This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Document 52011SC1487
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER - Autumn 2011 Update -
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER - Autumn 2011 Update -
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER - Autumn 2011 Update -
/* SEC/2011/1487 final */
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER - Autumn 2011 Update - /* SEC/2011/1487 final */
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 5 State aid in the context of the economic
crisis................................................................................. 5 Purpose, scope and content of the Scoreboard.............................................................................. 5 Scope and content of this Scoreboard........................................................................................... 6 Methodology................................................................................................................................ 6 Publication of the Scoreboard....................................................................................................... 7 1........... State aid in 2010............................................................................................................ 8 1.1........ Total state aid in absolute and
relative terms.................................................................... 8 1.1.1..... Non-crisis aid................................................................................................................. 8 1.1.2..... Crisis aid granted to the
financial sector........................................................................... 8 1.1.3..... Aid granted under the temporary
framework................................................................... 8 1.2........ Broad sectoral distribution of
non-crisis state aid............................................................. 9 2........... Trends and patterns of state aid
expenditure on non-crisis aid in the member states........... 9 2.1........ Trends of levels of state aid to
industry and services....................................................... 10 2.2........ State aid earmarked for the
horizontal objectives of common interest............................. 12 2.2.1..... Horizontal versus sectoral aid........................................................................................ 12 2.2.2..... Aid to horizontal objectives........................................................................................... 13 2.2.2.1.. Block exempted aid...................................................................................................... 15 2.2.2.2.. Trend (2008-2010 compared with
2005-2007)............................................................ 18 2.2.3..... Research, development and
innovation.......................................................................... 19 2.2.4..... Environmental protection............................................................................................... 21 2.2.5..... Regional development and cohesion.............................................................................. 23 2.3........ State aid earmarked for specific
sectors........................................................................ 24 2.3.1..... Rescue and restructuring of firms
in difficulty.................................................................. 24 2.3.2..... Shipbuilding.................................................................................................................. 24 2.3.3..... Steel industry................................................................................................................ 25 2.3.4..... Coal............................................................................................................................. 25 2.3.5..... Transport..................................................................................................................... 26 2.3.5.1.. Land............................................................................................................................ 26 2.3.5.2.. Maritime....................................................................................................................... 27 2.3.5.3.. Aviation........................................................................................................................ 27 2.3.6..... Agriculture.................................................................................................................... 28 2.3.7..... Fisheries and aquaculture.............................................................................................. 29 2.4........ Use of the state aid instruments..................................................................................... 30 3........... State aid in the context of the
financial and economic crisis............................................. 31 3.1........ State aid measures for the
financial sector...................................................................... 31 3.2........ Aid granted under the temporary
framework................................................................. 48 3.2.1..... Context and purpose of the
temporary framework......................................................... 48 3.2.2..... Update on measures approved under
the temporary framework..................................... 49 3.2.3..... Aid granted in 2010...................................................................................................... 50 4........... Trends in non-crisis state aid
expenditure by type of aid measures.................................. 52 5........... Enforcing the state aid rules........................................................................................... 53 5.1........ Unlawful aid................................................................................................................. 53 5.2........ Recovery of unlawful aid............................................................................................... 54 5.3........ Enforcement of state aid law:
Cooperation with national courts....................................... 54 5.4........ Ex post monitoring........................................................................................................ 55 Notes on methodology................................................................................................................ 56 Scope of the Scoreboard............................................................................................................ 56 Methodology to calculate non crisis aid........................................................................................ 57 Methodology to calculate crisis aid granted
to the financial sector................................................. 58 Specific provisions with respect to aid
granted under the temporary framework............................ 59 Key figures on state aid expenditure in the
EU and Member States............................................... 61 Figure 35: Total non-crisis aid to industry
and services................................................................. 61 Figure 36: Aid to agriculture, fisheries and
aquaculture and transport............................................ 62 Figure 37: Non-crisis state aid earmarked for
horizontal objectives of common interest and sectoral aid as % of total
non-crisis aid to industry and services................................................................................... 63 Figures 38: Financial Crisis Aid – Approved
amount per year and instrument................................ 65 Figure 38 a: Guarantees: Approved budget.................................................................................. 65 Figure 38 b: Recapitalisation: Approved
budget........................................................................... 66 Figure 38 c: Impaired Assets: Approved budget.......................................................................... 67 Figure 38 d: Liquidity measures: Approved
budget....................................................................... 68 Figure 39: Overview of measures adopted under
the Temporary Framework (until 1 October 2011) 69 Figures 40: Aid expenditure by Member State............................................................................. 74 Figure 41: Legislation and communications
adopted in 2010....................................................... 101 Figures 42: Recovery................................................................................................................ 102 Figure 42 a: Trend in the number of recovery
decisions (aid to industry and services).................. 102 Figure 42 b: Pending recovery decisions.................................................................................... 103 Figure 42 c: Pending
recovery cases for which the Commission has decided to bring the case before
the Court of Justice and for which the illegal and incompatible aid is not yet
recovered (30 June 2011).............. 108 Summary of rules in the transport sector.................................................................................... 113 Situation on reporting by Member States................................................................................... 114 Introduction State aid in
the context of the economic crisis The outbreak of the financial crisis in
2008 spelled an end in the EU to GDP growth, low levels of state aid
expenditure and falling budget deficits. Economic activity in the EU started to
contract by 1.4% in the second half of 2008 and continued to decline by a further
4% in 2009. Only later in that year did it begin to stabilise, mainly due to
actions on the part of the Commission and the Member States to counter the
financial crisis by means of exceptional stimulus packages. In 2010, GDP growth
returned to positive territory, amounting in the EU as a whole to approximately
1.8%.[1] However, budget deficits
increased substantially during the same period, which is not surprising given
that many Member States have provided support to their economies in order to
stabilise the financial sector. Overall in 2010, state aid expenditure - in
particular to the financial sector - continued to be high, but it did contribute
to a further stablisation of the banking sector. Compared to previous years,
the support in 2010 is generally concentrated in a small number of Member
States. This circumstance underlines the fact, despite clear improvements at EU
level, the need for State support differs from country to country and across
segments of the banking sector.[2] In addition, support measures
in the form of aid to the real economy have continued to contribute to
sustainable growth, ensuring in the long run that enterprises are able to stay
in business and to invest in new, possibly greener, technologies. Chapter 3 provides more detail with respect to crisis
aid. Purpose, scope
and content of the Scoreboard The Scoreboard Autumn update ("the
Scoreboard") reports every year in an aggregated manner on state aid
expenditure in the Member States in the previous year and highlights trends.[3]
The Scoreboard is the European Commission’s benchmarking instrument for state
aid. It was launched by the Commission in July 2001 to provide a transparent
and publicly accessible source of information on the overall state aid situation
in the Member States and on the Commission's state aid control activities. Furthermore,
the data in the report are used for further statistical analysis and represent
an important source of information to which reference is made in speeches,
articles and other Commission publications on state aid. The Scoreboard data
are also used by external bodies and the Member States. While the autumn
edition provides a synopsis of the state aid expenditure of the previous year,
and is the authoritative source with regard to the levels of aid, the spring
edition which follows the autumn report provides a more quantitative and, wherever
possible, qualitative analysis. The Scoreboard is based on the annual
reports provided by Member States. Article 6(1) of Regulation 794/2004
stipulates that each Member State shall submit its report on state aid
expenditure carried out during the previous year no later than 30 June of the
following year. Annex III of the Regulation sets out the format and content of
the reports in greater detail. Scope and
content of this Scoreboard State aid expenditure is expenditure which
Member States have actually granted under a given aid measure which was
authorised by the Commission pursuant to Article 107
TFEU.[4] All state aid data refer
to the implementation of Commission decisions, but exclude cases which are
still under examination. General measures that do not favour certain
enterprises or sectors, and public subsidies that do not affect trade or
distort competition, are not dealt with in the Scoreboard as they are not
subject to the Commission’s investigative powers under the state aid rules. This Autumn 2011 update reports on state
aid expenditure for all existing aid measures under which Member States granted
aid in 2010; this covers both measures that have not yet expired and measures that
were newly introduced in 2010.[5] The Scoreboard consists of two parts. While the Report adopted by
the College of Commissioners provides a summary of the facts, the accompanying
Staff Working Document gives further details on the data and signals trends. Apart from providing an update on
expenditure by the Member States, this edition also updates the progress
achieved in the Commission's state aid control activities, namely on the
recovery of unlawful aid. Methodology In conceptual terms, since the Autumn 2009
update the Scoreboard has provided separate chapters for information on the state
aid situation with respect to non-crisis aid on the one hand and crisis aid
granted to the financial sector and aid granted under the Temporary Union
Framework on the other hand ("the temporary framework").[6]
In this regard it is noted that, in order to better represent the actual volume
of the aid measures which Member States implemented in respect of financial
institutions, this edition of the Scoreboard has further refined the
methodology of how to measure some of these instruments (guarantees, other
liquidities and impaired assets). This means that the figures provided in this
report for these instruments will differ from the figures in previous
Scoreboards. However, in order to make a comparison with the financial crisis
aid provided to financial institutions since the start of the crisis, Member
States have been asked to also recalculate the amounts used in 2008 and 2009 in
accordance with the new methodology. Further details on the methodology to
measure state aid to financial institutions is provided in chapter 3.1 and the methodological notes. More detail on the methodology used in this
Scoreboard is provided in the section 'Notes on methodology'. The Scoreboard presents the state aid
situation in five chapters. Chapter 1 provides information on total state aid
expenditure in the Member States and indicates the broad sectoral distribution
of the aid. Chapter 2 reports on the trend and patterns of aid to industry and
services; it also provides more detail on horizontal aid and aid to certain
sectors of the economy. Chapter 3.1 gives an update on state aid measures to
the financial sector and chapter 3.2 supplies details of aid granted under the
temporary framework. Chapter 4 shows the trend of state aid expenditure in terms
of numbers and the amount of aid involved. Chapter 5 reports on ongoing efforts to enforce the state aid rules and to
recover unlawful aid. Finally, the note on methodology is follwed by tables
showing key figures on state aid expenditure in more detail by Member State, a
follow-up of legislation and an overview of all aid authorised under the temporary
framework. Publication of
the Scoreboard The Directorate-General for Competition
publishes this Scoreboard on its website[7],
where previous editions can also be found. Also available on the website are a series of key indicators and in-depth
statistics covering the EU as a whole as well as individual Member States. The EFTA Surveillance Authority also publishes
annually a scoreboard[8] showing the volume of state
aid granted in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
1.
State aid in 2010
1.1.
Total state aid[9] in absolute and relative terms
1.1.1.
Non-crisis aid
Figure 1: Total non-crisis aid[10]
|| In billion € || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of GDP) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007) EU 27 || 73.7 || 0.6% || - 0.02% || 0.6% || - 0.02%
1.1.2.
Crisis aid granted to the financial sector
Figure 2: Financial Crisis Aid: Amount
used[11] || In billion € || As % of GDP Guarantees and liquidity measures || 983.9 || 8% Recapitalisation and Impaired Assets || 121.3 || 1%
1.1.3.
Aid granted under the temporary framework
Figure 3: Aid granted under the
temporary framework[12] || In billion € || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of GDP) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007) Approved amount || 1.6 || 0.01% || -0.67% || Not applicable since temporary framework has not been in force over a period of three years. Amount used || 11.8 || 0.09% || -0.08%
1.2.
