Commission communication concerning the prolongation of the Community Framework for State Aid for Research and Development

(2005/C 310/08)

(Text with EEA relevance)

The Community Framework for State Aid for Research and Development (1) will expire on 31 December 2005 (2).

On 7 June 2005, the Commission adopted the State Aid Action Plan (3), where it decided ‘to consider if the scope of the Framework for Research and Development should be extended to cover types of aid in favour of certain innovative activities, not already covered by existing guidelines or regulations thereby creating a Framework for R&D and Innovation’ (4).

On 21 September 2005, the Commission adopted a ‘Communication on Innovation’. This communication is a consultative document, inviting all interested parties to submit comments by 21 November 2005, which will then be carefully assessed by the Commission. It follows that it will not be possible to have a common framework for R&D and Innovation in place before the end of 2005.

Accordingly, the Commission has now decided to apply the existing R&D-framework until the entry into force of such a document, at the most until 31 December 2006.

The Commission wants to clarify that in addition to the consultation on the ‘Communication on Innovation’ mentioned above, all interested parties will also receive an opportunity to submit comments with regard to the revision of the R&D-rules.

(1)  OJ C 45 of 17.2.1996, p. 5, as amended by the Commission communication amending the Community Framework for State Aid for Research and Development, OJ C 48 of 13.2.1998, p. 2.

(2)  OJ C 111, 8.5.2002, p. 3.

(3)  COM/2005/107/final.

(4)  Paragraph 28 of the State Aid Action Plan.