E2003C0306(01)

Authorisation of State aid pursuant to Article 61 and 63 of the EEA Agreement and Article 1(1) of Protocol 3 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement

EFTA Surveillance Authority decision to propose appropriate measures

(2003/C 52/09)

Date of adoption: 25.9.2002

EFTA State: Norway

Aid No: 95-010

Title: To propose appropriate measures to Norway with regard to State aid in the form of regionally differentiated social security taxation (Geografisk differensiert arbeidsgiveravgift)

Objective: Regional development

Legal basis: Act relating to national insurance (Lov om folketrygd av 17.6.1966, No 12)

Budget: Unspecified

Aid intensity: Norway is divided into five geographical zones with differentiated social security taxation (Zone 1: 14,1 %, Zone 2: 10,6 %, Zone 3: 6,4 %, Zone 4: 5,1 %, Zone 5: 0,0 %)

Duration: Until 1.1.2004

Other information: The appropriate measures, as accepted by the Norwegian authorities by letter dated 25.10.2002, are as follows:

(a) The Norwegian authorities shall take any legislative, administrative and other measures necessary to eliminate any State aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) EEA resulting from the system of regionally differentiated social security tax, or to render such aid compatible with Article 61 of the EEA Agreement,

(b) The Norwegian authorities shall eliminate any such aid or render it compatible with effect from 1.1.2004 unless the Authority agrees to a later date should that be considered objectively necessary and justified by the Authority in order to allow an appropriate transition for the undertakings in question to the adjusted situation; and

(c) The Norwegian authorities shall communicate to the Authority the relevant measures adjusting the aid scheme as soon as possible and in any event no later than 25 March 2003.

The authentic text of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://www.eftasurv.int