Commission publishes consultation on review of De Minimis

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In the context of its state aid modernisation initiative (SAM), the European Commission has launched a review of its Regulation applying to small aid amounts - the so-called "de minimis" Regulation (No 1998/2006). Under this Regulation, aid measures below €200 000 are outside the scope of EU state aid control and therefore do not require prior Commission approval . The first step of the review process is a public consultation, focused on public authorities' and stakeholders' experience with the current Regulation. Submissions can be made until 18 October 2012. In light of the contributions received, the Commission will prepare a revised draft regulation by the end of 2013.

Under the de minimis Regulation, public support measures amounting to less than €200 000 per company over a period of three fiscal years are deemed to have no potential to distort competition in the internal market and therefore do not need to be notified to the Commission for approval under EU state aid rules. The Regulation has been applied for more than five years, and has greatly simplified the treatment of aid measures that are too small to have an impact on competition and trade in the internal market.

The Commission will carry out a careful assessment as to whether the €200 000 threshold remains appropriate. The review will also strive to further improve the simplification brought about by the de minimis Regulation.

The questionnaire is intended to gather public authorities' and other stakeholders' experience with the de minimis Regulation and factual information on its use. It also contains specific questions on the monitoring of de minimis aid granted in the Member States, such as the experience with central de minimis registers. Deadline for feed-back is the 18^th October 2012, AECM is in the process of consulting its members with a view of publishing an official position.

Source: Commission website

Link: http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2012_de_minimis/index_en.html