Broad sectoral distribution of non-crisis state
aid
Figure 4: Broad sectoral distribution of
non-crisis state aid[13] Broad sectoral distribution of non-crisis state aid || || || || || In billion € || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of GDP) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007) || Aid to industry and services EU 27 || 61.0[14] || 0.5% || + 0.01% || 0.49% || +0.06% || Aid to agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and transport EU 27 || 12.7 || 0.10% || -0.02% || 0.12% || - 0.07% Agriculture (EU 27) || 10.2 || 0.08% || - 0.01% || 0.09% || - 0.01% Fisheries and aquaculture (EU 27) || 0.13 || 0.001% || -0.0006% || 0.002% || - 0.0014% Transport (EU 27) || 2.3 || 0.02% || - 0.001% || 0.02% || - 0.06%
2.
Trends and patterns of state aid expenditure on
non-crisis aid in the member states
While Chapter 1 above provides an overview
of total state aid expenditure in 2010, Chapter 2 goes on to examine the trend
and patterns of expenditure in non-crisis aid. By studying expenditure over a
longer period, i.e. 2005 to 2010, it will show the extent to which individual
Member States have (or have not) been able to reduce their aid levels.
2.1.
Trends of levels of state aid to industry
and services[15]
Figure 5: Total state aid to industry
and services as of 1992[16] In 2010, state aid granted to industry and
services had increased, both when compared to 2009 and when observing the
trend. However, it has remained at a low level overall, i.e. between 0.4% and
0.5% of EU GDP when looking at the period 2007 to 2010, and has also remained
lower than during the years prior to 2006.[17] Apart from the overall downward trend
observed since 1992, the relatively small increase seen in 2010 might be
explained by the fact that Member States responded to the crisis situation in
the real economy while maintaining a strict discipline on expenditure.
Moreover, it cannot be entirely ruled out that the tightening of Member States'
budgets as a result of support for the financial crisis may have limited the
scope for a further increase in aid to industry and services. Figure 6: Trend in state aid to industry
and services as % of GDP[18] Eleven Member States were able to further
reduce their aid expenditure to industry and services in the period 2008-2010
compared to 2005-2008. Some Member States, in particular Malta and Latvia,
reduced their aid levels by more than 0.5% of their GDP. Many Member States
posted smaller increases which represented less than 0.2% of their GDP. In most
instances, more aid was granted under horizontal objectives of common interest.
The most substantial increases were in Greece[19] and Hungary.[20]
2.2.
State aid earmarked for the horizontal
objectives of common interest
The concept of horizontal aid, which
represents aid that is not granted to specific sectors of the economy, was
derived from the Treaty. This leaves room for the Commission to make policy
choices according to which state aid can be considered compatible with the
internal market in order to provide effective support to common policy
objectives. Most prominent is the aid earmarked for research, development and
innovation, safeguarding the environment and fostering energy saving and
promoting the use of renewable energies; this is, followed by regional
development, aid to SMEs, creation of employment and promotion of training. Following the calls from numerous European
Councils, Member States have re-oriented their state aid efforts by gradually
ending their support to individual sectors and by providing support earmarked
for horizontal objectives of common interest instead. In this light, some of the Europe 2020
strategy targets[21] generally fit into the
concept of horizontal aid, inter alia to increase employment, to invest
in research, development and innovation, to increase energy efficiency and to
foster energy production from renewable energy sources.
2.2.1.
Horizontal versus sectoral aid
Figure 7: Horizontal versus sectoral aid
in the EU-27[22] Horizontal versus sectoral aid in the EU-27 || In billion € || As % of total aid to industry and services || Difference when compared to previous year; by % of total aid to industry and services || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of total aid to industry and services) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007) Total horizontal aid || 51.9 || 85% || + 1% || 84.4% || + 2.2% Environmental aid[23] || 14.4 || 23.7% || - 0.8% || 23.8% || - 2.3% Regional development || 14.8 || 24.3% || + 1.1% || 23.5% || + 4.0% Research and development and innovation || 10.9 || 18.3% || + 0.5% || 15.5% || + 2.5% SME || 2.6 || 4.2% || - 2.2% || 6.5% || -3.6% Risk capital || 0.8 || 1.3% || +0.4% || 1.0% || + 0.2% Training || 0.8 || 1.3% || - 0.3% || 1.4% || +0.1% Employment || 2.8 || 4.6% || 0% || 4.8% || - 1.6% Other || 5.9 || 9.7% || + 2.5% || 7.8% || + 2.3% Total sectoral aid || 9.1 || 15% || - 0.6% || 15.6% || - 2.2% The positive trend during the period 2008-2010,
when Member States preserved with their efforts to earmark more aid under
horizontal objectives of common interest, has also been seen in 2010. The main reason
why sectoral aid has decreased is the smaller amounts of aid granted to the
coal sector and the service industries in general. In 2010, the main areas where Member States
focused the greatest amount of horizontal aid were environmental protection and
energy saving, research and development and innovation, and regional aid. The
individual horizontal objectives are described in more detail in the following
paragraphs.
2.2.2.
Aid to horizontal objectives
While an average of 85% of the total aid to
industry and services was earmarked for horizontal objectives at aggregate
level in the EU in 2010[24], some disparities can be
found when examining the individual Member States. The EU-27 average was
exceeded in 19 Member States.[25] Only two Member States
were found in which aid to horizontal objectives accounted for 50% or less of the
total aid to industry and services.[26] Greece, Italy, Romania and Slovakia stood
out in terms of their efforts made to direct aid further towards those
horizontal objectives for which a substantial increase in horizontal aid had
been identified. On the other hand, only a few Member States showed a small or
moderate decline in horizontal aid.[27] There are large disparities between
Member States in the share of aid allocated to the various horizontal
objectives. It is recalled that the horizontal aid
objective, which is the so-called ‘primary objective’ of the aid, is
established when the aid measure is approved by the Commission or, in the case
of block exempted aid, when the Member State informs the Commission that the
aid measure has been implemented.[28] Consequently, the
horizontal aid is not measured as a function of the beneficiary, i.e. the
sector of the economy in which it has its activity. In 2010, by far the majority of horizontal
aid was earmarked for regional development, with 24.3% of total aid on average
going to industry and services, whereby Greece, Lithuania and Romania granted
at least 50% or more when compared to their individual total expenditure on
industry and services. Aid earmarked for protecting the
environment comes a close second, accounting for 23.7% of total aid to industry
and services, whereas Latvia, the Netherlands and Sweden granted more than 50%
of their aid to industry and services. Aid earmarked for research, development and
innovation, representing 17.9% of total aid to industry and services, comes in
third place. While Luxembourg is the country that spent most (51%), spending in
other Member States ranges between 25% and 50% (8 Member States[29]). Together, these three horizontal objectives
account for roughly two thirds of the total aid to industry and services in the
EU-27, and they are identified as the most widely used objectives of common
interest. Furthermore, aid to SMEs, training and
employment accounts for approximately 10% of total aid to industry and
services, while the remainder of the horizontal aid[30]
accounts for 9.7%.
2.2.2.1.
Block exempted aid
Figure 8: Share of block exempted aid as
% of total aid earmarked for the same horizontal objective[31] Figure 9: Trend in the share of block
exempted[32] aid as %
of total aid earmarked for the same horizontal objective[33] (Expenditure in € billion) || 2005 || 2006 || 2007 || 2008 || 2009 || 2010 || Block exempted aid to SMEs incl. Risk capital || 1.7 || 1.9 || 2.7 || 2.6 || 2.4 || 1.5 || Total aid to SMEs incl. Risk capital || 6.0 || 5.5 || 5.8 || 5.7 || 4.5 || 3.4 || Share of that aid as % of total expenditure to this objective || 28.7 || 33.6 || 46.2 || 46.0 || 53.3 || 43.5 || Block exempted aid to Employment || 0.5 || 0.7 || 0.8 || 1.5 || 1.3 || 1.4 || Total aid to Employment || 3.4 || 3.8 || 3.0 || 3.2 || 2.7 || 2.8 || Share of that aid as % of total expenditure to this objective || 13.8 || 18.2 || 27.7 || 47.7 || 46.6 || 50.8 || Block exempted aid to Training || 0.5 || 0.6 || 0.6 || 0.7 || 0.8 || 0.6 || Total aid to Training || 0.6 || 0.8 || 0.6 || 0.8 || 1.0 || 0.8 || Share of that aid as % of total expenditure to this objective || 84.4 || 77.0 || 86.7 || 92.8 || 87.8 || 75.9 || Block exempted aid to Regional development || 0.1 || 0.2 || 2.4 || 4.2 || 5.1 || 6.9 || Total aid to Regional development || 9.8 || 11.0 || 10.1 || 13.3 || 14.1 || 14.9 || Share of that aid as % of total expenditure to this objective || 1.2 || 1.6 || 23.7 || 31.5 || 36.0 || 46.2 || Block exempted aid to Research and development incl. Innovation || 0.0 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 1.0 || 1.1 || Total aid to Research and development incl. Innovation || 6.2 || 7.2 || 7.7 || 8.8 || 10.6 || 10.9 || Share of that aid as % of total expenditure to this objective || 0.3 || 0.8 || 1.5 || 1.4 || 9.4 || 10.4 || Block exempted aid to Environmental protection incl. Energy saving || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.7 || 0.7 || Total aid to Environmental protection incl. Energy saving || 13.8 || 15.0 || 12.5 || 13.5 || 14.9 || 14.5 || Share of that aid as % of total expenditure to this objective || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 4.4 || 4.9 || Total horizontal aid || 42.2 || 45.4 || 42.6 || 48.5 || 51.3 || 51.9 || Share of above block exempted aid as % of total aid earmarked for the same horizontal objectives (in billion €) || 6.8 || 7.6 || 15.4 || 19.0 || 21.9 || 23.4 || Figure 10: Block exempted aid as % of
total aid to industry and services (earmarked to the same horizontal objective)[34] In total, block exempted aid earmarked for
the same horizontal objective amounted to approximately € 12.6 billion in 2010,
representing around 20.6% of total aid to industry and services.
2.2.2.2.
Trend (2008-2010 compared with 2005-2007)
Figure 11: Trend in the share of
horizontal objectives as % of total aid to industry and services[35] The
above diagram reflects the continuing efforts by Member States to earmark a
large amount of aid to horizontal objectives of common interest, in particular
regional development, research, development and innovation
("R&D&I") and environmental protection, while aid to SMEs,
employment and training play only a fairly minor role. Furthermore, the graphs
also demonstrate Member States' efforts to reduce the levels of aid granted to
individual sectors of the economy, which also includes rescue and restructuring
aid and aid to the coal sector. Nevertheless, there are disparities among
Member States with regard to the proportion of individual horizontal objectives
in relation to the total aid to industry and services.[36]
2.2.3.
Research, development and innovation
Figure 12: Aid earmarked for research,
development and innovation[37] R&D&I is a linchpin one of the key
elements in the effort to strengthen the competitiveness of the EU economy and
to ensure sustainable growth. Therefore, R&D&I has been placed at the
heart of the Europe 2020 Strategy[38] as one of its flagship
initiatives, with the target of spending 3 % of EU GDP on R&D by 2020.[39] In its Communication on "Europe 2020
Flagship initiative Innovation Union"[40],
the Commission describes what in its view needs to be done in order to boost
innovation and to re-focus R&D&I policy on the challenges facing our
society, such as climate change, energy and resource efficiency, health and
demographic change. In 2010, state aid represented only 4.7% of
overall R&D expenditure[41], equal to € 10.9 billion
or 0.09 % of EU GDP. Around 54 % of total R&D&I state aid in 2010 was
granted by three Member States: Germany[42] (€ 2.8
billion), France[43] (€ 1.8 billion) and
Spain[44] (€ 1.1 billion). Block exempted aid reported as R&D&I
aid amounted to around € 1.1 billion in 2010. This represented 10.4% of total horizontal
aid granted to the same objective. Germany (€ 258.6 million)[45],
Spain (€ 174.7 million), Italy (€ 152.2 million) and Belgium (€ 121.1 million)
made the most use of this instrument. The Community
Framework for state aid for Research and Development and Innovation[46]
and the General Block Exemption Regulation ("GBER")[47]
form the legal basis for the assessment of R&D&I state aid measures. In
2011, the Commission has conducted a mid-term review[48]
of the Framework, taking stock of recent case experience and reflecting on the
contribution of the R&D&I state aid rules to the EU innovation goals in
order to further promote private investment in R&D, smarter public
investment and overall innovation.
