52002PC0337

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken by the Community within the Association Committee established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Romania, of the other part, with regard to the adoption of a Regional aid map on the basis of which regional aid granted by Romania will be assessed

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1. This is a proposal for the adoption of a Regional aid map on the basis of which regional aid granted by Romania will be assessed.

According to Article 64(4)(a) of the Europe Agreement, the Parties recognised that during the first five years after its entry into force, any regional aid granted by Romania shall be assessed taking into account the fact that Romania shall be regarded as an area identical to those areas of the Community described in Article 87(3)(a) of the Treaty establishing the European Community.

On 17 July 2000 the EU-Romania Association Council adopted decision No 2/2000 with regard to the extension for a further period of five years of Romania as an area identical to those areas of the Community described in Article 87(3)(a) of the Treaty establishing the European Community. The decision was applied as from 1 January 1998 and expires on 31 December 2002.

Article 2 of decision No 2/2000 obliged Romania to submit the GDP per capita figures which have been harmonised at NUTS level II to the European Commission within six months of the date of the adoption of the decision. On that basis, the Romanian Competition Council and the European Commission jointly evaluated the eligibility of the regions as well as the maximum aid intensities in relation thereto, in order to draw up the regional aid map on the basis of the Community guidelines on national regional aid [1].

[1] OJ C 74 of 10.3.1998, p. 9.

2. The joint evaluation by the Romanian Competition Council and the European Commission demonstrates that per capita GDP/PPS in all NUTS level II regions in Romania is significantly lower than 60% of the Community average. In view of this and in reference to Article 4(2) of the Implementing Rules for the application of the provisions on State aid of the Europe Agreement, it is considered that the duration of the Regional aid map should not be limited to 31 December 2002, the expiry date of the period for which Romania is considered as an area identical to those areas of the Community described in Article 87(3)(a) of the EC Treaty in accordance with decision No 2/2000 of the EU-Romania Association Council adopted on 17 July 2000. Instead, it is proposed to extend the duration of the regional aid map until the date of accession or until 31 December 2006, whatever comes first. The inclusion of 31 December 2006 as end date is important to maintain consistency with the maps for the current Member States, all of which (except the map for Germany) will expire on that date, as well as with programming of Structural Funds support.

3. According to the Community guidelines on national regional aid, in the case of regions falling under Article 87(3)(a) of the EC Treaty the intensity of regional aid must not exceed the rate of 50% NGE, except in the outermost regions, where it may be as much as 65% NGE. In the NUTS level II regions eligible under Article 87(3)(a) whose per capita GDP/PPS is greater than 60% of the Community average, the intensity of regional aid must not exceed 40% NGE, except in the outermost regions, where it may be as high as 50% NGE. The GDP/PPS of each region and the Community average to be used in the analysis must relate to the average of the last three years for which statistics are available.

All the above-mentioned ceilings may be raised by 15 percentage points gross in the case of aid granted to small and medium-sized enterprises [2]. They nevertheless constitute upper limits which apply to the total aid whenever assistance is granted concurrently under several regional schemes, and regardless of whether it comes from local, regional, national or Community sources. Beneath these ceilings, it will be ensured that the regional aid intensity is adjusted to reflect the seriousness and intensity of the regional problems addressed.

[2] OJ L 107 of 30.4.1996, p. 4.

4. The Commission hereinafter submits the joint proposal to the Council and requests the Council to adopt the attached proposal for an Association Committee Decision.

2002/0130 (ACC)

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken by the Community within the Association Committee established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Romania, of the other part, with regard to the adoption of a Regional aid map on the basis of which regional aid granted by Romania will be assessed

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 in conjunction with the first sentence of Article 300(2) thereof;

Having regard to the proposal of the Commission of the European Communities;

Having regard to Article 64(4)(a) of the Europe Agreement;

Having regard to Article 4(2) of the Implementing Rules for the application of the provisions on State aid of the Europe Agreement, as adopted by Decision n°4/2000 of the EU-Roumania Association Council of 10 April 2001;

Having regard to Decision No 2/2000 of the EU-Romania Association Council of 17 July 2000 with regard to the extension for a further period of five years of Romania as an area identical to those areas of the Community described in Article 87(3)(a) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular its article 2, third sentence;

Whereas:

(1) Article 2 of the decision No 2/2000 obliged Romania within six months of the date of the adoption of the decision to submit the GDP per capita figures which have been harmonised at NUTS level II to the European Commission;

(2) The Romanian State aid monitoring authority (the Competition Council) and the European Commission jointly evaluated the eligibility of the regions as well as the maximum aid intensities in relation thereto in order to draw up the regional aid map on the basis of the Community guidelines on national regional aid [3];

[3] OJ C 74 of 10.3.1998, p. 9.

