 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
3.0 || 0 || 0.56 || 2.82 || 16.1%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0 || 0 || 0%
Key state aid data (2010) || Latvia || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[224] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[225]
Total non-crisis aid || 0.17 || 0.9% || 0.2% || 0.73% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.07 || 0.40% || 0.28% || 0.24% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.02 || 0.13% || -0.04% || 0.11% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.07 || 0.41% || -0.02% || 0.39% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 4.28 || 0.02% || 6%
Environmental aid || 55.58 || 0.31% || 78%
Regional aid || 9.01 || 0.05% || 13%
Employment & Training || 0.94 || 0.01% || 1%
SME || 0.53 || 0.003% || 1%
Other horizontal objectives || 1.17 || 0.01% || 2%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 0.01 || 0.0001% || 0.02%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 0.53 || 100%
Employment & Training || 0.94 || 100%
Regional aid || 6.56 || 72.75%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0%
Other || 4.41 || n/a
Total || 12.44 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
8.8 || 0.96 || 1.92 || 1.53 || 13.0%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0.56 || 0.05 || 0.25%
Key state aid data (2010) || Lithuania || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[226] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[227]
Total non-crisis aid || 0.2 || 0.6% || -0.05% || 0.5% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.1 || 0.29% || 0.03% || 0.2% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.08 || 0.28% || -0.07% || 0.3% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.0003 || 0.001% || -0.001% || 0.0011% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.001 || 0.004% || -0.005% || 0.005% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 11 || 0.04% || 13.7%
Environmental aid || 1 || 0.01% || 1.7%
Regional aid || 54 || 0.20% || 67.4%
Employment & Training || 7 || 0.03% || 8.7%
SME || 6 || 0.02% || 8.0%
Other horizontal objectives || 0.4 || 0.001% || 0.5%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 6 || 100%
Employment & Training || 7 || 100%
Regional aid || 29 || 52%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0%
Other || 11 || n/a
Total || 53 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
1.7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0.1 || 0.0001 || 0.0004%
Key state aid data (2010) || Luxembourg || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[228] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[229]
Total non-crisis aid || 0.1 || 0.2% || -0.07% || 0.2% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.1 || 0.2% || -0.07% || 0.2% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.02 || 0.05% || -0.001% || 0.05% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.0002 || 0.001% || 0.0003% || 0.0004% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 38 || 0.09% || 51.3%
Environmental aid || 13 || 0.03% || 16.8%
Regional aid || 2 || 0.004% || 2.3%
Employment & Training || 0 || 0% || 0%
SME || 10 || 0.03% || 13.9%
Other horizontal objectives || 12 || 0.03% || 15.7%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 8 || 72%
Employment & Training || 0 || 0%
Regional aid || 0 || 0%
Environmental aid || 0.9 || 7%
Other || 40 || n/a
Total || 49 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
7.3 || 2.94 || 2.39 || 1.59 || 11.9%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0.5 || 0.01 || 0.02%
Key state aid data (2010) || Hungary || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[230] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[231]
Total non-crisis aid || 2.2 || 2.3% || 0.4% || 2.2% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 1.9 || 1.94% || 0.56% || 1.7% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.29 || 0.29% || -0.12% || 0.43% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.05 || 0.05% || 0% || 0.04% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 99 || 0.1% || 5.21%
Environmental aid || 13 || 0.01% || 0.70%
Regional aid || 491 || 0.5% || 25.72%
Employment & Training || 183 || 0.19% || 9.59%
SME || 10 || 0.01% || 0.50%
Other horizontal objectives || 235 || 0.24% || 12.33%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 29 || 0.03% || 1.52%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 198 || 0.20% || 10.38%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 650 || 0.66% || 34,06%
Other services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 10 || 100%
Employment & Training || 183 || 100%
Regional aid || 452 || 92%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0%
Other || 0 || n/a
Total || 645 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
10.33 || 0 || 2.24 || 1.05 || 2.3%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
9.7 || 0.11 || 0.11%
Key state aid data (2010) || Malta || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[232] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[233]
Total non-crisis aid || 0.1 || 1.4 || -0.46 || 1.7 || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.1 || 1.12 || -0.48 || 1.47 || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.01 || 0.17% || -0.05% || 0.21% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || -0.0012% || 0.0005% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.01 || 0.13% || 0.07% || 0.07% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 0.2 || 0.003% || 0.3%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0% || 0%
Regional aid || 15 || 0.2% || 22%
Employment & Training || 0.1 || 0.001% || 0.09%
SME || 0.1 || 0.002% || 0.2%
Other horizontal objectives || 2 || 0.03% || 3%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 50 || 0.8% || 71%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 3 || 0.04ù || 4%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 0.1 || 100%
Employment & Training || 0.06 || 100%
Regional aid || 15 || 97%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0%
Other || 0 || n/a
Total || 15 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0.04 || 0.0002 || 0.003%
Key state aid data (2010) || The Netherlands || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[234] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[235]
Total non-crisis aid || 3.2 || 0.5% || 0.07% || 0.5% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 1.9 || 0.32% || 0.01% || 0.3% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.98 || 0.17% || 0.04% || 0.1% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.005 || 0.0009% || 0.00004% || 0.0025% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.27 || 0.05% || 0.02% || 0.03% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 703 || 0.12% || 37%
Environmental aid || 1053 || 0.18% || 55%
Regional aid || 11 || 0.002% || 0.6%
Employment & Training || 1 || 0.0001% || 0.04%
SME || 50 || 0.01% || 2.6%
Other horizontal objectives || 88 || 0.01% || 4.6%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 6 || 0.001% || 0.3%
Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0ù
Other services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 50 || 100%
Employment & Training || 0.8 || 100%
Regional aid || 11 || 100%
Environmental aid || 3 || 0.2%
Other || 9 || n/a
Total || 74 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
313.3 || 28.1 || 71.4 || 53.6 || 16.1%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0.0[236] || 0.03 || 0.005%
Key state aid data (2010) || Austria || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[237] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[238]
Total non-crisis aid || 2.2 || 0.8% || -0.1% || 0.78% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 2.06 || 0.72% || 0.08% || 0.65% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.17 || 0.06% || -0.003% || 0.06% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.01 || 0.0041% || -0.19% || 0.07% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 521.76 || 0.18% || 25%
Environmental aid || 1016.10 || 0.36% || 49%
Regional aid || 132.01 || 0.05% || 6%
Employment & Training || 30.40 || 0.01% || 1%
SME || 88.61 || 0.03% || 4%
Other horizontal objectives || 260.32 || 0.09% || 13%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 11.37 || 0.004% || 0.55%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 1.9 || 0.0007% || 0.09%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 87.19 || 98.40%
Employment & Training || 30.02 || 98.75%
Regional aid || 124.08 || 93.99%
Environmental aid || 104.97 || 10.33%
Other || 18.27 || n/a
Total || 364.53 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
91.3 || 3.33 || 20.74 || 19.92 || 9.5%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
10.18 || 1.06 || 0.37%
Key state aid data (2010) || Poland || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[239] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[240]
Total non-crisis aid || 3.2 || 0.9% || 0% || 0% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 2.5 || 0.72% || -0.01% || 0.72% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.66 || 0.19% || 0% || 0.2% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.01 || 0% || -0.03% || 0.01% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 70.33 || 0.02% || 3%
Environmental aid || 289.51 || 0.08% || 11%
Regional aid || 735.41 || 0.21% || 29%
Employment & Training || 774.42 || 0.22% || 30%
SME || 4.65 || 0% || 0%
Other horizontal objectives || 62.81 || 0.02% || 2%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 194 || 0.05% || 7.6%
Financial services || 0 || O% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 55.06 || 0.02% || 2.2%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 326.68 || 0.09% || 12.8%
Other services || 32.29 || 0.01% || 1.3%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 4.65 || 100%
Employment & Training || 774.42 || 100%
Regional aid || 371.36 || 50.5%
Environmental aid || 2.15 || 0.74%
Other || 70.33 || n/a
Total || 1222.94 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
9.2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0.2 || 0 || 0%