2.2.4.
Environmental protection
The Europe 2020 Strategy has highlighted
"sustainable growth"[49] as one of the main
priorities for the coming years. It includes the so-called
'20/20/20' environmental protection targets of a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions, a 20% share for renewable
energy in EU energy consumption and a 20% increase in energy efficiency. A long-term framework for actions is provided by the flagship initiative entitled
"A resource-efficient Europe". State aid can contribute directly or indirectly to these objectives,
in particular when it tackles market failures or complements insufficient
incentives to ensure greater environmental protection (e.g. general regulatory
measures). In 2010, the largest grantors of total state
aid for environmental purposes were Germany[50] (€ 5.5
billion), Sweden[51] (€ 2.3 billion), the
United Kingdom (€ 1.4 billion), the Netherlands (€ 1.05 billion) and Austria (€
1.02 billion). In relative terms, environmental aid accounted for 23.7 % of the
total aid for industry and services, or 0.12 % of EU GDP. Environmental aid covers a wide range of
objectives, including support measures for renewable energy, energy-saving,
waste management and remediation of contaminated sites and
improvement of production processes. For these types of measures, aid granted
by Member States pursues a direct benefit to the environment. State aid
expenditure can therefore be taken as a proxy to indicate the intended
environmental benefit. This represented 31.9% of environmental aid in 2010, equivalent
to around € 4.6 billion. The largest contributors to this amount
were: the Netherlands[52] (€ 1.04 billion), Austria[53]
(€ 0.9 billion), Spain[54] (€ 0.7 billion) and France[55]
(€ 0.4 billion). A second category of state aid measures that
are covered under the environmental aid guidelines is reductions in or
exemptions from environmental taxes. Expenditure under this category of aid
scheme indicates the amount of tax revenue foregone and therefore cannot be
used as a proxy measure of the environmental benefit which the taxes themselves
have brought. In 2010, 53.9% of environmental aid, equal to around € 7.8 billion,
fell into this category. Within this total, Germany granted more than two thirds
of the aid (around € 5 billion), followed by Sweden (€ 1.8 billion),
the United Kingdom (€ 0.4 billion), Finland (€ 0.2 billion), the Netherlands (€
0.1 billion), Slovakia (€ 0.08 billion) and Denmark (€ 0.003 billion). Since the environmental aid guidelines
introduced new criteria to the necessity and proportionality test for tax
exemptions below EU minimum tax levels (harmonised taxes), the Commission has approved
one such tax exemption case concerning Denmark (N
327/2008)[56]. Member States have to
adopt appropriate measures to bring existing tax reductions into line with the
environmental guidelines by 31 December 2012, including when taxes are below EU
minimum levels. Block exempted aid for environmental
protection that can collectively be classified as having a direct benefit on
the environment, amounted to € 0.7 billion in 2010, corresponding
to around 4.9% of total aid for environmental objectives. This share is
particularly low by comparison with the share for the other horizontal objectives,
mainly because of a small number of tax exemption schemes approved in the past,
which are so significant in terms of their monetary value that they continue to
account for most of the state aid granted in this field. Almost 80 % of the
block exempted aid granted in this field was granted by Germany, Belgium, Italy
and Austria. For the EU as a whole,
the trend of aid for the environment decreased from 26.1% to 23.8% of total
aid to industry and services between 2005-2007 and 2008-2010. Several reasons can
justify the decrease. The first reason is the effect of the market-based incentives already implemented, through which operators
internalise their environmental costs and no state aid is needed. Higher EU
environmental standards are another aspect which contributes to the reduction
of state aid: adaptation to EU standards is compulsory for operators and they are
obliged to comply without any public support. Finally, budgetary constraints
due to the crisis may also have had an impact on the public expenditure
earmarked for environmental protection, at least in the second period
identified above.
2.2.5.
Regional development and cohesion
Figure 13: Aid to regional development[57] || In billion € || As % of total aid to industry and services || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of total aid to industry and services || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of total aid to industry and services) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007) Aid earmarked for regional development || 14.8 || 24.3% || + 1.1% || 23.5% || + 4.0% || || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of GDP || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of GDP) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007) Aid pursuant to Article 107(3)(a) || 16.2 || 0.13% || + 0.01% || 0.013% || - 0.1% Aid pursuant to Article 107(3)(c) || 2.7 || 0.02% || + 0.01% || 0.015% || + 0.007% The Commission Guidelines on national regional
aid for 2007-2013[58], applicable as of 1 January
2007, explain the general approach taken by the Commission in considering
whether aid granted to promote the economic development of certain
disadvantaged areas within the European Union is compatible with the internal market.
The aim of regional aid is to develop the economic, social and territorial
cohesion of a Member State and of the EU as a whole. The Commission encourages Member States to
grant regional aid on the basis of multi-sectoral schemes which form part of a
national regional policy. These schemes should lay down the general conditions
under which a Member State may grant regional aid, normally without needing to
notify individual cases to the Commission. In October
2006, the Commission adopted a block exemption regulation concerning national
regional investment aid[59] which remains applicable
until the end of 2013, although Member States may also grant regional aid
measures under GBER. Aid for regional development can also be
assessed directly under Article 107(3)(a) or Article 107(3)(c) TFEU. Article
107(3)(a) authorises aid that promotes the economic development of areas where
the standard of living is abnormally low or where there is serious
underemployment, the so-called category a' regions. The regional aid angle
under Article 107(3)(c) relates to aid for facilitating
the development of certain economic areas, where such aid does not adversely
affect trading conditions to an extent that is contrary to the common interest
- the so-called category 'c' regions. Furthermore, it is worth recalling that aid
earmarked for category 'a' or 'c' regions does not necessarily have regional
development as the primary horizontal objective; it could alternatively be
earmarked for other objectives. For this reason, the aggregate aid volumes of
the category 'a' and category 'c' regions are different from those quoted under
"aid earmarked for regional development".
2.3.
State aid earmarked for specific sectors
2.3.1.
Rescue and restructuring of firms in difficulty
Figure 14: Rescue and restructuring aid[60] || In billion € || As % of total aid to industry and services || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of total aid to industry and services || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of total aid to industry and services) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007) Rescue and restructuring aid || 0.48 || 0.8% || + 0.08% || 0.8% || - 1.3% During the trend period 2008-2010, Member
States continued their efforts to reduce aid levels for rescue and
restructuring. While Czech Republic, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom
accounted for roughly 89% of all rescue and restructuring aid, expenditures by
other Member States were rather low and 14 Member States granted no such aid.[61]
2.3.2.
Shipbuilding
Figure 15: Aid to the shipbuilding
sector[62] || In billion € || As % of total aid to industry and services || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of total aid to industry and services || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of total aid to industry and services) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007) Aid to the ship building sector || 0.15 || 0.26% || - 0.22% || 0.5% || -0.16%
2.3.3.
Steel industry
Figure 16: Aid to the steel industry[63] || In billion € || As % of total aid to industry and services || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of total aid to industry and services || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of total aid to industry and services) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007) Aid to the steel industry || 0.015 || 0.03% || - 0.16% || 0.17% || - 0.33% Since the
European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) Treaty expired on 23 July 2002,
general state aid rules have been applied to the steel sector, with the
exception that no investment or restructuring aid may be granted to steel
production unless it is closure aid.[64] In 2010, aid to the steel sector decreased significantly.
When looking at trends, the decrease in aid to the steel sector continued
during the period 2008-2010 in comparison to the previous trend period
(2005-2007). In 2010, only the United Kingdom granted an essential amount of
aid to this sector, while other Member States phased out such aid during the
period 2008‑2010.
2.3.4.
Coal
Figure 17: Aid to the coal sector[65] || In billion € || As % of total aid to industry and services || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of total aid to industry and services || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of total aid to industry and services) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007) Aid to the coal sector || 2.8 || 4.7% || 0.18% || 4.8% || - 2.7% State aid to the coal industry was governed
until 31 December 2010 by a specific legal framework, the Coal Regulation
1407/2002.[66] Regulation 1407/2002[67]
expired on 31 December 2010 and is replaced by Council Decision 2010/787/EU of
10 December 2010 on state aid to facilitate the closure of uncompetitive coal
mines.[68] The Decision adopted by the Council
provides for aid for uncompetitive mines within a closure plan. It provides for
only two categories of aid: (i) operating aid for the closure of mines (Article
3) and (ii) aid for exceptional costs (Article 4). The uncompetitive mines must
be closed by 31 December 2018 and the coal production progressively reduced
over the period. Aid for exceptional costs includes redundancy payments,
re-training costs, and site cleaning-up or safety costs.
2.3.5.
Transport
Figure 18: Aid to the transport sector[69] || In billion € || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of GDP || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of GDP) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007) Total aid to the transport sector || 2.3 || 0.019% || - 0.007% || 0.022% || - 0.062% Road and combined transport || 0.4 || 0.003% || - 0.001% || 0.005% || - 0.063% Maritime transport || 1.8 || 0.015% || - 0.001% || 0.015% || + 0.001 Inland water transport || 0.009 || 0.0001% || 0% || 0.0001% || 0% Air transport || 0.1 || 0.001% || - 0.005% || 0.0029% || 0% State aid to the transport sector is
governed by specific rules in the Treaty, as well as secondary legislation and
rules of soft law. Member States spend considerable resources
for the provision of Services of General Economic Interest (SGEI) in the
transport sector and for the construction, management and maintenance of
infrastructure. EU law foresees indeed a number of mechanisms allowing for and
encouraging the provision of such services. Member States must, however, ensure
that the public financing complies with the applicable rules and in particular
that it avoids overcompensation and undue distortion of competition.
2.3.5.1.
Land
In February
2010 the Commission adopted its first decision applying the new regulation on public
passenger transport services (in force since 3 December 2009). The Commission
thus concluded the formal investigation procedure initiated in 2008 regarding
the public-service contracts of the Danish railway company, Danske Statsbaner
(DSB). It found that the compensation paid by the Danish government every year
to DSB for the costs incurred in meeting its public-service obligations was
limited to what was strictly necessary to cover those costs. Also in
February 2010 the Commission opened the proceedings against the loan granted to
Železničná spoločnosť Slovakia Cargo. In May 2010 the Commission authorised on
the basis of the specific provisions of the Railway Guidelines the plan of
Société nationale des chemins de fer belges (SNCB) to restructure its freight
activities; in December 2010 it authorised a rescue aid of around
€ 128 million for BDZ EAD, the State-owned Bulgarian railway
operating on both freight and passenger railway markets. During 2010, as in previous years, the
Commission approved several schemes to support intermodality and combined
transport (France, Belgium, Italy, Germany and Hungary).
2.3.5.2.
Maritime
By comparison
with 2007-2009, the annual average of aid for 2008-2010 remains constant, at € 1.8
billion. Most cases in
this sector concern social aid to seafarers and special taxation rules for
shipping companies ("tonnage tax" schemes). In this regard the
Commission approved the introduction of the Cypriot tonnage tax scheme, as well
as amendments to the Slovenian tonnage tax scheme. It also authorised the
extension of the Dutch tonnage tax scheme to cable layers, pipeline layers,
research vessels and crane vessels. There were also
a few cases where Member States notified public financing of port
infrastructure. In the same year the Commission partially authorised a Greek port infrastructure
development project. Lastly, the
Commission also approved rescue aid to the French maritime company SeaFrance in
August 2010, but subsequently opened proceedings with regard to the
restructuring aid to the company. The Commission closed this proceeding by
decision.[70] In 2010 the
Commission decided to launch a study in order to obtain a more accurate
knowledge of the functioning of European ports and their financing. This study
will assist the Commission to identify a reliable approach for moving forward
in the enforcement of state aid rules.
2.3.5.3.
Aviation
The reported
figures over 2008-2010 show a decrease of 23% in the aid amount granted by
Member States for the air transport sector compared to the previous triennial
period. In 2010 the
Commission approved 7 cases concerning projects for financing airport
infrastructure (Finland, Germany, Latvia, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom).
Three start-up aids for establishing new lines and increasing existing
frequencies were approved in 2010 (Belgium, Italy and France). One case of rescue
aid for an airline was approved (Malta) and one social aid scheme concerning
the French overseas departments. In these cases, the Commission considered that
the planned investments had a positive impact on the accessibility of the
region, which outweighed the negative impact on competition. On the basis of
the criteria, set out respectively in paragraphs 61 and 79 of the guidelines of
2005 on financing of airports and start-up aid to airlines departing from
regional airports, the Commission concluded that these forms of public support
were compatible with the internal market. In 2010 the
Commission continued with its substantial workload resulting from the examination
of a large number of complaints concerning investment aid and aid to airlines.
In some of these cases, a formal investigation procedure is still ongoing.
Nevertheless, one of the formal investigation procedures was concluded and a
final decision was taken in 2010, where the Commission found that the agreement
between Bratislava airport (Slovakia) and Ryanair had been concluded in
accordance with the behaviour of a market economy operator. In other cases,
where the formal investigation procedure was opened or continued in 2010, there
is a need to examine whether the public investment constitutes state aid, and
whether this state aid could still be declared compatible if the relevant
conditions, laid down in the 2005 guidelines, are met.
2.3.6.
Agriculture
Figure 19: Aid to the agricultural
sector[71] || New notifications in 2010 || Decisions in 2010 || New block exempted measures in 2010 Number of aid measures || 146 || 150 || 258 || In billion € || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of GDP Aid granted to the agricultural sector || 10.2 || 0.08% || - 0.01% Of which is block exempted aid || 1.7 || 0.013% || - 0.002% The highest
expenditures were reported by France (€ 2.4 billion) and Finland (€ 1.2
billion). When
comparing 2010 with the previous year, the majority of Member States (22) reduced
their state aid expenditure, while Czech Republic, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia granted more aid to the agricultural sector. Block exempted aid in agriculture The trend in the number of measures (258) implemented
in 2010 under the Block Exemption Regulation was at a similar level to the
previous year (267), but considerably lower in comparison with 2007 (496) and
2008 (433). Until now, only Luxembourg, Portugal and
Malta have not notified under this Regulation. It should be noted that, since 2009 all block
exempted aid schemes have been submitted by Member States under Commission
Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. This is due to the fact that, since the entry
into force of the GBER, under which Member States communicate directly to DG
Competition, agricultural measures in the fields of research and development,
aid in the form of risk capital, training aid, environmental aid and aid for
disadvantaged and disabled workers (to the extent that these categories of aid
are not covered by Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006). Measures published under
Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 are only recorded until August 2008. Block exempted aid accounted for 14.9% of
the total state aid expenditure in agriculture for 2010, whereas in 2009 it was
13.9%. Analysing the results per country, it appears that Italy, Cyprus and The
Netherlands spend more than 30% of their state aid under a block exemption.
2.3.7.
Fisheries and aquaculture
Figure 20: Aid to the fisheries and
aquaculture sector[72] || New notifications in 2010 || Decisions in 2010 || New block exempted measures in 2010 Number of aid measures || 20 || 14 || 43 || In billion € || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year; in % of GDP Aid granted to the fisheries sector || 0.130 || 0.01% || - 0.0006% Of which is block exempted aid || 0.019 || 0.002% || 0.001% France reported the highest overall state
aid expenditure (€ 72.5 million), followed by the Czech Republic (€ 21.3
million), Spain (€ 13.5 million), the Netherlands (€ 5.4 million) and Portugal
(€ 3.6 million). 65% of the total block-exemption aid was granted by Spain (€ 12.4 million). With respect to the number of aid measures,
Spain reported the most schemes in numbers (27), followed by Denmark (18), the
Netherlands (16) and the United Kingdom (11). No legislation has been adopted in 2010 as
regards state aid in the sector of fisheries and aquaculture. In the context of
the ongoing reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) state aid issues may be
taken into account. A proposal for a new financial Regulation will be presented
in November 2011. The Commission will submit a proposal for a new financial
instrument covering Maritime affairs and Fisheries at the end of 2011.
2.4.
Use of the state aid instruments
Figure 21: Expenditure as per aid
instrument[73] Expenditure as per aid instrument; year 2010 || In billion € || % of total aid to industry and services || Difference when compared to previous year; by % of total aid to industry and services || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of total aid to industry and services) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007) Grants || 33.5 || 54.9% || + 3.8% || 52.0% || - 1.4% Soft loans || 1.6[74] || 2.7% || - 0.8% || 3.2% || + 0.5% Guarantees || 1.5[75] || 2.5% || + 0.5% || 2.1% || + 0.8% Equity participation || 0.6 || 1.0% || - 0.8% || 1.1% || + 0.7% Tax exemptions (incl. tax deferrals) || 23.7 || 39.0% || - 2.7% || 41.6% || - 0.5% Tax exemptions are
the instrument used for the most part in connection with aid measures earmarked
for environmental protection (approximately € 10 billion), followed by regional
development (around € 6.5 billion), sectoral development (approximately € 3.9
billion) and R&D&I (about € 1 billion). Venture capital aid (around €
0.5 billion), together with aid to SMEs (approximately € 0.7 billion) accounts
for a further major share. Moreover, 6 Member States granted more than 50% of
their aid volume through tax exemption.[76] With respect to direct grants, 9 Member
States contributed more than 80% of their aid in the form of grants.[77]
3.
State aid in the context of the financial and
economic crisis
3.1.
State aid measures for the financial sector
3.1.1. General background Before the financial and economic crisis
hit Europe in the autumn of 2008, the EU had been experiencing steady economic
growth. Budget deficits were down to an average of 0.8% of GDP in 2007 – the
best result in thirty years.[78] Unemployment during this
period fell and stayed at a long-time low of 7% EU-wide in 2008. In parallel,
the level of state aid to industry and services in the EU decreased annually by
2% on average since 2002, and stood at € 65 billion, i.e. less than
0.5% of GDP, in 2007. The crisis brought the steady GDP growth,
low levels of state aid and decreasing budget deficits to an abrupt end. Member
States pumped unprecedented amounts of state aid into the financial sector in
order to restore financial stability and the normal functioning of the
financial markets, including continued access to finance by EU companies. When
inter-bank lending dried up in September 2008, Member States started to inject
large amounts of aid into the banking sector to ensure that lending to the
economy could continue. Guided by the temporary framework, Member States also began
taking steps from the end of 2009 to ease business's financing constraints.
This led to a sharp increase – of more than 10% of GDP - in the level of state aid,
and this increase continued in 2010, as a result of crisis aid to the financial
sector in particular. The European Commission's state aid control
policy was one of the key factors which ensured that this – generally
successful – rescue process was achieved in a coordinated manner. It allowed the
swift implementation of unprecedented support measures and ensured at the same
time that the Internal Market was kept intact.[79] While economic growth returned to positive
levels again in 2010 for the EU as a whole, after having dropped to -5% of GDP
in 2009, there were signs of big differences in economic performance between Member
States. Although Member States which were severely hit by the financial turmoil
and the subsequent sovereign debt crisis are still facing distress, in other Member
States, particularly those with sound economic fundamentals or small open
export countries, the recovery seems to be on track. However, the sovereign
debt crisis and high levels of unemployment in some Member States and the
overall world-wide economic situation give rise to uncertainty and adversely
affect growth prospects. The Commission's forecast expects 2011 GDP to grow at
+1.7 % in the EU, fuelled by Germany's GDP growth (+ 2.9% of GDP), whereas
growth estimates in other large European economies are weaker (FR 1.6%, UK 1.1,
IT 0.7, ES 0.8). However, there are signs that the recovery is becoming
self-sustained. Growth in economic activities is shifting slightly from
exclusive reliance on export-led demand to a higher contribution from internal
sources of growth, such as investment, and - to a lesser extent -private
consumption. However the overall outlook is not immune from downside risks
related to the interplay between vulnerabilities on sovereign debts and the financial
sector. Whether or not these risks actually materialize, they could potentially
trigger negative spill-over on the real side of the economy. 3.1.2. State aid granted to the
financial sector In the period between 1 October 2008 and 1
October 2011,[80] the Commission took a
total of around 290 decisions in the financial services sector based on Article
107(3)(b) TFEU, aimed at remedying a serious disturbance in Member States’
economies. These decisions authorised, amended or prolonged 41 schemes and
addressed the situation in more than 55 financial institutions.. The Commission
has so far taken only one prohibition decision. Financial crisis measures were
taken in all Member States, except Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Malta
and Romania. Given the uncertainty characterizing the
financial sector and the EU economy as a whole, there is no sign of a general
pattern of exit from State support measures. However, by looking at the
evolution over time of the measures pledged in the period 2008-2011, and the
measures used in the period 2008-2010, we can highlight some positive trends. In the period between 1 October 2008 and 1
October 2011[81] the Commission approved
aid to the financial sector for an overall amount of € 4506.5 billion (36.7% of
EU GDP). The bulk of the aid was authorised in 2008 when € 3457 billion (27.7%
of EU GDP) were approved, mainly in the form of guarantees on bank's bonds and
deposits.[82] After 2008, the aid
approved focused more on recapitalisation of banks and impaired asset relief
rather than on guarantees. The overall amount of aid used in the
period 2008-2010[83] stands at € 1608 billion
(13.1% of EU GDP). Guarantees and liquidity measures account for € 1199 billion
or roughly 9.8 % of EU GDP. The remainder of the aid used refers to
recapitalisation and impaired assets measures which amount to € 409 billion (3.3%
of EU GDP). Slightly over 72 % of the aid used has been granted through schemes
while the remainder was provided on ad hoc basis. Box 1: The
different instruments of state aid to financial institutions and how to measure
them Two
different concepts are used in this Report to describe the volumes of state aid
to financial institutions: the committed amount of aid and the used amount of
aid.[84] The pledged
volume of aid (aid approved) represents the overall maximum amount of state
aid measures (such as guarantees, capital injections and other) provided by
Member States and approved by the Commission. This figure corresponds to the
upper limits of support which Member States are allowed to grant to the
financial institutions. However, it expresses neither the amounts actually
implemented nor the benefit which individual financial institutions obtained. The used
amount (aid used or aid granted) of the aid expresses the actual volume of
the aid measure which Member States implemented: –
For recapitalisation: the used amount of aid is equal to the nominal value of the
recapitalisation. [85]. –
For impaired asset relief: the used amount of aid is the difference between the transfer
value paid to the beneficiary and the market value of the asset. –
For guarantee:
the used amount of aid is the outstanding volume of the liability covered by the State in a given year, calculated as the average of end of quarter (31 March; 30 June;
30 September; 30 December) outstanding amounts. [86] –
For liquidity support: the used amount of aid is the outstanding
volume of liquidity measures (e.g. value of the loan)
in a given year, calculated as the average of end of
quarter (31 March; 30 June; 30 September; 30 December) outstanding amounts. Asset
support measures (recapitalisation and impaired asset relief) are recorded at
the time of their issuance. For liability support (liquidity and guarantee),
aid is recorded as long as the liability matures. More
details on the data coverage of the Scoreboard are provided in the Methodology
Notes at page 56. The tables below show, for each Member
State and for the whole of the EU, the overall amount of financial crisis aid
to financial institutions approved, as well as the overall amount of aid used
for the different instruments.[87] Figure 22: Approved amounts of aid to
financial institutions in the years 2008-2011 Figure 22a: Approved amounts of aid to
financial institutions in the years 2008-2010 Figure 23: Used amounts of aid to
financial institutions in the years 2008-2010 In 2010, the amount of aid pledged
decreased substantially compared to the two previous years. Even though most of
the measures approved in previous years are still operational the reduced
reliance on new measures suggests that the measures approved in the past have
succeeded in providing general relief for the banking system. However despite
clear improvements at EU level, the need for State support differs considerably
across countries and segments of the banking sector[88].
