Communication from the Commission concerning the prolongation of the application of the Community framework for State aid for research and development and innovation

2013/C 360/01

According to its point 10.3, second paragraph, the Community framework for State aid for research and development and innovation (‘the R&D&I Framework’) (1) is applicable until 31 December 2013.

In its communication on EU State Aid Modernisation of 8 May 2012 (2), the Commission launched an ambitious reform programme which includes identifying common principles for assessing the compatibility of aid with the internal market. As a consequence, the various State aid guidelines and frameworks are being revised and streamlined to ensure consistency with those common principles.

The revision of the R&D&I Framework takes place in the context of the overall process to modernise State aid rules, and is in particular closely interlinked with the parallel development of the future General Block Exemption Regulation. In order to ensure a consistent approach across all State aid instruments, and having regard to the need for continuity and legal certainty in the treatment of State aid for research and development and innovation, the Commission has therefore decided to continue to apply the R&D&I Framework until 30 June 2014.

In the light of the extension of its period of validity, Member States may also want to prolong those aid schemes authorised by the Commission after assessment under the R&D&I Framework, and which would otherwise lapse on 31 December 2013, for a similar period. In order to reduce the related administrative burden, the prolongation of all such schemes can be subject of a single notification under the simplified procedure laid down in Article 4 of the Implementing Regulation (3).

(1)  OJ C 323, 31.12.2006, p. 1.

(2)  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on EU State Aid Modernisation (SAM), COM(2012) 209 final.

(3)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 of 21 April 2004 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (OJ L 140, 30.4.2004, p. 1).