Key state aid data (2010) || Portugal || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[241] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[242]
Total non-crisis aid || 1.6 || 09% || -0.1% || 0.94% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 1.5 || 0.9% || -0.06% || 0.92% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.02 || 0.01% || 0% || 0.01% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.004 || 0.002% || 0% || 0.002% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.01 || 0.01% || 0% || 0% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 50 || 0.0003% || 3.21%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0% || 0%
Regional aid || 114 || 0.0007% || 7.37%
Employment & Training || 69 || 0.0004% || 4.47%
SME || 18 || 0.0001% || 1.15%
Other horizontal objectives || 7 || 0% || 0.44%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 1280 || 0.74% || 82.71%
Manufacturing sectors || 10 || 0.01% || 0.65%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 17.6 || 99%
Employment & Training || 0.1 || 0.1%
Regional aid || 31 || 27%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0%
Other || 55 || n/a
Total || 104 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
47.45 || 1.19 || 5.24 || 4.99 || 3%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0.8 || 0 || 0%
Key state aid data (2010) || Romania || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[243] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[244]
Total non-crisis aid || 0.3 || 0.2 % || -0.4 % || 0.5% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.2 || 0.17 % || 0.03% || 0.17% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.09 || 0.08 % || -0.43 % || 0.33% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0 || 0 || -0.01 || 0.01% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 31.86 || 0.03 % || 16%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0 % || 0%
Regional aid || 107.58 || 0.09 % || 52%
Employment & Training || 0 || 0 % || 0 %
SME || 3.69 || 0 % || 2 %
Other horizontal objectives || 3.08 || 0 % || 2 %
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 59.30 || 0.05 % || 28.9 %
Financial services || 0 || 0 % || 0 %
Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0 % || 0 %
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0 % || 0 %
Other services || 0 || 0 % || 0 %
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 3.69 || 100%
Employment & Training || 0 || 0 %
Regional aid || 84.97 || 78.99 %
Environmental aid || 0 || 0 %
Other || 0.14 || n/a
Total || 88.82 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0.4 || 0.33 || 0.27 %
Key state aid data (2010) || Slovenia || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[245] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[246]
Total non-crisis aid || 0.4 || 1.1% || 0.1% || 0.91% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.32 || 0.89% || 0.1% || 0.71% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.06 || 0.18% || 0.01% || 0.18% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.01 || 0.03% || -0.01% || 0.02% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 96.94 || 0.27% || 30%
Environmental aid || 93.53 || 0.26% || 29%
Regional aid || 83.37 || 0.23% || 26%
Employment & Training || 17.97 || 0.05% || 6%
SME || 0.83 || 0.002% || 0.3%
Other horizontal objectives || 11.81 || 0.03% || 4%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 11.65 || 0.03% || 3.7%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 2.65 || 0.01% || 0.8%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 0.81 || 97.36%
Employment & Training || 17.97 || 100%
Regional aid || 83.37 || 100%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0%
Other || 6.99 || n/a
Total || 109.14 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
12.3 || 0 || 1.0 || 2.15 || 6%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
1.32 || 0.43 || 1.19%
Key state aid data (2010) || Slovakia || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[247] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[248]
Total non-crisis aid || 0.3 || 0.5% || -0.04% || 0.51% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.24 || 0.37% || 0.01% || 0.39% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.06 || 0.08% || -0.02% || 0.09% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.00003 || 0.00004% || -0.0001% || 0.0001% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.01 || 0.01% || -0.03% || 0.03% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 18.07 || 0.03% || 7%
Environmental aid || 87.33 || 0.13% || 36%
Regional aid || 112.78 || 0.17% || 47%
Employment & Training || 17.39 || 0.03% || 7%
SME || 0.81 || 0.001% || 0.3%
Other horizontal objectives || 0.07 || 0.0001% || 0.03%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 4.83 || 0.01% || 2.0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 0.81 || 100%
Employment & Training || 14.61 || 84.01%
Regional aid || 66.58 || 59.04%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0%
Other || 8.54 || n/a
Total || 90.54 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
3.5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0.4 || 0.02 || 0.02%
Key state aid data (2010) || Finland || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[249] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[250]
Total non-crisis aid || 2.1 || 1.1% || -0.1% || 0.1 || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.8 || 0.3% || -0.04% || 0.44 || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 1.21 || 0.67% || -0.02% || 0.68 || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.001 || 0.00067% || -0.004% || 0.0008 || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.08 || 0.04% || -0.01% || 0.05 || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research. development and innovation || 239.65 || 0.13% || 30%
Environmental aid || 311.62 || 0.17% || 40%
Regional aid || 42.937 || 0.02% || 6%
Employment & Training || 70.21 || 0.03% || 9%
SME || 30.342 || 0.02% || 4%
Other horizontal objectives || 78.91 || 0.05% || 10%
Particular sectors. of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 0.2 || 0% || 0%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other services || 0.5 || 0% || 0.1%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 30.342 || 100%
Employment & Training || 37.95 || 54.05%
Regional aid || 38.737 || 90.22%
Environmental aid || 0.26 || 0.08%
Other || 1.75 || n/a
Total || 109.039 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
54 || 0.12 || 0.06 || 0 || 0.1%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
0.5 || 0.45 || 0.25%
Key state aid data (2010) || Sweden || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[251] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[252]
Total non-crisis aid || 2.9 || 0.8% || -0.1% || 0.9% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 2.6 || 0.76% || -0.06% || 0.80 || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.05 || 0.01% || -0.02% || 0.03% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.002 || 0.0007% || 0.014% || 0.007% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.19 || 0.06% || 0.01 || 0.06% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 103.94 || 0.03% || 4%
Environmental aid || 2281.67 || 0.66% || 86%
Regional aid || 86.92 || 0.03% || 3%
Employment & Training || 6.29 || 0% || 0%
SME || 1.30 || 0% || 0%
Other horizontal objectives || 115.14 || 0.03 || 5%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 48.23 || 0.01% || 1.8%
Other services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 1.30 || 100%
Employment & Training || 3.47 || 55.17%
Regional aid || 45.71 || 52.59%
Environmental aid || 0 || 0.00%
Other || 3.84 || n/a
Total || 54.3 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
161.6 || 0.54 || 14.79 || 19.92 || 6%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
1.3 || 0.22 || 0.06%
Key state aid data (2010) || United Kingdom || EU-27
€ bn || as % of GDP[253] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[254]
Total non-crisis aid || 4.9 || 0.3% || -0.002% || 0.3% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 4.1 || 0.2% || 0.002% || 0.2% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4%
Agriculture || 0.44 || 0.03% || -0.004% || 0.03% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1%
Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.002 || 0.0001% || -0.00005% || 0.0001% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002%
Transport || 0.30 || 0.02% || 0.0005% || 0.02% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02%
Non-crisis aid to industry and services
Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services
Research, development and innovation || 801 || 0.05% || 19.9%
Environmental aid || 1422 || 0.08% || 34.4%
Regional aid || 267 || 0.02% || 6.5%
Employment & Training || 89 || 0.01% || 2.2%
SME || 208 || 0.01% || 5.0%
Other horizontal objectives || 1041 || 0.06% || 25.2%
Particular sectors, of which || || ||
Coal || 0 || 0% || 0%
Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0%
Manufacturing sectors || 2 || 0.0001% || 0.04%
Other non-manufacturing sectors || 265 || 0.02% || 6.4%
Other services || 39 || 0.002% || 0.9%
Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective
SME || 45 || 21%
Employment & Training || 89 || 100%
Regional aid || 263 || 99%
Environmental aid || 14 || 1%
Other || 89 || n/a
Total || 501 || n/a
State aid for the financial sector
Total volume of aid approved (2007 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2007+2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2007-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP)
850.3 || 78.5 || 212.3 || 200.1 || 17.8%
Aid granted under the temporary union framework
Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP
10.1 || 0.5 || 0.03%
Figure 41: Legislation and communications adopted in 2010
Legislative act || Validity || Title and OJ Reference
Temporary rules in response to crisis || 01.01.2011 - 31.12.2011 || Communication of the Commission: Temporary Union framework for state aid measures to support access to finance in the current financial and economic crisis. Official Journal C6, 11.1.2011, p.5.
Temporary rules in response to crisis || From of 01 01.2012* || Communication from the Commission on the application, after 1 January 2011, of state aid rules to support measures in favour of banks in the context of the financial crisis. Official Journal C329, 7.12.2010, p.7.
Regional aid guidelines || 01.01.2011 – 31.12.2013 || Communication of the Commission on the review of the state aid status and the aid ceiling of the statistical effect regions in the following National regional state aid maps for the period 1.1.2011-31.12.2013. Official Journal C 222, 17.08.2010, p.2; press release: IP/10/976.
Risk capital guidelines || From 01 01.2011* || Communication from the Commission amending the Community guidelines on state aid to promote risk capital investments in small and medium-sized enterprises. Official Journal C329, 7.12.2010, p.4.
Export Credit Insurance || Until 31.12.2012 || Communication from the Commission amending the period of application of Communication of the Commission to the Member States pursuant to Article 93(1) of the EC Treaty applying Articles 92 and 93 of the Treaty to short-term export-credit insurance. Official Journal C329, 7.12.2010, p.6.
* No end of validity is specified in the text.
Figures 42: Recovery
Figure 42 a: Trend in the number of recovery decisions (aid to industry and services)[255]
Trend in the number of recovery decisions and amounts to be recovered (1) 2000-2011 (state of play: 30.06.2011)
|| Date of Decision || Total
2000 || 2001 || 2002 || 2003 || 2004 || 2005 || 2006 || 2007 || 2008 || 2009 || 2010 || 2011
Number of decisions adopted || 15 || 19 || 26 || 10 || 24 || 13 || 8 || 10 || 14 || 7 || 5 || 6 || 157
Total aid known to be recovered (in mio €) || 358 || 1603 || 2087 || 1129 || 4980 || 456 || 258 || 171 || 2611 || 308 || 148 || 48 || 14158
Amounts recovered: (in mio €) || 352 || 1204 || 1936 || 976 || 4977 || 154 || 244 || 56 || 1476 || 36 || 120 || 0 || 11531
Of which: || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
(a) Principal reimbursed/or in blocked account || 137 || 1116 || 1868 || 947 || 4106 || 154 || 199 || 54 || 1206 || 36 || 120 || 0 || 9942
(b) Aid lost in bankruptcy || 215 || 88 || 68 || 29 || 871 || 0 || 45 || 2 || 270 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1588
(c) Interest || 9 || 157 || 321 || 353 || 1447 || 55 || 51 || 17 || 331 || 6 || 28 || 0 || 2776
Aid registered in bankruptcy || 0 || 8 || 3 || 17 || 0 || 8 || 0 || 216 || 415 || 5 || 29 || 0 || 701
Amount outstanding (2) || 6 || 399 || 151 || 153 || 3 || 302 || 14 || 115 || 1135 || 272 || 28 || 48 || 2627
% still pending to be recovered (2) || 1.7% || 24.9% || 7.2% || 13.6% || 0.1% || 66.2% || 5.3% || 67.2% || 43.5% || 88.5% || 19.0% || 100.0% || 18.6%
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
Notes: (1) Only for decisions for which the aid amount is known. || || || || || || ||
(2) Total aid known to be recovered less principal reimbursed and aid lost in bankruptcy. Amount excluding interest.
Figure 42 b: Pending recovery decisions[256]
SA number || Case number || Working title of the case || Member State || Date of the decision || Number of the decision || Official Journal of the European Union
SA.28973 || 2011/CR || Aid to certain Greek Casinos || Greece || 24/05/2011 || || Not yet published
SA.23011 || 2011/CR || Restructuring aid for Legler || Italy || 23/03/2011 || || Not yet published
SA.23602 || CR 48/2008 || Alleged aid to mining company Ellenikos Xrysos || Greece || 23/02/2011 || 2011/452/EU || OJ L 193 of 23/07/2011, p. 27
SA.20168 || CR 13/2006 || Preferential electricity tariffs for energy intensive industry in Sardinia || Italy || 23/02/2011 || || Not yet published
SA.29150 || CR 7/2010 || Easing of fiscal carry-forward of losses (Sanierungklausel) || Germany || 26/01/2011 || 2011/526/EU || OJ L 235 of 10/09/2011, p. 1
SA.22309 || CR 46/2011 || Amortization of financial goodwill for acquisitions of foreign targets II || Spain || 12/01/2011 || 2011/282/EU || OJ L 135 of 21/05/2011, p. 1
SA.4360 || CR 38/2010 || Centre d'exportation du livre français (CELF) || France || 14/12/2010 || 2011/179/EU || OJ L 78 of 24/03/2011, p. 37
SA.28787 || CR 33/2009 || Restructuring of BPP || Portugal || 20/07/2010 || 2011/349/EU || OJ L 235 of 04/09/2010, p. 26
SA.10842 || CR 4/2003 || Export aid to WAM || Italy || 24/03/2010 || 2010/473/EU || OJ L 235 of 04/09/2010, p. 26
SA.20850 || CR 36/2010 || Preferential electricity tariff in favour - Alcoa || Italy || 19/11/2009 || 2010/460/EC || OJ L 227 of 28/08/2010, p. 62
SA.22309 || CR 45/2007 || Amortization of financial goodwill for acquisitions of foreign targets || Spain || 28/10/2009 || 2011/5/EC || OJ L 7 of 11/01/2011 p. 48
SA.20616 || CR 59/2007 || Rescue aid to Ixfin || Italy || 28/10/2009 || 2010/359/EC || OJ L 167 of 01/07/2010, p. 39
SA.22046 || CR 19/2008 || Rescue aid for Sandretto || Italy || 30/09/2009 || 2010/215/EC || OJ L 92 of 13/04/2010, p. 19
SA.21034 || CR 55/2007 || BT Group plc || UK || 11/02/2009 || 2009/703/EC || OJ L 242 of 15/09/2009, p. 21
SA.17426 || CR 19/2005 || Restructuring aid for Szczecin Shipyard || Poland || 06/11/2008 || 2010/3/EC || OJ L 5 of 08/01/2010, p. 1
SA.17543 || CR 17/2005 || Restructuring aid for Gdynia shipyard || Poland || 06/11/2008 || 2010/47/EC || OJ L 33 of 04/02/2010, p. 1
SA.24639 || 2011/CR || Olympic Airways/ Olympic Airlines || Greece || 17/09/2008 || 2010/7777/EC || OJ L 222 of 24/08/2010, p. 62
SA.14895 || CR 1/2004 || Regional law nr 9/98 || Italy || 02/07/2008 || 2008/854/EC || OJ L 302 of 13/11/2008, p. 9
SA.15526 || CR 16/2004 || Hellenic Shipyard || Greece || 02/07/2008 || 2009/610/EC || OJ L 225 of 27/08/2009, p. 104
SA.20727 || CR 56/2006 || Bank Burgenland || Austria || 30/04/2008 || 2008/719/EC || OJ L 239 of 06/09/2008, p. 32
SA.20618 || CR 13/2007 || Rescue aid to New Interline || Italy || 16/04/2008 || 2008/697/EC || OJ L 235 of 02/09/2008, p. 12
SA.20056 || CR 38/2007 || Alleged aid to Arbel Fauvet Rail SA || France || 02/04/2008 || 2008/716/EC || OJ L 238 of 05/09/2008, p. 27
SA.20949 || CR 23/2006 || Technologie Buczek || Poland || 24/10/2007 || 2008/344/EC || OJ L 116 of 30/04/2008, p. 26
SA.17066 || CR 37/2005 || Tax-exempt reserve fund for certain companies || Greece || 18/07/2007 || 2008/723/EC || OJ L 244 of 12/09/2008, p. 11
SA.31614 || CR 3/2010 || Sardinia Ferries (Tourship group) || Italy || 10/07/2007 || 2008/92/EC || OJ L 29 of 02/02/2008, p. 24
SA.20203 || CR 16/2006 || Restructuring aid to Nuova Mineraria Silius || Italy || 21/02/2007 || 2007/499/EC || OJ L 185 of 17/07/2007, p. 18
SA.11981 || CR 79/2001 || Exemption from excise duty for the production of alumina in Gardanne || France || 07/02/2007 || 2007/375/EC || OJ L 147 of 08/06/2007, p. 29
SA.12186 || CR 80/2001 || Exemption from excise duty for the production of alumina in Sardinia || Italy || 07/02/2007 || 2007/375/EC || OJ L 147 of 08/06/2007, p. 29
SA.16212 || CR 38/2005 || Biria Gruppe || Germany || 24/01/2007 14/12/2010 || 2007/492/EC 2011/471/EU || OJ L 183 of 13/07/2007, p. 27 OJ L 195 of 27/07/2011, p. 55
SA.17075 || CR 30/2005 || Restructuring aid to Kliq NV || Netherlands || 19/07/2006 || 2006/939/EC || OJ L 366 of 21/12/2006, p. 40
SA.13972 || CR 2/2004 || Ad hoc financing of Dutch public broadcasters || Netherlands || 22/06/2006 || 2008/136/EC || OJ L 49 of 22/272008, p.1
SA.18211 || CR 25/2005 || Measures in favour of Frucona Kosice || Slovakia || 07/06/2006 || 2007/254/EC || OJ L 112 of 30/04/2007, p. 14
SA.16417 || 2011/CR || Soutien financier en faveur des transporteurs aériens 11-14 septembre 2001 || Greece || 26/04/2006 || 2010/768/EC || OJ L 327 of 11/12/2010, p. 71
SA.15395 || 2011/CR || Olympic Airways - Privatisation || Greece || 14/09/2005 || 2011/97/EC || OJ L 45 of 18/02/2011, p.1
SA.15315 || CR 8/2004 || Fiscal incentives for newly listed companies || Italy || 16/03/2005 || 2006/261/EC || OJ L 094 of 01/04/2006, p. 42
SA.15316 || CR 12/2004 || Fiscal incentives for outward FDI || Italy || 14/12/2004 || 2005/919/EC || OJ L 335 of 21/12/2005, p. 39
SA.14911 || CR 57/2003 || Tremonti bis || Italy || 20/10/2004 || 2005/315/EC || OJ L 100 of 20/04/2005, p. 46
SA.1365 || CR 57/2002 || Article 44 septies CGI || France || 16/12/2003 || 2004/343/EC || OJ L 108 of 16/04/2004, p. 38
SA.12312 || CR 39/2001 || Aid to Minas Rio Tinto sal || Spain || 27/05/2003 || 2004/300/EC || OJ L 098 of 02/04/2004, p. 49
SA.9885 || CR 94/2001 || Export aid scheme Mecklenburg-Vorpommern || Germany || 05/03/2003 || 2003/595/EC || OJ L 202 of 09/08/2003, p. 15
SA.12402 || CR 70/2001 || Aid to Hilados y Tejidos Puigneró S.A. || Spain || 19/02/2003 || 2003/876/EC || OJ L 337 of 23/12/2003, p. 14
SA.10375 || CR 35/2002 || Fiscal aid scheme – Açores || Portugal || 11/12/2002 || 2003/442/EC || OJ L 150 of 18/06/2003, p. 52
SA.16203 || 2011/CR || Aid granted by Greece to Olympic Airways || Greece || 11/12/2002 || 2003/372/EC || OJ L 132 of 25/05/2003, p. 1
SA.9950 || CR 27/1999 || Aid to Municipalizzate || Italy || 05/06/2002 || 2003/193/EC || OJ L 077 of 24/03/2003, p. 21
SA.10562 || CR 53/1999 || Fiscal aid - Province of Guipuzcoa (II) || Spain || 11/07/2001 || 2002/894/EC || OJ L 314 of 18/11/2002, p. 26
SA.10679 || CR 54/1999 || Fiscal aid - Province of Vizcaya (II) || Spain || 11/07/2001 || 2003/27/EC || OJ L 017 of 22/01/2003, p. 1
SA.10563 || CR 52/1999 || Fiscal aid - Province of Vizcaya (I) || Spain || 11/07/2001 || 2002/806/EC || OJ L 279 of 17/10/2002, p. 35
SA.10565 || CR 50/1999 || Fiscal aid - Province of Guipuzcoa (I) || Spain || 11/07/2001 || 2002/540/EC || OJ L 174 of 04/07/2002, p. 31
SA.10264 || CR 48/1999 || Fiscal aid - Province of Alava (I) || Spain || 11/07/2001 || 2002/820/EC || OJ L 296 of 30/10/2002, p. 1
SA.10564 || CR 49/1999 || Fiscal aid - Province of Alava (II) || Spain || 11/07/2001 || 2002/892/EC || OJ L 314 of 18/11/2002, p. 1
SA.6281 || CR 41/1999 || Aid to Lintra beteiligungsholding Gmbh || Germany || 28/03/2001 || 2001/673/EC || OJ L 236 of 05/09/2001, p. 3
SA.813 || CR 38/1998 || Aid for Kimberly Clark/Scott Group || France || 12/07/2000 || 2002/14/EC || OJ L 012 of 15/01/2002, p. 1
SA.9440 || CR 81/1997 || Social security reductions - Venezia and Chioggia || Italy || 25/11/1999 || 2000/394/EC || OJ L 150 of 23/06/2000, p. 50
SA.9398 || CR 49/1998 || Employment aid measures (Loi Nr 196/97) || Italy || 11/05/1999 || 2000/128/EC || OJ L 042 of 15/02/2000, p. 1
SA.8989 || CR 44/1997 || Aid for Magefesa || Spain || 14/10/1998 || 1999/509/EC || OJ L 198 of 30/07/1999, p. 15
Figure 42 c: Pending recovery cases for which the Commission has decided to bring the case before the Court of Justice and for which the illegal and incompatible aid is not yet recovered (30 June 2011)[257]
SA number || Case number || Working title || MS || Court case || State of play and recent developments
SA.20727 || CR 56/2006 || Bank Burgenland || Austria || C-551/09 || 14/07/09: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Austria Press release: IP/09/1134
SA.813 || CR 38/1998 || Aid for Kimberly Clark/Scott Group || France || C-232/05 || 05/10/06: CoJ condemning France for failing to execute Commission decision
SA.1365 || CR 57/2002 || Exonérations fiscales en faveur de la reprise d'entreprises en difficulté - Article 44 septies CGI || France || C-214/07 || 24/10/06: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) action against France Press release: IP/06/1471 13/11/08: CoJ condemning France for failing to execute Commission decision 05/05/10: Commission sent letter of formal notice to France under Art. 260(2) TFEU: IP/10/529
SA.20056 || CR 38/2007 || Alleged aid to Arbel Fauvet Rail SA || France || || 28/10/09: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against France Press release: IP/09/1627 23/06/2010: new negative decision adopted
SA.17066 || CR 37/2005 || Tax exempt reserve fund || Greece || C-354/10 || 24/02/10: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Greece Press release: IP/10/183
SA.15526 || CR 16/2004 || Hellenic Shipyards || Greece || C-485/10 || 14/04/10: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Greece Press release: IP/10/428 1/12/2010: Commission decision which takes into account the invocation by Greece of Article 346 Press release: IP/10/1637
SA.20850 || CR 36/2010 || Preferential electricity tariff – Alcoa || Italy || || 23/03/11: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/11/352
SA.9398 || CR 49/1998 || Employment aid measures (Loi Nr 196/97) || Italy || C-99/02 || 01/04/04: CoJ condemning Italy for failing to execute Commission decision 19/07/07: Commission sent letter of formal notice to Italy 21/01/08:Commission decision to send a Reasoned Opinion to Italy 25/06/2009: Commission decision to initiate Art. 260(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/11/1028
SA.9950 || CR 27/1999 || Aid to Municipalizzate || Italy || C-207/05 || 01/06/06: CoJ condemning Italy for failing to execute Commission decision 19/07/07: Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Italy 21/01/08: Commission decision to send a Reasoned Opinion to Italy 05/05/10: Commission decision to send a complementary letter of formal notice under Art. 206(2) TFEU 28/10/10: Commission decision to initiate Art. 260(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/10/1401
SA.14911 || CR 57/2003 || Tremonti Bis || Italy || C-303/09 || 25/01/06: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/06/77 11/03/08: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy
SA.15315 || CR 8/2004 || Fiscal incentives for newly listed companies || Italy || C-304/09 || 19/07/06: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/06/1040 11/03/08: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/08/435 22/12/10: CoJ condemning Italy for failing to execute Commission decision
SA.9440 || CR 81/1997 || Social security reductions – Venezia e Chioggia || Italy || C-302/09 || 10/05/07: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/07/648 11/03/08: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy
SA.15316 || CR 12/2004 || Fiscal incentives for outward FDI || Italy || C-305/09 || 11/03/08: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/08/435
SA.20618 || CR 13/2007 || Rescue aid to New Interline SPA || Italy || C-454/09 || 25/11/09: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/09/1140
SA.14895 || CR 1/2004 || Regional law 9/98 – Misuse of aid || Italy || C-243/10 || 27/01/10: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/10/103
SA.20949 || CR 23/2006 || Technologie Buczek || Poland || C-331/09 || 11/03/08: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Poland Press release: IP/09/777
SA.18211 || CR 25/2005 || Measures in favour of Frucona Kosice || Slovakia || C-507/08 || 17/06/08: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Slovakia Press release: IP/08/952 22/12/10: CoJ condemning Slovakia for failing to execute Commission decision
SA.8989 || CR 44/1997 || Aid to Magefesa || Spain || C-499/99 C-610/10 || 02/07/02: CoJ judgment condemning Spain for failing to execute part of Commission decision 17/06/09: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Spain Press release: IP/09/960 19/11/09: Commission sent letter of formal notice to Spain Press release: IP/09/1789 18/03/10: Commission decision to send a complementary letter of formal notice under Art. 206(2) TFEU 30/09/10: Commission decision to initiate Art. 260(2) action against Spain Press release: IP/10/1214
SA.10264, SA.10564, SA.10565, SA.10563, SA.10562, SA.10679 || CR 48/1999 CR 49/1999 CR 50/1999 CR 52/1999 CR 53/1999 CR 54/1999 || Fiscal aid – Province of Alava (I) Fiscal aid - Province of Alava (II) Fiscal aid – Province of Guipuzcoa (I) Fiscal aid – Province of Vizcaya (I) Fiscal aid - Province of Guipuzcoa (II) Fiscal aid - Province of Vizcaya (II) (Basque fiscal aid schemes) || Spain || C-485/03, C-486/03, C 487/03, C-488/03, C-489/03, C-490/03, C-184/11 || 14/12/06: CoJ judgment condemning Spain for failing to execute Commission decisions 26/06/08: Commission decision to send a Reasoned Opinion to Spain 24/11/10: Commission decision to initiate Art. 260(2) TFEU action against Spain Press release: IP/10/1544
Summary of rules in the transport sector
Land transport (road. rail. inland waterways)
– Article 93 TFEU contains rules for the compatibility of state aid in the area of coordination of transport and public service obligation in transport. The Commission considers in its constant practice that Article 93 constitutes a lex specialis with respect to Article 107(2) and Article 107(3), as it contains special rules for the compatibility of state aid. In addition, Article 93 TFEU constitutes a lex specialis also with respect to Article 106(2) TFEU, and therefore, Article 106(2) TFEU cannot be applied in the area of coordination of transport and public service obligation in the inland transport sector[258];
– Until 2 December 2009, Article 93 was in practice implemented by means of 3 Council Regulations: 1) Council Regulation 1191/69[259], 2) Council Regulation 1107/70[260] and 3) Council Regulation 1192/69[261]. As from 3 December 2009 Regulation 1370/07[262] will replace Regulations 1191/69 and 1107/70. Regulation 119/69 remains applicable for a three years transitional period to the inland freight transport;
– Community guidelines on state aid for railway undertakings, adopted on 30 April 2008[263].
Aviation
– Communication on the Application of Articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty and Article 61 of the EEA agreement to state aids in the aviation sector[264];
– Community guidelines on financing of airports and start-up aid to airlines departing from regional airports[265].
Maritime transport
– Community guidelines on state aid to maritime transport[266];
– Communication from the Commission providing guidance on state aid complementary to Community funding for the launching of the motorways of the sea[267];
Communication from the Commission providing guidance on state aid to ship management companies.[268]
Situation on reporting by Member States[269]
[1] DG ECFIN Economic Forecast Spring 2011.
[2] Banking sector support is also provided through monetary policy instruments by the ECB/ESCB. As for State aid some countries/sectors still rely strongly on central bank interventions.
[3] The legal basis of the Scoreboard is provided in Article 6(2) of Commission Regulation 794/2004 which stipulates that the Commission shall publish each year a state aid synopsis containing a synthesis of the information contained in the Member States' annual reports.
[4] Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
[5] Slightly more than 5000 active aid measures of which 826 are new measures.
[6] Communication from the Commission – Temporary Framework, OJ C 83, 7.4.2009, p. 1; Modification of the Temporary Framework – to allow separate limited amount of aid to farmers, OJ C 261, 31.10.2009, p. 1; 2nd Modification of the Temporary Framework – technical modification to further facilitate access to finance and encourage long-term investment, OJ C 303, 15.12.2009, p. 6; Temporary Union Framework for state aid measures to support access to finance in the current financial and economic crisis, OJ C 6, 11.1.2011, p. 5.
[7] http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/studies_reports.html.
[8] http://www.eftasurv.int/press--publications/scoreboards/state-aid-scoreboards/ .
[9] See the methodology notes which give detail on the calculation of the aid.
[10] Source: DG Competition, DG Agriculture, DG Maritime Affairs. Total non-crisis aid excludes aid to railways and comprises aid to industry and services including coal, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and transport.
[11] Source: DG Competition.
[12] Source: DG Competition, DG Agriculture.
[13] Source: DG Competition, DG Agriculture, DG Maritime Affairs.
[14] Of which coal represents approximately € 2.8 billion.
[15] State aid granted to the sectors of agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture have been reported by Member States according to Annexes III B and C of Commission Regulation (EC) 794/2004; OJ L 140, 30.4.2004, p. 1), which are different from Annex III A of that Regulation under which aid granted to industry and services is reported. With respect to transport aid, a comprehensive legislative framework exists – see Summary of rules for the transport sector in Annex to this document. As a result, the different sets of information prevent to produce single aggregate information across all sectors and hence agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and transport are excluded from the further observations.
[16] Source: DG Competition.
[17] Read more detail on the overall decreasing trend in the previous Autumn 2010 Scoreboard, p. 14.
[18] Source: DG Competition.
[19] Greece granted substantially more regional aid and some more sectoral aid.
[20] Hungary granted more aid for environmental protection and employment aid.
[21] Read more about EU 2020 here: http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/index_en.htm.
[22] Source: DG Competition.
[23] Includes the objective energy savings.
[24] Aid granted under block exemption is included under horizontal aid.
[25] For instance, Belgium, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Luxembourg with each 100%, followed by Denmark, Cyprus, Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and United Kingdom with each more than 90%.
[26] Malta, Portugal.
[27] Czech Republic, Spain, Hungary, Portugal.
[28] Block exempted measures falling under the General block exemption Regulation (Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008, OJ L 214, 9.8.2008, p. 3) have only objectives. For the purpose to allow calculating the aid earmarked to horizontal objectives, objectives are grouped and the group is mapped to the corresponding primary objective.
[29] Belgium, Czech Republic, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia and Finland.
[30] E.g. culture, heritage conservation, risk capital, social support to individual consumers.
[31] Source: DG Competition.
[32] It is recalled that block exempted aid comprises aid granted under the individual block exemption regulations for employment (Commission Regulation (EC) No 2204/2002; OJ L 337, 13.12.2002, p.20), regional aid (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006; OJ L 302, 1.11.2006, p. 29), aid to SMEs (Commission Regulation (EC) 70/2001; OJ L 10, 13.1.2001, p. 33) and training (Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2001; OJ L 10, 13.1.2001, p.20), which Member States have been phasing-out and aid granted under the General block exemption Regulation (Commission Regulation (EC) 800/2008; L 214, 9.8.2008, p. 3) "GBER".
[33] Source: DG Competition.
[34] Source: DG Competition.
[35] Source: DG Competition.
[36] More detail for each Member State can be found in the online Scoreboard which DG Competition publishes at http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/studies_reports.html.
[37] Source: DG Competition and Eurostat. Member States are sorted by the overall R&D expenditure. Figures on government sectors' expenditure on R&D are not directly comparable with state aid expenditure data as i) the source is different and ii) for many countries, data on government sectors are not available for 2010. However, the data allow producing a graph which indicates the approximate share of state aid in relation to total expenditure on R&D.
[38] "Europe 2020: a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth", COM (2010) 2020, p. 12.
[39] The Barcelona European Council in 2002 settled a 3% of GDP target for expenditure on R&D by 2010. The target was not reached by 2010 and the Europe 2020 Strategy has maintained it and stablished a new deadline.
[40] Communication on "Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative Innovation Union", COM(2010) 546 final.
[41] Data on R&D expenditure for 2009.
[42] More than one-third of the aid was granted under the schemes: ""IKT 2020, R&D&I-scheme, Germany" (N 375/2007), "Innovation and new energy Technologies - 5. Federal program for research in the field of energy" (N 454/2005) and "Temporary modification of 'ZIM'. R&D&I-scheme. Germany (federal)" (N 65/2009).
[43] Around 58% of the aid was granted under the following schemes: "Agence Nationale de la Recherche" (N 407/2007) and "Régime OSEO" (N 408/2007).
[44] More than 40% of the aid was granted under the schemes: "Plan Nacional de Investigación Científica, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica 2008-2011" (N 400/2010, which is a modification of the previous "Spanish national Research, development and innovation scheme" (N188/2008), "Actividades del Centro para el desarrollo tecnologico industrial CDTI" and "Programa CENIT" (N 390/2006).
[45] Germany multiplied by 5 the expenditure in R&D&I with block exempted measures in comparison to 2010.
[46] Framework for State aid for Research and Development and Innovation, OJ C 323 of 30.12.2006, p. 1. (entry into force 1 January 2007).
[47] Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 of 6 August 2008 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common market in application of Article 87 and 88 of the Treaty (General block exemption Regulation). OJ L 214, 9.8.2008, p. 3 (entry into force 29 August 2008).
[48] Mid-term review of the R&D&I Framework.
[49] Communication on "A resource-efficient Europe – Flagship initiative under the Europe 2020 Strategy", COM(2011) 21 final.
[50] More than 80% of the aid to environmental protection in Germany was granted under one big tax reduction scheme: "Tax reductions for manufacturing, agriculture and forestry and tax cap ("Spitzenausgleich") for energy intensive users" (N 775/2006).
[51] More than 60% of the aid to environmental protection in Sweden was granted under tax reduction scheme: "Prolongation of energy tax on electricity for the manufacturing sector" (N 596/2005)
[52] 64% of the aid to having a direct benefit to the environment in the Netherlands was granted under the energy saving scheme: "MEP Stimulating CHP" for combined heat and power production (N 543/2005).
[53] Around 70% of the aid to having a direct benefit to the environment in Austria was granted under two schemes: "Ökostromgesetz - Renewables feed-in tariff" (N 317a/2006) and "Ökostromgesetznovelle 2008" (N 446/2008) which concern the production of green electricity.
[54] More than 90% of the aid to having a direct benefit to the environment in Spain was granted under the scheme "Tax exemption for biofuels" (NN61/2004) which consists in a zero-rate of the tax on hydrocarbons.
[55] More than 50% of the aid to having a direct benefit to the environment in France was granted under the scheme "ADEME Aid scheme for renewables 2009/2013" (N 584/2008)
[56] In addition, there was one negative decision without recovery concerning a Dutch case "Exemption from environmental taxes for ceramic producers (C 5/2009)" and one positive decision concerning a Dutch case "Energy green tax, reduction for the glasshouse horticulture sector (N 270/2010)" which did not include a specific necessity and proportionality assessment as the beneficiaries still paid at least the EU minimum tax level. Furthermore, in another tax exemption case concerning Denmark (C 30/2009), the Commission opened in October 2009, the formal investigation procedure which is still ongoing.
[57] Source: DG Competition.
[58] OJ C 54/13 of 4.3.2006.
[59] Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006 of 24 October 2006; OJ L 302, 01.11.2006 p. 29.
[60] Source: DG Competition.
[61] Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Ireland, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovakia and Sweden.
[62] Source: DG Competition.
[63] Source: DG Competition.
[64] Aid under the Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 of 6.August 2008 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common market in application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty (OJ L 214, 9.8.2008, p. 3-47) remains possible with the exception of regional aid favouring activities in the steel sector (Article 1(3)(e)).
[65] Source: DG Competition.
[66] Council Regulation (CE) N° 1407/2002 of 23 July 2002, EUOJ L205, 2.8.2002 p.1.
[67] Council Regulation (CE) N° 1407/2002 of 23 July 2002, EUOJ L205, 2.8.2002 p.1.
[68] OJ L 336, 21.12.2010, p. 24.
[69] Source: DG Competition.
[70] 24 October 2011; Negative decision with recovery.
[71] Source: DG Agriculture.
[72] Source: DG Maritime and Fisheries.
[73] Source: DG Competition.
[74] The underlying total amount used or total nominal amount of the soft loans amounted to € 19.1 billion, or 0.15% of EU GDP.
[75] The underlying total amount used or total nominal amount of the guarantees amounted to € 34.1 billion, or 0.27% of EU GDP.
[76] Ireland, France, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia and Sweden.
[77] Denmark, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Romania and Slovenia.
[78] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council, Long-term sustainability of public finances for a recovering economy - COM(2009) 545, 14.10.2009 (http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/thematic_articles/article15994_en.htm).
[79] For further details see the report on the effects of temporary SA rules adopted in the context of the financial and economic crisis; http://ec.europa.eu/competition/publications/reports/temporary_stateaid_rules_en.html
[80] While the Autumn 2011 Scoreboard generally updates on state aid expenditure in 2010, the financial crisis chapter expands over a longer period i.e. to include the most recent developments up to 1 October 2011. However, data on expenditure is presented for the years 2008-2010 that are taken from Member States' annual reports.
[81] 2008 figures contain the budget approved for the recapitalisation of Northern Rock in 2007.
[82] Some corrections have been made with respect to the previous Scoreboard in order to avoid double counting.
[83] 2008 figures contain the budget used for the recapitalisation of Northern Rock in 2007.
[84] Compared to previous Autumn Scoreboards, the Commission has amended to some extent the methodology to measure state aid to financial institutions. The figures do not longer report the value of the aid element since for the particular nature of financial crisis measures its calculation appeared to be rather complex. Instead the methodology to measure expenditure as regards guarantees and other liquidity measures have been further refined. To ensure that the data can continue to be compared with the data provided by Member States in their annual reports over 2008 and 2009, Member States have been requested to provide the data for the instruments concerned in accordance to the new methodology also for these years.
[85] The methodology for measuring recapitalisation has not been changed compared to previous Scoreboards.
[86] As regards guarantees the data in this Scoreboard differ from the data in the Report prepared for the European Parliament on the effects of temporary state aid Rules adopted in the context of the financial and economic crisis, due to a change in the scope of the guarantee covered and a change in the methodology to record the used amount. The Report includes only guarantees relating to the emission of senior debt bonds by the beneficiary. The Scoreboard however includes also guarantees on other liabilities, such as short-term debt, wholesale and retail deposits or interbank liabilities. The Report took as amounts for used guarantees the value of the senior debt bonds issued under those guarantees and attributed once to the date on which the bonds were issued.
[87] A break down of the data per year is provided in the tables in the annex.
[88] Banking sector support is also provided through monetary policy instruments by the ECB/ESCB. As for State aid some countries/sectors still rely strongly on central bank interventions.
[89] This percentage is computed excluding the liquidity measure approved in 2010 the case of NL. This is because it refers to not notified aid: i.e. aid which was already used in previous years but received the approval of the Commission just in 2010.
[90] Recapitalisation is the instrument which better show concentration since the methodology used for guarantees and liquidity does not let capture directly this feature while the use of impaired assets is concentrated in few countries in the whole period considered.
[91] http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/phase_out_bank_guarantees.pdf.
[92] The threshold on outstanding guarantees liabilities is evaluated both in absolute terms and in relation to total liabilities.
[93] Communication from the Commission on the application, after 1 January 2011, of State aid rules to support measures in favour of banks in the context of the financial crisis; OJ C 329, 7.12.2010, p. 7.
[94] According with the methodology used to compute guarantees which focuses on the outstanding volumes, the overall amount of guarantees used over the whole period is calculated by summing up the maximum amount of outstanding guarantees provided by each member state.
[95] Measures to limit moral hazard and to mitigate the distortions in Competition, such as State remuneration and burden sharing, applies, to a different extent, also for banks not subjected to restructuring.
[96] The baseline scenario used in the 2011EU-Wide stress test is mainly based on the Autumn 2010 European Commission forecast.
[97] This amount just refers to the principal and does not take into account interest.
[98] Communication on the return to viability and the assessment of restructuring measures in the financial sector in the current crisis under the State aid rules, OJ C 195, 19.08.2009.
[99] See, for instance, the Commission decision in State aid case N249/2009 France "Renforcement des fonds propres de l'entité qui sera issue du rapprochement des organes centraux des groupes Caisses d'Epargne et Banques Populaires (OJ 2009 C 186 of 8.8.2009 p.4)
[100] One in October 2009 and the other in March 2010.
[101] http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2010_temporary_measures/index.html#docs
[102] Communication of the Commission – Temporary Union framework for State aid measures to support access to finance in the current financial and economic crisis; OJ C 6, 11.1.2011, p.5.
[103] Figure 41 (in annex) provides a complete overview on aid measures reviewed by the Commission under the temporary framework.
[104] Number excludes amendments to previously authorised schemes under the temporary framework; a total of 13 schemes were amended in 2010.
[105] 4 Amendments.
[106] Source: DG Competition.
[107] Read more in the methodology note on the principles for the calculation of the aid element.
[108] http://ec.europa.eu/competition/publications/reports/temporary_stateaid_rules_en.html.
[109] For instance, in the Netherlands, 40 % of the beneficiaries have been large companies, 33 % in Latvia and 30 % in the Czech Republic.
[110] Source: DG Competition. Figures refer to industry and services. Note: Individual aid comprises ad hoc aid and notified individual application within a scheme. Block exempted aid comprises measures notified under the BERs and the GBER.
[111] Commission Regulation (EC) No 2204/2002, OJ L 337, 13.12.2002, p. 3.
[112] Commission Regulation (EC) 70/2001, OJ L 10, 13.1.2001, p. 34.
[113] Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2001, OJ L 10, 13.1.2001, p. 20.
[114] Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006, OJ L 302, 1.11.2006, p.29.
[115] Source: DG Competition. Figures refer to industry and services. Note: Individual aid comprises ad hoc aid and notified individual application within a scheme. Block exempted aid comprises measures notified under the BERs and the GBER.
[116] The Commission reports about recovery on a cumulative, mid-year basis.
[117] Period includes the first half of 2011.
[118] C-179/2010, C-549/2009.
[119] Commission Notice on the enforcement of State aid law by National courts (OJ 85, 9.4.2009, p. 1)
[120] http://ec.europa.eu/competition/court/state_aid.html.
[121] http://ec.europa.eu/competition/publications/state_aid/national_courts_booklet_en.pdf.
[122] Read more on methodological remarks under http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/conceptual_remarks.html.
[123] Commission Regulation (EC) 794/2004, OJ L 140, 30.4.2004, p. 1.
[124] See on last page of this document.
[125] Regulation (EC) 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and the Council on public passenger transport services by rail and by road and repealing Council Regulations 1161/69 and 1107/70, OJ L 315, 3.12.2007, p. 1; Council Regulation (EEC) 1192/69 on common rules for the normalisation of the accounts of railway undertakings, OJ L 156, 28.6.1969, p.8.
[126] Financial crisis data include also cases for which the aid has been already provided despite the approval of the Commission has not yet been given on the basis of a final decision.
[127] Annex IIIA sets out the reporting format covering all sectors except agriculture and fisheries and aquaculture, for which Annexes IIIB and IIIC provide the format respectively.
[128] OJ L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1.
[129] Usually, the part of the aid not covered by SGEI as outlined in the decision authorising the measure.
[130] For instance, more distinct primary objectives exist for the agricultural and fisheries sector.
[131] Article 21(1) of Regulation 659/1999 and Article 5 of Regulation 794/2004, which includes the provisions attached in Annex III of that Regulation.
[132] Read more on the calculation of the aid element under http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/conceptual_remarks.html.
[133] For more detail, read http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/conceptual_remarks.html.
[134] For instance, the aid element of tax exemptions is difficult to determine since the exact number of beneficiaries or amounts may not be known and authorities in the Member States may work with estimates.
[135] The overall maximum amount of State aid measures set up by the Member State and approved by the Commission.
[136] The actual volume of the aid measure which Member States implemented.
[137] For more detail, read chapter 3.
[138] The Scoreboard includes all guarantees, including newly emitted bonds by beneficiary banks and guarantee aid for short-term liabilities. The precise scope of information to report and further guidance are outlined in Annex D of the instructions to Member States; read http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/conceptual_remarks.html#instructions
[139] For more detail, read http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/conceptual_remarks.html.
[140] Read Chapter 3.2.
[141] The overall maximum amount of State aid measures set up by the Member State and approved by the Commission.
[142] The actual volume of the aid measure which Member States implemented.
[143] Sent in March 2011.
[144] Source: DG Competition.
[145] Source: DG Competition, DG Agriculture and Rural Development and DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.
[146] Source: DG Competition.
[147] Prolongation N532/2009.
[148] Amendment to N198/2009.
[149] Prolongation of N198/2009 and to N554/2009.
[150] Amendment to SA.32047.
[151] Amendment to N668/2008.
[152] 2nd Amendment to N668/2008.
[153] 3rd Amendment to N668/2008.
[154] Prolongation of N668/2008.
[155] Prolongation of N27/2009.
[156] Prolongation of N38/2009.
[157] Amendment to N384/2009.
[158] Prolongation of N384/2009.
[159] Prolongation of N387/2009.
[160] Amendment to N186/2009.
[161] Prolongation of N304/2009.
[162] Amendment to N68/2010.
[163] Prolongation of N68/2010 as amended by N157/2010.
[164] Amendment to N7/2009.
[165] Amendment to N7/2009.
[166] Prolongation of N7/2009.
[167] Prolongation of N23/2009.
[168] Prolongation of N15/2009.
[169] Prolongation of N449/2009.
[170] Prolongation of N248/2009 and of N706/2009.
[171] Prolongation of N266/2009.
[172] Prolongation of N268/2009.
[173] Changes to N124/2007.
[174] Amendment to N506/2009.
[175] Amendment to N272/2009.
[176] Amendment to N272/2009.
[177] Prolongation of N50/2009.
[178] Prolongation of N77/2009.
[179] Amendment to N341/2009.
[180] Prolongation of N341/2009 amended by N56/2010.
[181] Prolongation of N203/2009.
[182] Prolongation of N78/2009.
[183] Prolongation of N156/2009.
[184] Amendment to N406/2009.
[185] Amendment to N47a/2009.
[186] Prolongation of N47a/2009.
[187] Amendment to N408/2009.
[188] 2nd Amendment to N408/2009.
[189] 3rd Amendment to N408/2009.
[190] Linked to N27/2009.
[191] Amendment to N478/2009.
[192] Amendment to N286/2009.
[193] Amendment to NN34/2009.
[194] Prolongation of N713/2009.
[195] Amendment to N222/2009.
[196] Prolongation to N258/2009.
[197] Amendment to N80/2009.
[198] Amendment to N257/2009.
[199] GDP of the Member State.
[200] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[201] GDP of the Member State.
[202] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[203] GDP of the Member State.
[204] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[205] GDP of the Member State.
[206] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[207] GDP of the Member State.
[208] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[209] GDP of the Member State.
[210] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[211] GDP of the Member State.
[212] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[213] GDP of the Member State.
[214] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[215] GDP of the Member State.
[216] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[217] GDP of the Member State.
[218] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[219] As included in the decision authorising the aid measure.
[220] GDP of the Member State.
[221] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[222] GDP of the Member State.
[223] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[224] GDP of the Member State.
[225] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[226] GDP of the Member State.
[227] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[228] GDP of the Member State.
[229] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[230] GDP of the Member State.
[231] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[232] GDP of the Member State.
[233] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[234] GDP of the Member State.
[235] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[236] As included in the decision authorising the aid measure.
[237] GDP of the Member State.
[238] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[239] GDP of the Member State.
[240] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[241] GDP of the Member State.
[242] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[243] GDP of the Member State.
[244] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[245] GDP of the Member State.
[246] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[247] GDP of the Member State.
[248] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[249] GDP of the Member State.
[250] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[251] GDP of the Member State.
[252] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[253] GDP of the Member State.
[254] Average level of aid in % of GDP during the period 2008-2010.
[255] Source: DG Competition.
[256] Source: DG Competition.
[257] Source: DG Competition.
[258] See recital 17 of the Commission decision of 28 November 2005 on the application of Article 86(2) of the EC Treaty to State aid in the form of public service compensation granted to certain undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest (OJ L 312, 29.11.2005, pages 67 - 73).
[259] Regulation (EEC) No. 1191/69 of the Council of 26 June 1969 on action by Member States concerning the obligations inherent in the concept of a public service in transport by rail, road and inland waterway, as amended.
[260] Regulation (EEC) No. 1107/70 of the Council of 4 June 1970 on the granting of aid for transport by rail, road and inland waterway, as amended.
[261] Regulation (EEC) No. 1192/69 on common rules for the normalisation of accounts of railway undertakings is particularly important from a State aid monitoring perspective as it exempts from the notification procedure a number of different compensations from public authorities to railway undertakings, as amended.
[262] Regulation (EC) No. 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) Nos. 1191/69 and 1107/70 (OJ L 315, 3.12.2007, p. 1–13).
[263] OJ C 184, 22.7.2008, p. 13.
[264] OJ C 350, 10.12.1994, p. 5.
[265] OJ C 312, 9.12.2005, p. 1.
[266] OJ C 13, 17.1.2004, p. 3.
[267] OJ C 317, 12.12.2008, p. 10.
[268] OJ C 132, 11.6.2009, p. 6.
[269] Annual reports including requests for clarification submitted by Member States to DG Competition.