This circumstance is reflected by the level of concentration in terms of the
number of countries which approved further aid support in 2010. Three countries
(IE, EL and ES) account for roughly 82%[89] of the
overall volume of aid approved in 2010. In 2010, the Commission authorised aid
for an overall amount of € 383.8 billion, representing roughly 3.1% of EU GDP.
The new aid approved is concentrated in a few countries and involves
recapitalisation of € 183.9 billion, guarantees for € 55.4 billion, impaired
assets relief for € 77.9 billion and liquidity measures for € 66.7 billion. The overall volume of aid used in 2010 for
recapitalisation and impaired assets stood at € 121.3 billion (1% of EU
GDP). New capital injections accounted for € 87.8 billion (0.7% of EU GDP)
while impaired asset relief measures accounted for € 33.6 billion (0.3% of EU
GDP). With regards to guarantees and liquidity measures the average outstanding
amount for the year 2010 stood at € 983.9 billion (8% of GDP) of which € 922.03
billion (7.5% of EU GDP) relates to guarantees while € 61.9 billion (0.5% of EU
GDP) relates to liquidity measures. The same conclusions regarding the
concentration of the new aid implemented in 2010 in a small number of countries
can be drawn with regard to the amount used. For instance in the case of
recapitalisation[90] roughly 88 % of the new
capital injections were implemented by three countries (IE, UK and ES) out of a
total of just 7 countries which also used this instrument in 2010. 3.1.3. State aid per instrument 3.1.3.1 Guarantees on bank debt Guarantees were the first category of
instruments used by Member States to respond to the turmoil in the financial
sector. The bulk of guarantees schemes were approved at the onset of the
crisis, between autumn 2008 and mid 2009. Overall, roughly 90 % of the
guarantees were granted through schemes, since they were directed at the whole
financial system rather than the weaknesses of specific banks. Guarantees, in
particular, have proved to be effective in tackling the liquidity constraints arising
from the systemic loss of confidence which paralysed the interbank market and prompted
a sudden increase in the cost of wholesale funding. These developments even
affected banks with strong fundamentals and good solvency perspectives. Against
this background, State intervention facilitated banks' access to funding by
issuing State guaranteed bonds. Their attractiveness in comparison to
non-guaranteed instruments helped overcome the lack of confidence in the market
and enabled banks to roll-over their maturing debt. Banks' dependency on guaranteed bonds has decreased
substantially in the past year. The gradual improvement in financial market
conditions led to a stabilisation of the funding cost for many banks, in
particular for those which had seen their credit risk outlook improve. The
amount of State-guaranteed bonds issued by banks was down in 2010, while the overall
amount of bonds issued in the same year did not decrease with respect to 2009, adding
weight to the assumption that most banks have regained access to markets
without the need to use State guarantees. Moreover, from mid 2009, most State
guaranteed bonds were issued by banks already in the process of restructuring.
This suggested that the scope for State guarantees to address contingent
liquidity constraints had somehow been exhausted and justified a change in the
conditions for the approval of guarantees as from 1 July 2010. The Commission's
Staff Working paper on the application of state aid rules to government
guarantee schemes covering bank debt to be issued after 30 June 2010[91]
laid the foundation to start the process of phasing out guarantees by a) an
increase in the guarantee fee paid by the issuer and b) the submission of a
restructuring plan for those institutions using new guarantees and exceeding a
certain threshold of total outstanding liabilities[92].
The aim of these conditions is to reduce distortions of competition by
increasing the cost of guaranteed-bonds relative to non-guaranteed bonds. In
addition, the current design of the state aid regulation allows banks to benefit
from State guarantees to the extent that they will undertake practical measures
to remove their structural vulnerabilities. Despite the steps taken to stimulate the phasing
out of government guarantees, the current market situation suggests that a
gradual process of moving away from support measures should be maintained. As
mentioned above, the volatility of funding costs, sovereign risk and relevant
re-financing needs prevent markets from achieving lasting stability. In
particular by the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, a considerable amount
of State-guaranteed bonds reach maturity. In the course of 2010, banks have
started to roll-over guaranteed bonds and to replace them by ordinary bond
issues. However, the underlying risks to which the financial sector is exposed
suggest that particular care should be taken in stepping up the exit process.
Against this background, the Commission has kept the current state aid rules
for government guarantees schemes until 31 December 2011.[93]
Eight out of 20 countries have prolonged the validity of their scheme after
2010. Figure 24: Breakdown of state guaranteed
bonds issued by maturity Source: Commission
services and Bloomberg Concerning the amount approved in the
period between 1 October 2008 and 1 October 2011, guarantees worth 3289.5
billion (26.8% of EU GDP) were approved by the Commission in a large number of
countries. In terms of the amount actually used in the
years 2008-2010 in the entire EU a maximum[94] of € 1111.84 billion
(9% of EU GDP) billion were actually granted. The countries which have made the
most use of guarantees are Ireland € 360 billion and UK € 158.4 billion
followed by Denmark € 145 billion (the largest part expired) and Germany € 135.04
billion. As a percentage of GDP, Ireland is still the largest user (233.9%)
followed by Denmark (61.9%) and Belgium (12.5%). In 2010, € 55.4 billion of new guarantees were
approved by the Commission of which € 40.9 billion was covered by
schemes. These are spread across 6 countries: a further € 40 billion have been
approved for Greece (17.4% of its GDP), € 10 billion have been
approved for Ireland (6.5% of Ireland GDP) and smaller amounts have been
approved for Spain, Latvia, Lithuania and United Kingdom. With respect to the aid actually used in
2010, the average outstanding volume of guarantees amounts to € 922.2 billion
(7.5% of EU GDP). The difference between the maximum outstanding amount (€ 1111.8
billion) and the amount outstanding in 2010 represents the volume of guarantees
expired. It should be noticed that, with the exception of Denmark, where the
sizeable volume of guarantees granted in 2008 was replaced by further schemes
for a lower amount, most of the guarantees are still outstanding in the
remaining countries. The country which has shown the largest
increase in the volume of outstanding guarantees in 2010 is Ireland which
reported an additional outstanding amount of € 55 billion (roughly 42% of IE
GDP). Figure
25: Outstanding guarantees (used amount) per country by year Figure 26: Schemes expired/in place by
country 3.1.3.2. Recapitalisation measures As follows from figure 27 the total volume
of recapitalisation measures approved in the period between 1 October 2008 and 1
October 2011 is € 598.05 billion (4.9% of EU GDP). Three countries (Germany,
Spain and United Kingdom), out of a total of 21 countries using this
instrument, account for almost 55 % of the overall amount approved. However
looking at the figures in terms of national GDP, Ireland emerges as the country
with the largest approved budget (58.5% of Ireland's GDP), whereas most of the
other countries show figures in line with the EU average. The bulk of the
overall volume of aid aimed at recapitalising Irish banks was approved in 2010
(€ 52 billion – 33.8% of Ireland's GDP) and in 2011 (€ 25.5 billion – 16.6 % of
GDP). Other appreciable amounts of aid approved in 2010 are reported for Spain
(€ 101.1 billion – 9.5% of Spain's GDP) and Greece (€ 10 billion – 4.3% of
Greece's GDP). In the case of Spain the budget approved in 2010 represents the
entire budget allocated for the recapitalisation of Spanish banks. Concerning the amount used in 2008-2010 15
countries are relying on recapitalisation measures. The countries which have
injected more capital into their banking system are United Kingdom (€ 82.9 billion),
Germany (€ 56.6 billion) and Ireland (€ 46.2 billion), whereas in terms of GDP -
in line with what is observed for the amount approved - the capital injections
provided by Ireland are larger than in other countries since they represents 30
% of Ireland's GDP. Most of the Irish recapitalisation (€ 35.2 billion) took
place in 2010. In relative terms other noticeable volumes of recapitalisation
over the whole period have been observed in Luxemburg (6.2% of Luxemburg's GDP),
Belgium (5.8% of Belgium's GDP) and UK (4.9% of UK's GDP). Apart from Ireland's
capital injections the remainder of the aid used in 2010 is divided between the
following countries (United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and
Austria). Figure 27: Recapitalisation: Used amount
per country by year Slightly over half of the amount used was
injected into financial institutions on an ad hoc basis. Six countries (AT, DE,
DK, ES, FR and UK) used both ad hoc measures and schemes. All the other countries
except IT, PT and HU relied on ad hoc measures. By looking at the concentration of aid
among beneficiaries, it is noticeable that three banks account for more than one
third of the total amount used. Two of them are UK banks: The Royal Bank of
Scotland and Lloyds Bank received approximately € 50 billion and € 25 billion respectively.
The second largest recipient is the Anglo Irish Bank, which raised around € 29 billion
of capital from the Irish Government in 2010. Almost 85% of the recapitalisation has been
directed either to banks under restructuring or to banks where the
restructuring plan has either not yet been submitted or has not yet been
approved by the Commission. In the case of ad hoc measures, this percentage is
as high as 99%, whereas for schemes it stood at roughly 63%. One of the reasons
to explain this difference is that some Member States (ES, FR, IT, DK and SE)
required that the banks applying for the aid under schemes had to be in a sound
financial condition. Moreover, at the beginning of the crisis, the Commission
introduced a distinction between sound banks and distressed banks, in order to
distinguish between institutions with structural solvency problems and
institutions experiencing temporary liquidity constraints. The assessment of
banks’ specific situation was also aimed at ascertaining whether a
restructuring plan was required in order to ensure the long-term viability of
the business and to minimise distortions in competition. Therefore, those banks
which were not facing serious structural difficulties were allowed to benefit
from capital injections without undertaking restructuring actions.[95] Since January 2011, every bank applying for
capital injections has had to submit a restructuring plan, irrespective of the
amount of aid and of whether the aid is provided in the form of schemes or ad
hoc measures. Figure 28: Schemes expired/in place by
country More than 51 % (€ 160 billion) of
recapitalisation aid are represented by Core Tier 1 instruments, most of which
are common equity. According to the European Bank Authority, without additional
Government capital injections 18 banks would have had their Core Tier 1 capital
under the 5% risk threshold at the end of 2010 compared with the three banks actually
in this situation under the baseline scenario.[96] Exit from recapitalisation aid can also
take the form of repayments from private banks to governments in order to
return the capital received. The total repayments which were made during the
whole period considered (2008-2010) amount to € 17.7 billion.[97]
Most of the repayments were made by French banks; they amount to € 15 billion.
This value accounts for almost 70% of the total capital injected in the French
banking system (€ 22 billion). In the case of Hungary, the only bank which
received capital injections (FHB) has returned them to the government in their
entirety. In the other case (NL, DE and UK), the amount repaid still accounts
for a small share of the total amount of capital injected by the State. In the
course of 2011 further repayments were made by the French BPCE, the Italian
Banco popolare and the Dutch Aegon. These banks repayments accounting in all
cases for 100 per cent of the capital injected, amounts in total to € 9.5
billion. Further repayment amounting respectively to €11.8 billion and € 7
billion has been made in 2011 by the German Commerzbank and the Dutch ING; they
accounts respectively for 65% and 70% of the capital received from the State.
The total amount of repayments up to October 2011 stands at € 46 billion. The
main strategy used, in particular by French and UK banks, to repay the capital
received was to replace it with capital raised in the market. This strategy has
been complemented by retaining earnings, selling business units and
deleveraging. 3.1.3.3. Impaired asset relief The threat of impaired assets, namely the
uncertainty about the realisable value effectively achievable on risky assets
held by banks, is still relevant, in particular in some segments of the
European financial sector. However in 2010, the number of write-downs recorded
in Europe has been lower than in previous years and in many cases new
injections of capital, raised directly on the market, have compensated for the
losses arising from the difference between the revised market value of the
assets and the book value. State aid in the form of impaired asset
relief measures was granted in Europe in a second phase of the crisis when the
problem of toxic assets had acquired more prominence. Lessons from the past
crises highlight the importance of cleaning the banks' balance sheet, and the difficulties
in pricing toxic assets correctly. The overall amount of impaired asset relief approved
in the period between 1 October 2008 and 1 October 2011 was € 421.13 billion. Impaired
asset measures are concentrated in a few Member States. Indeed, this kind of
state aid has been approved in only 11 out of 27 countries. By far the majority
of the amount approved in absolute value (€ 248 billion) relates to the United Kingdom's
intervention. Other countries which approved considerable impaired asset relief
measures are Ireland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. In GDP term the
largest volume of aid was approved for Ireland (35.1% of Ireland's GDP)
followed by the United Kingdom (14.6% of the United Kingdom's GDP). In 2010 the bulk of the aid was approved
for Ireland (€ 54 billion -35.1% of Ireland's GDP) and Germany (€ 20 billion –
0.8% of Germany's GDP). Figure 29: Impaired assets: Used amount
per country by year The overall amount of aid actually used for
impaired assets stood at € 121.2 billion in the period 2008-2010. The intervention
was concentrated mainly in two countries (Germany and the United Kingdom) which
used € 56.1 billion and € 40.4 billion respectively. These figures accounts for
roughly 80% of the overall impaired assets intervention in Europe. In GDP terms
Ireland ends up in being the country which relied more on this type of
instruments (4.5% of GDP); the whole amount was used in 2010. In 2010, besides the amount approved under
the new Irish scheme, other impaired asset measures have been put in place for
banks. Two Spanish cajas (Caja Castilla-la Mancha and Caja Sur) received aid
amounting respectively to € 2.5 billion and to € 0.4 billion. The German Landesbank
West LB benefitted from € 3.3 billion of state aid in 2010, in addition to a
total of € 8.3 billion granted between 2008 and 2009, while Hypo Real Estates
received support amounting to € 20 billion in the form of asset relief. In Germany the measures are distributed
among five beneficiaries, mostly commercial banks and Landesbanken. In the
UK, asset relief is concentrated on a single beneficiary (Royal Banks of
Scotland). However, several banks have experienced considerable write downs on
their assets, largely compensated by additional capital raised through the State
and directly on the market. This may suggest that the impaired assets troubles
in the UK have been mostly resolved by capital injections. More than 90% of asset relief measures have
been approved by means of ad hoc interventions. Owing to the
difficulties concerning the correct assessment of the valuation of the assets,
combined with the need to ensure burden-sharing for the beneficiary, many States
have preferred to tailor the intervention on the basis of the specific
individual circumstances of the institution, rather than using general schemes.
The only country which has an operating scheme for asset relief is Ireland,
where a general plan for asset relief (NAMA) was approved in 2010. Other
countries designed either specific schemes (Germany) or schemes incorporated
into a more general programme to deal with the effects of the financial crisis
(Hungary, Austria and Lithuania). Both in Germany and in Hungary, the schemes
have expired without being used. In Germany as well as in Austria, despite the
existence of schemes, asset relief intervention has taken place on an ad hoc
basis, whereas in the case of Lithuania no specific amount was allocated for
this kind of aid. A large proportion (80%) of asset relief
interventions benefitted banks that were undergoing a restructuring process.
The remaining banks which benefitted from impaired asset relief have either
already submitted a restructuring plan which is under evaluation by the
Commission or will be required to submit a restructuring plan to the Commission
for approval. As in the case of recapitalisation, since
January 2011, state aid rules have required every bank applying for impaired asset
measures to present a restructuring plan. 3.1.3.4. Liquidity interventions other
than guarantees In the period between 1 October 2008 and 1
October 2011 the total volume of aid approved in the form of liquidity
intervention other than guarantees amounts to € 197.7 billion 1.6% of GDP).
Four countries - the Netherlands (€ 52.9 billion), the United Kingdom (€ 51.9
billion), Ireland (€ 40 billion) and Spain (€ 31.8 billion) - account for
roughly 89% of the whole aid approved whereas in terms of GDP the largest budget
was allocated by Ireland (26% of Ireland's GDP) Luxemburg (12.6% of
Luxembourg's GDP) followed by the Netherlands (8.9% of the Netherlands' GDP). As regards the aid used the overall volume
of liquidity measures implemented in the period 2008-2010 amounts to € 87.15
billion (0.7 % of EU GDP). In absolute terms the Netherlands (€ 30.4
billion), the UK (€ 19.8 billion)) and Spain (€ 19.3 billion) have been the
countries relying the most on this instrument. In relative terms the support
granted by Latvia (5.4% of Latvia's GDP) is followed by the amount granted by the
Dutch government (5.1% of the Netherlands' GDP) and by Greece (3.3% of Greece's
GDP). Two-thirds of the overall liquidity provided has been granted on the
basis of ad hoc measures. The remainder consists of schemes implemented
by three countries: Greece, Hungary and Spain. The latter Member States' scheme
involves a fund aimed at providing liquidity for the acquisition of financial
assets. In 2010 the average volume of outstanding
liquidity amounted to € 61.9 billion. The decrease in the outstanding amount of
liquidity is mainly due to the fact that the bulk of the liquidity accounted
for by the facility provided by the Dutch government to Fortis-ABM has expired.
The countries recording the largest amount of average outstanding liquidity in
2010 are United Kingdom (€ 19.8 billion) and Spain (€ 19 billion) while Latvia shows
the largest outstanding amount in GDP terms (5%). Figure 30: Liquidity measures: Used
amount per country by year 3.1.4. Restructuring While the temporary state aid rules applicable
to the financial sector have proved to be an important instrument for containing
the crisis, there is a need to make a gradual exit from the exceptional State
support. In the previous sections, the importance of restructuring has been
emphasized, in order to ensure a return to normal market conditions and to
phase out State intervention measures. Since January 2011 every bank which receives
state aid support in whatever form has to submit a restructuring plan to the
Commission for approval. The broad features of this plan are illustrated in the
Commission's "Restructuring Communication".[98]
The main aim of the assessment undertaken
by the Commission prior to the approval of the plan is to ensure that, at the
end of the restructuring period, the restructured institutions will return to
viability without having to rely on additional state aid. For this reason, when
it is deemed that viability cannot be restored and the bank is unable to remain
on the market without State support, aid for its resolution is usually
provided. Resolution can take different forms (liquidation, sale, and
downsizing) depending on numerous factors, such as the specific context in
which the bank operates, its reference market and its activities. The
restructuring plan also has to comply with other requirements aimed at
minimising distortions of competition, limiting moral hazard and ensuring that
the aid was kept to the minimum. As end of September 2011 the Commission had
adopted 37 restructuring decisions: 25 approving a restructuring plan to
restore viability of financial institutions, 11 approving liquidation plans and
one negative decision which led to recovery of the aid which had been granted
(Banco Privado Portugues). In order to restore viability, various
measures have been put in place in cooperation with the Commission and the
Member States to remedy the structural weaknesses of the banks. Most of them
are aimed at limiting the range of bank activities in order to reduce overall
risk and ensure the viability of the core business. Divestments of subsidiaries
or assets are part of many restructuring plans (e.g. WestLB, ING). In some
cases the bank was required to abandon the activities that do not fit into the
bank's corporate strategy, as has been the case for the investment banking
activities of Germany’s Commerzbank. Other remedies falling within the broad
category of divestments involve reductions in balance sheets, personnel and
branches. When bank solvency has been endangered by the excessive risk-taking that
has been a feature of past bank investment strategy, changes in risk management
have also been considered, as in the case of LBBW. In the 11 cases where viability was deemed
impracticable by means of a restructuring plan, the Commission adopted a
decision leading to the banks’ liquidation. Danish banks Roskilde and Fionia,
as well as the Swedish investment bank Carnegie, went through an ordinary
liquidation, whereas Fortis BE and Caja Castilla La Mancha were sold and incorporated
in another group. In the case of Northern Rock, liquidation was undertaken for
the vast majority of the bank's assets, significantly reducing the size of the
bank to a very small entity (a downsizing of 80%). All cases include a general ban
on dividend and coupon payments. Liquidation can be regarded as the most
onerous form of burden-sharing, due to the costs borne by shareholders and
creditors. Burden-sharing is an essential component of the restructuring plan.
A common method of ensuring burden-sharing is the private shareholding dilution
involved in the purchase of public shares. In the cases where banks were
nationalised (Northern Rock, Fortis) with the purchase of shares for near-zero
prices, the shareholders completely lost control of the bank and incurred
losses from the forced sale of their shares. Lastly, the Commission has to ensure that
the restructuring plan includes adequate measures to limit the distortions of
competition by ensuring that the bank uses the aid exclusively to restore its
viability or to liquidate its assets in an orderly fashion. Many of the
standard measures of the restructuring plan (dividend/coupon bans, acquisition
bans, reduction of balance sheet and market share, and divestment of
profit-making entities) are also designed to limit distortions of competition. Box 2: The
Commission’s assessment of rescue and restructuring aid granted to financial
institutions during the crisis Financial
rescue and restructuring cases dealt with by the Commission during the crisis
were dealt with by means of a one or two-step process, according to the
criteria regarding the aid received and the aid beneficiary. First of
all, rescue aid is notified by the Member State pursuant to Article 108(3) TFEU
in all cases. According to different criteria laid down in the crisis
communications, especially the Restructuring Communication and the Impaired
Asset Communication, the aid beneficiary needs to undertake an in-depth
restructuring or a simple viability review. These criteria are: (i) the
capital adequacy of the aid beneficiary as reported by the national supervisory
authority (a poor capital adequacy outlook generally indicates the need to
restructure the beneficiary); (ii) the
size of the aid received in the form of recapitalisation or impaired asset
relief (until 1 January 2011, recapitalisations and/or impaired asset measures
amounting to more than 2% of the beneficiary's risk weighted assets were
generally been considered by the Commission as sizeable aid measures that reveal
structural difficulties encountered by the beneficiary and therefore
necessitate a restructuring of the latter; after 1 January 2011, all
recapitalisations and/or impaired asset measures trigger the restructuring of
the beneficiary); (iii) the
current CDS spread of the beneficiary (a CDS spread that is higher than the
sector average denotes a higher risk profile and a possible need for
restructuring); (iv) the
current rating of the beneficiary and its outlook (a rating below A with a
stable or positive outlook has been regarded by the Commission as an indicator
of a lower risk profile). Where these
criteria have not been met, and the aid beneficiary is not considered to be in
difficulty, the Commission has been able to follow a one-step process, by which
it authorised the aid on the condition that the Member States submit, within
six months after the rescue measure, a viability report in which the long-term
viability of the beneficiary is demonstrated. This viability report should
typically contain an assessment of the beneficiary's business model and its
financial outlook. This assessment should demonstrate the long-term viability
of the beneficiary and its ability to repay the aid received within a
reasonable timeframe.[99] Conversely,
when some of the criteria mentioned above have been met and it has been
acknowledged that the aid beneficiary is in difficulty, the Commission has
followed a two-step process in which it first temporarily approved the aid, as
long as a restructuring plan was submitted within six months after the rescue
aid ("rescue decision"). Therefore,
in a second stage, when a restructuring plan was submitted, the Commission had
to assess it with reference to the Restructuring Communication. In particular,
the plan should demonstrate the beneficiary's ability to restore its long-term
viability within a reasonable timeframe (up to five years), it should
appropriately share the burden of the restructuring between the State and the
beneficiary shareholders and creditors, and it should include measures to limit
the distortions of competition caused by the aid. Where the
Commission had serious doubts about the ability of the restructuring plan to
meet these standards and, consequently, about the compatibility of the aid with
the internal market, it has decided to open a formal procedure, in accordance
with Article 108(2) TFEU. By means of this procedure, the third parties
concerned were asked to provide their comments on the aid measures. After a
careful assessment of the comments received and negotiations with the Member
States concerned on the details of the aid and the content of the restructuring
plan, the Commission was able to definitely authorise or reject the aid by
closing the formal procedure ("final decision"). Figure 31: List of
restructuring/liquidation decisions
3.2.
Aid granted under the temporary framework
3.2.1.
Context and purpose of the temporary framework
The global and financial crisis caused a
serious downturn in the real economy, affecting households, businesses and
jobs. In response, the Commission adopted its Communication "Temporary
Community framework for state aid measures to support access to finance in the
current financial and economic crisis" in December 2009, which allowed
Member States, under certain conditions, to introduce additional aid measures
aimed at facilitating companies' access to finance, while at the same time
encouraging investments. The temporary framework was originally due to expire
on 31 December 2010. The temporary framework, by facilitating
companies' access to finance, introduced the possibility of a direct grant of
up to € 500 000 per company, to provide guarantees for loans at reduced
premiums or subsidised interest rates for loans. In order to encourage
companies' future investments, such as in new technology projects, Member
States could grant aid in the form of subsidised interest rate loans for the
production of green products, and higher ceilings for venture capital
investments. Furthermore, the rules on export credit were simplified. Since the
temporary framework was designed to provide for a possible horizontal effect in
the economy, Member States were allowed to give support to any economic sector.
In order to be able to assess the
effectiveness of the temporary framework rules and to decide whether they
should be prolonged beyond 2010, the Commission asked Member States to submit a
report by October 2009 and sent out two questionnaires.[100]
Moreover, in October 2010, the Commission held a public consultation on the
prolongation of the temporary framework.[101] On the basis of the replies received from
Member States and some third parties, and in the light of the highly volatile
financial markets and the uncertainty about the economic outlook, the
Commission decided to prolong certain measures set out in the temporary framework
for one year, i.e. until 31 December 2011.[102] While most instruments of the temporary
framework were prolonged, the compatible limited amount of € 500 000 per
company was phased out. Furthermore, the prolongation included a tightening of the
conditions under which Member States can grant aid under the temporary framework.
3.2.2.
Update on measures approved under the temporary
framework[103]
In 2010, Member States continued to grant aid
under the temporary framework. The Commission authorised six new schemes[104]: ·
one scheme for aid of up to € 500 000 per
company proposed by Bulgaria; ·
one guarantee measure in Spain; ·
one risk capital scheme in Spain; ·
three export-credit schemes, in Latvia, Hungary
and Slovenia. The Commission furthermore prolonged 10
schemes: ·
three schemes for aid of up to € 500 000 per
company, in Germany, Italy and Hungary; ·
two guarantee schemes, in Germany and Italy; ·
two schemes for subsidised interest rate loans,
in Germany and Italy; ·
three export-credit schemes, in Denmark, Germany
and Finland. In 2010, under the heading of ad hoc
aid measures, the Commission authorised one new guarantee scheme and prolonged
another guarantee scheme, both of which were in Sweden and granted to car
manufacturers. Ten new aid measures were granted to farmers. It is noted that,
so far, Cyprus has not notified any aid measure under the temporary framework. To provide an overview of the aid granted
under the temporary framework and authorised by the Commission in 2011 (until 1
October 2011), a total of 17 aid measures were prolonged or amended.[105]
During the same period, no new aid measures were authorised under the temporary
framework. While most Member States felt that there was a clear need to use the
instruments provided by the temporary framework during the first year, i.e.
2009, the few new measures authorised in 2010 and the absence of new measures
in 2011 suggest that Member States have made effective use of the tool during 2009
and 2010 when public support to the real economy was mostly needed. However, it
cannot be ruled out at this stage that Member States may request to prolong
some of their existing measures further. With respect to the approved aid volumes
authorised under the temporary framework, see the figure in the next paragraph.
3.2.3.
Aid granted in 2010
Figure 32: Aid granted under the
temporary framework[106] || 2010 || 2009 (in € billion) || As % of EU GDP || (in € billion) || As % of EU GDP Approved aid amount || 1.6 || 0.01% || 81.3 || 0.68% Aid amount used || 11.7 || 0.09% || 21 || 0.17% The small amount of the approved aid volume
can be explained by the fact that only a few new aid measures were introduced
by Member States under the temporary framework in 2010, while a large number of
aid measures were introduced in 2009 and also allowed aid to be granted in 2010.
Nevertheless, Member States have been very
cautious when drawing up the budget, given the uncertainties as to the depth
and the duration of the crisis in the real economy. Still, there is still a
large discrepancy between the total approved aid amount and the amount used,
which can be explained by the fact that Member States have continued to
exercise strict discipline when granting aid under the temporary framework.
Moreover, the budgetary restrictions imposed in 2010 may have had contributed
to this effect. With respect to the preferred arrangements
through which Member States provided aid under the temporary framework, the
tool that was most used was the subsidised guarantee, followed by the
subsidised interest rate loan and the maximum aid amount of € 500 000 per
undertaking. This ranking is the result obtained from looking at the amount
used. If one calculates the aid element for the corresponding amount used, the
ranking shows that the maximum aid amount of € 500 000 per undertaking is used
the most, followed by risk capital, the subsidised guarantee and subsidised
interest rate loans.[107] In the context of preparing the
Commission's Staff Working Document on "The effects of temporary state aid
rules in the context of the financial and economic crisis"[108],
the Commission sent a questionnaire to Member States asking for more details
on, inter alia, their aid measures granted under the temporary framework.
It can be concluded from the replies that
SMEs benefited most from aid granted under the temporary framework. Some Member
States granted aid almost exclusively to SMEs, while a few Member States also
included large enterprises.[109] Furthermore, it was
found that in many Member States the number of beneficiaries was rather high,
in some instances more than 10,000 small companies. The replies from some
Member States provided more detail in terms of the sectors which benefitted
from the aid granted under the temporary framework. While the information
provided in the replies is mostly presented in the form of an estimate, it can
be concluded that the sectors which have benefitted the most are the
manufacturing-related sectors, followed by services such as tourism and
construction activities.
4.
Trends in non-crisis state aid expenditure by type
of aid measures
Figure 33[110]:
Trend by type of aid measures (number of measures); EU-27 When looking at the number of measures,
2010 saw a fall in new aid measures, particularly in relation to schemes and
more significantly in new block exempted aid, whereas the number of new
individual aid measures remained stable. While the overall number of new aid
measures authorised by the Commission or introduced by Member States (with
respect to GBER aid measures) fell by almost half, it has to be noted that the proportion
of aid granted through block exemptions, schemes and individual aid has not
changed significantly. Nevertheless, a large percentage of new aid measures
(approximately 66%) were introduced by Member States by means of a block
exemption. The remaining aid scrutinised by the Commission represented 34% and
even decreased slightly in 2010. One main reason for the substantial drop in
the number of new block exempted aid measures in 2010 is the fact that Member
States introduced many new GBER measures in 2009 by phasing out aid measures
implemented under the previous block exempted aid measures which fell under the
Regulations covering aid for employment[111], to SMEs[112]
and for training.[113] Furthermore, some new
GBER measures also replaced previous block exempted aid measures falling under
regional block exemption aid.[114] A further reason is the fact that national
budgets in the Member States were generally exercising strict budgetary control
in 2010, which provided little potential to create new state aid measures. However, it is too early to detect a trend
in future numbers of GBER aid measures from the short period during which the
GBER has actually been in force. Figure 34[115]:
Trend by type of aid measures (number of measures); EU-27 The year 2010 saw a further increase in the
aid volume granted by Member States under the block exemption. It amounted to
approximately € 12.6 billion, or 21% of all aid granted to industry and
services. With respect to the notified aid schemes, the aid volume amounted to
approximately € 40.4 billion, which is 67.5% of total aid to industry and
services or 0.33% of EU GDP. Lastly, individual aid amounted to € 6.8 billion,
which is equal to 11.5 % of total aid to industry and services or 0.06% of EU
GDP. Generally, the positive trend by which
Member States grant more aid through block exemption also continued in 2010 and
allowed the Commission to focus on the examination of individual
applications within a scheme and ad-hoc measures; it is these cases which most
often have the greatest potential to distort competition.
5.
Enforcing the state aid rules
5.1.
Unlawful aid
Article 108(3) TFEU requires Member States
not only to notify state aid measures to the Commission before their
implementation, but also to await the outcome of the Commission's investigation
before implementing notified measures. If either of these obligations is not
respected, the state aid measure is considered to be unlawful. When, following a
formal investigation procedure, the state aid measure is considered
incompatible with the internal market, the Commission shall decide that the
Member State must take all necessary measures to recover the aid from the
beneficiary in accordance with national procedures (negative decision with
recovery). In the period 2000 to
30 June 2011, the Commission took 980 decisions on unlawful aid.[116]
In 22% of unlawful aid cases (217 cases) the Commission intervened by taking a
negative decision on an incompatible aid measure. This negative decision
normally requires the Member State concerned to recover the illegally awarded
aid. In a further 2% of unlawful aid cases (31 cases), the Commission took a
conditional decision. In addition, there are 105 pending unlawful
aid cases which are still under scrutiny by the Commission. These cases are
usually taken up by the Commission in reaction to a complaint or ex officio
(case started at the Commission's own initiative). The figures also include
cases notified by a Member State, but for which the measure was fully or
partially implemented by the Member State before the Commission's final
decision (i.e. cases where the standstill clause was not respected).
5.2.
Recovery of unlawful aid
Further progress has been made towards in
implementing pending recovery decisions. The total number of pending recovery
cases stood at 55[117] (compared to 94 cases
at the end of 2004). The amount of illegal and incompatible aid recovered since
2000 has further increased and on 30 June 2011 amounted to more than € 11.5 billion.
That means that the percentage of illegal and incompatible aid still to be
recovered has fallen from 75% at the end of 2004 to around 18.6% on 30 June
2011. Recovery in the transport sector In its judgment of 13 September 2010 the
General Court partially annulled the Commission decision C 11/2004 on the privatisation
of Olympic Airways. The Court held that the Commission had failed to prove that
the amount of around € 131 million granted by Greece constituted state aid. At
the same time it upheld the Commission's decision according to which the
continued forbearance of the Greek State towards Olympic Airways’ non-payment
of taxes and social security contributions (of about € 354 million) amounted to
illegal and incompatible state aid to be recovered. Recovery in the fisheries and
aquaculture sector In 2010, no recovery decision was adopted
by the Commission. Two cases, which the Commission took before the Court of Justice
over the failure to comply with the obligations established by the Treaties,
are pending.[118]
5.3.
Enforcement of state aid law: Cooperation with
national courts
Cooperation with national courts In the follow-up to the Notice on the
Enforcement of State Aid Law by National Courts of 2009[119],
advocacy efforts have intensified: an information package was published on
DG Competition's website[120] and a booklet[121]
compiling the EU materials most relevant for state aid enforcement in the
judges' daily work was widely distributed. Specific training for national
judges has also been organised, namely in Finland, Poland and Romania. Through the dedicated contact point, ec-amicus-state-aid@ec.europa.eu
several requests for information and requests for opinion sent by national
judges have been dealt with. "Réunions Paquet" While a swift implementation of Commission
decisions which order the recovery of unlawful and incompatible aid is
fundamental to make sure that competitive conditions in the internal market are
restored, in practice it can raise difficulties for the Member States. In line
with the principle of loyal cooperation, the Member States and the Commission
must cooperate to overcome these difficulties. In this context, organising réunions
paquet ("package meetings") can be very helpful. Discussions on
state aid cases during such package meetings serve to raise the problems
encountered, clarify the applicable state aid rules and identify solutions to
facilitate the implementation of the Commission decisions. A first réunion paquet was organised
with the Italian authorities in Rome on 22-23 June 2011, focusing in particular
on the enforcement of recovery decisions. During the first day of the réunion
paquet, several presentations were organised to increase our mutual
understanding of national and EU rules and procedures dealing with recovery of
state aid. The following day was devoted to technical discussions on specific
cases. The meeting took place in a generally constructive
atmosphere but it revealed clear differences in awareness of applicable EU state
aid rules. The Italian authorities welcomed the initiative of the Commission
and suggested that it could be useful to organise similar meetings in other
areas (e.g. for operational cases).
5.4.
Ex post
monitoring
With the entry into force of the GBER, an
even larger number of aid measures are no longer subject to the notification
obligation. Article 10 of that Regulation constitutes the basis for conducting
ex post monitoring on a sample basis. The results showed that, overall, the share
of the existing state aid architecture allowing the approval of aid schemes and
enabling Member States to implement aid measures under the GBER and BERs still
functions reasonably well. However, a number of individual and horizontal
issues were identified which need to be followed up with the Member States. In
order to further improve its scrutiny, DG Competition recently decided to
considerably enlarge the sample of next year's monitoring exercise to cover one-third
of the aids granted under approved aid schemes or block exempted regulations.
The exercise will cover all of the main types of aid and all Member States. Notes on
methodology[122] Scope of the
Scoreboard The Scoreboard provides a summary of state
aid expenditure in the Member States in 2010. The Scoreboard is based on the
annual reports submitted by Member States, pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation
794/2004.[123] The Scoreboard refers
to state aid expenditure authorised under Article 107
TFEU and furthermore includes aid granted to the transport sector which is
governed by a specific set of rules[124] that refer to Article
107 TFEU. However, the subsidies to railways is excluded from the total aid
reported in the Scoreboard since it is governed by Article 93 TFEU and
corresponding regulations.[125] In their annual reports, Member States
provide information on all existing aid measures that fall under the scope of
Article 107(1) TFEU and which have been authorised by the Commission or
implemented by Member States with respect to aid measures falling under the
GBER. Cases which are still being examined are excluded[126].
Annex III of Regulation 794/2004[127] provides further
details on the format and content of the information to be reported. The annual
report which Member States submitted in 2011 covered aid granted by Member
States between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2010 and includes,
where appropriate, revised provisional figures that Member States provided in
previous years. While Member States supply information on state aid expenditure
and co-financing in their annual report, all other information on existing aid
measures is provided by Member States in their notifications of aid measures,
pursuant to Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) 659/1999, which is verifed by
the Commission, such as the primary objective of the aid, aid instrument and
sector information. Member States are asked to confirm these data.[128] Aid granted for Services of General
Economic Interest ("SGEI") which fulfils the condition of an SGEI
measure is excluded from the Scoreboard, so that only the part of such aid
which is beyond the provision of the general service is included.[129]
Furthermore, expenditure granted through Union
funds and other Union instruments is also excluded, as such measures are
not typically financed from the national budget of a Member State. Since the content of the annual report is
guided by different annexes of Regulation 794/2004, namely Annex A for aid
granted to industry and services, Annex B for aid granted to the agricultural
sector and Annex C for aid granted to fisheries and aquaculture[130],
the Scoreboard focusses its observations and trend analysis solely on state aid
to industry and services. Methodology to
calculate non crisis aid The economic advantage passed on to
undertakings through state aid measures can be measured in different ways: for
grants, the advantage passed on to the beneficiary normally corresponds to
budgetary expenditure. For other aid instruments, the advantage to the
beneficiary and the cost to government may differ. In the case of guarantees,
for example, the beneficiary avoids the risk associated with the guarantee,
since it is carried by the State. Such risk-carrying by
the State should normally be remunerated by an appropriate premium. Where the
State forgoes all or part of such a premium, there is both a benefit for the
undertaking and a drain on the resources of the State. Thus, even if it transpires
that no payments are ever made by the State under a guarantee, there may
nevertheless be state aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU. The aid is
granted at the time when the guarantee is given, not when the guarantee is
invoked nor when payments are made under the terms of the guarantee. Generally, Member States are obliged to
report state aid expenditure[131] in terms of actual
expenditure expressed in the form of the aid element calculated for the aid
measure.[132] Where such data were
not available in a timely fashion, i.e. by the deadline for submitting the
annual report (i.e. 30 June), Member States are requested to provide either the
corresponding commitment information or an estimate of the aid component. In
absence of this information, Member States are asked either to confirm or to
adapt the estimate calculated by the Commission services, in line with the
standard method applied and on the basis of information provided in previous
years.[133] For the purpose of
producing a meaningful Scoreboard, the absence of actual data makes it
necessary to include an estimate in order to provide the most complete picture
possible of state aid expenditure in the Member States. Data on state aid expenditure in this
Scoreboard may differ from data for the same year published in previous
Scoreboards. This can be explained as follows. First, all expenditure
information is provided by Member States at current prices (in € million) but is
then converted to constant prices referenced to the year for which the Scoreboard
gives an update, taking into account the corresponding inflation rates
applicable for the individual year and Member State. Secondly, Member States
may have replaced provisional figures or estimates from the previous year(s) by
final actual expenditure. In particular with respect to expenditure in tax
schemes which are particularly difficult to quantify[134],
if expenditure is corrected at a later stage it may also change previous data
and, moreover, may also shift the distribution of horizontal and sectoral aid
in particular. Thirdly, when the Commission adopts a decision on a non-notified
aid measure by which it deemed the aid compatible, the aid amount in question
is attributed to the year(s) in which it was awarded. Where such expenditure has
been made for a number of years, the total aid amount is generally allocated equally
over the corresponding years. Generally, all figures when expressed in
percentage of GDP are measured by reference to the year to which the expenditure
data relate and include the corresponding GDP value for the calculation. This
means that figures expressed as a percentage of GDP in this Scoreboard normally
relate to 2010 GDP, unless otherwise indicated. With
respect to the presentation of data in the tables, the following symbols apply:
n.a. not available
- real zero
0 less than half the unit used S Scheme
IA Individual aid granted within a scheme
AH Individual aid granted ad hoc. Methodology to
calculate crisis aid granted to the financial sector By derogation from the general concept of
expressing state aid expenditure in terms of the aid element of the
corresponding aid measure, the Commission decided that this Scoreboard should
simplify and report on crisis aid granted to the financial sector only the
approved volume[135] and the amount actually
used.[136] For this reason, crisis
aid is excluded from the observations and trends on aid granted to industry and
services and is presented in a separate chapter.[137]
Aid granted to the financial sector are reported in absolute terms - i.e.
without expressing the value in 2010 prices - in order to present stable data
in particular on the side of the approved budget. This methodology differes
from the one applied in the Autumn 2009 and Autumn 2010 Scoreboard as well as
from the methodology used in the current Scoreboard for non-crisis aid. The
overall amount of aid in terms of GDP for the entire reference period is
calculated on the basis of 2010 GDP. To adequately capture the amounts actually
used, the Commission services have further refined the methodology as regards
guarantees and liquidity measures other than guarantees.[138] ·
For guarantees on liabilities:
the overall volume of outstanding guarantees in 2010 calculated as the average
of end of quarter (31 March; 30 June; 30 September; 30 December) outstanding
amounts; ·
Liquidity measures other than guarantees on
liabilities:
the overall volume of outstanding liquidity measures (other than guarantees) in
2010 calculated as the average of end of quarter (31 March; 30 June; 30
September; 30 December) outstanding amounts; ·
For recapitalisation measures:
the overall amount of the recapitalisation for 2010; ·
For impaired assets:
the nominal amount implemented in 2010 calculated as the transfer value of the
assets minus their market value, in accordance with the Impaired assets
Communication; ·
For restructuring aid:
Only the nominal amount implemented in 2010 (and in the previous years) is
required. Moreover, the information from the Member
States' annual reports on aid granted to the financial sector is checked
against the information which is reported for the individual aid measure that
Member States provide according to the provisions set out in the decision of
the individual case (either ad hoc or scheme cases) and with other available
tools such as ECFIN data, Bloomberg data etc. As for non-crisis aid, in the absence of reported
data, Member States are asked to either confirm or adapt the estimate
calculated by the Commission services, in line with the applied standard method
and on the basis of information provided in the files.[139]
For the purpose of producing a meaningful Scoreboard, the absence of actual
data makes it necessary to include an estimate in order to provide the most
complete picture possible of state aid expenditure in the Member States. Concerning
financial crisis aid, the Commission services made estimates for guarantees and
liquidity measures when the Member States’ authorities were unable to provide data
in accordance with the new methodology established for these instruments. Specific
provisions with respect to aid granted under the temporary framework State aid granted under the temporary
framework can also be considered as crisis aid. While aid to the financial
sector typically involved the use of special instruments targeted at banks and
financial services, the temporary framework made use of the classical
instruments, e.g. direct grant, guarantee or loan. However, aid granted under
the temporary framework is presented in a separate chapter[140]
and is excluded from aid to industry and services in order to obtain an
undistorted picture of Member States' efforts in granting aid earmarked for
objectives of common interest. Alongside the crisis aid to the financial
sector, the Commission also decided to simplify and to report in respect of aid
granted under the temporary framework only the approved volume[141]
and the amount actually used.[142] Member States were asked to report on aid
granted under the temporary framework by following a general method. ·
In instances where a temporary framework measure
is (i) a new ad hoc measure, (ii) a new scheme or (iii) a new
framework scheme under which a number of new schemes may be implemented, the
Member State simply reports expenditure under this temporary framework measure; ·
In instances where a temporary framework measure
(i) modifies an existing aid measure or (ii) the Member State uses one or more
existing aid measures for its implementation, and hence aid is granted under temporary
framework conditions, the Member State reports the aid amounts (including the
aid element) under the corresponding temporary framework measure. By contrast,
all aid that falls outside the aforementioned conditions (i) and (ii) shall be
reported under the case number of the initially authorised non-temporary framework
measure. