Statement relating to Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Regional Development Fund and on specific provisions concerning the investment for growth and jobs goal and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 (1)

2013/C 375/01

Statement by the Commission relating to Article 11(2)

The Commission shares the objective expressed by the European Parliament of simplifying state aid procedures as regards operating aid granted to undertakings established in the outermost regions which are linked to the offsetting of the additional costs incurred in such regions as a result of their specific economic and social situation.

According to the proposal for the future General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) as recently published by the Commission services, operating aid intended to compensate certain additional costs incurred by beneficiaries established in these regions would be considered compatible with the internal market, under the conditions stipulated therein, and would thus be exempted from notification under Article 108(3) TFEU. The Commission considers that this will provide a sound basis for achieving the simplification which is sought, and will take full account of all observations received from Member States in the ongoing consultation process in view of the adoption of the Regulation in 2014.

(1)  OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 289.