(3) According to Article 4(2) of the Implementing Rules, in conjunction with article 2, third sentence of Decision 2/2000 of the EU-Roumania Association Council, a joint proposal shall be submitted to the Association Committee, which shall take a decision to this effect;

(4) According to the Community guidelines on national regional aid, in the case of regions falling under Article 87(3)(a) of the Treaty the intensity of regional aid must not exceed the rate of 50% NGE, except in the outermost regions, where it may be as much as 65% NGE;

(5) In the NUTS level II regions eligible under Article 87(3)(a) whose per capita GDP/PPS is greater than 60% of the Community average, the intensity of regional aid must not exceed 40% NGE, except in the outermost regions, where it may be as high as 50% NGE;

(6) The GDP/PPS of each region and the Community average to be used in the analysis must relate to the average of the last three years for which statistics are available;

(7) All the above-mentioned ceilings may be raised by 15 percentage points gross in the case of aid granted to small and medium-sized enterprises [4], and constitute upper limits which apply to the total aid whenever assistance is granted concurrently under several regional schemes, and regardless of whether it comes from local, regional, national or Community sources;

[4] OJ L 107 of 30.4.1996, p. 4.

(8) Beneath these ceilings, it will be ensured that the regional aid intensity is adjusted to reflect the seriousness and intensity of the regional problems addressed;

(9) The seriousness and intensity of the regional problems addressed must be assessed within the broader context of all the countries which have concluded Europe agreements with the European Communities;

(10) Romania consists of 8 NUTS level II regions, of which none has a per capita GDP/PPS that exceeds 60% of the Community average, according to statistical data available for the years 1997- 1999;

(11) The relative situation of each NUTS level II region does not justify any differentiation of the regional aid intensity ceilings;

(12) The maximum aid intensities applicable in each of the above mentioned regions, as jointly evaluated by the Romanian Competition Council and the European Commission, are in conformity with the requirements set by the Community guidelines on national regional aid;

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

The position to be taken by the Community within the Association Committee established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Romania, of the other part, with regard to the adoption of the regional aid map shall be based on the draft decision of the Association Committee annexed to this Decision.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

ANNEX

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ROMANIA

- The Association Committee-

DECISION No .../2002 OF THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTE

BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

AND THEIR MEMBER STATES, OF THE ONE PART,

AND ROMANIA, OF THE OTHER PART,

of

adopting a regional aid map on the basis of which regional aid

granted by Romania will be assessed

THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Romania, of the other part [5] and in particular Article 64(4)(a) thereof,

[5] OJ L 357, 31.12.1994, p. 2.

Having regard to decision No 2/2000 of the EU-Romania Association Council of 17 July 2000 with regard to the extension for a further period of five years of Romania as an area identical to those areas of the Community described in Article 87(3)(a) of the Treaty establishing the European Community;

Having regard to Article 4(2) of the Implementing Rules for the application of the provisions on State aid of the Europe Agreement;

Whereas:

(1) Article 2 of the decision No 2/2000 obliged Romania within six months of the date of the adoption of the decision to submit the GDP per capita figures which have been harmonised at NUTS level II to the European Commission;

(2) the Romanian State aid monitoring authority (the Competition Council) and the European Commission jointly evaluated the eligibility of the regions as well as the maximum aid intensities in relation thereto in order to draw up the regional aid map on the basis of the Community guidelines on national regional aid [6];

[6] OJ C 74 of 10.3.1998, p. 9.

(3) according Article 4(2) of the Implementing Rules, a joint proposal shall be submitted to the Association Committee, which shall take a decision to this effect;

(4) according to the Community guidelines on national regional aid, in the case of regions falling under Article 87(3)(a) of the Treaty the intensity of regional aid must not exceed the rate of 50% NGE, except in the outermost regions, where it may be as much as 65% NGE;

(5) in the NUTS level II regions eligible under Article 87(3)(a) whose per capita GDP/PPS is greater than 60% of the Community average, the intensity of regional aid must not exceed 40% NGE, except in the outermost regions, where it may be as high as 50% NGE;

(6) the GDP/PPS of each region and the Community average to be used in the analysis must relate to the average of the last three years for which statistics are available;

(7) all the above mentioned ceilings may be raised by 15 gross percentage points in the case of aid granted to small and medium-sized enterprises [7], and constitute upper limits which apply to the total aid whenever assistance is granted concurrently under several regional schemes, and regardless of whether it comes from local, regional, national or Community sources;

[7] OJ L 107 of 30.4.1996, p. 4.

(8) beneath these ceilings, it will be ensured that the regional aid intensity is adjusted to reflect the seriousness and intensity of the regional problems addressed;

(9) the seriousness and intensity of the regional problems addressed must be assessed within the broader context of all the countries which have concluded Europe agreements with the European Communities;

(10) Romania consists of 8 NUTS level II regions, of which none has a per capita GDP/PPS that exceeds 60% of the Community average, according to statistical data available for the years 1997- 1999;

(11) The relative situation of each NUTS level II region does not justify any differentiation of the regional aid intensity ceilings;

(12) the maximum aid intensities applicable in each of the above-mentioned regions, as jointly evaluated by the Romanian Competition Council and the European Commission, are in conformity with the requirements set by the Community guidelines on national regional aid;

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The maximum aid intensity applicable in Romania shall be limited, in net grant equivalent, to 50%. This maximum aid intensity may be raised by 15 gross percentage points in the case of aid granted to small and medium-sized enterprises [8].

[8] OJ L 107 of 30.4.1996, p. 4.

Article 2

The maximum aid intensities referred to under Article 1 shall constitute upper limit which apply to the total aid whenever assistance is granted concurrently under several regional schemes, and regardless of whether it comes from local, regional, national or Community sources.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption. It shall expire on 31 December 2006 or the date of Romania's accession to the EU, whichever comes earlier.

Done at Brussels,

For the Association Committee

The President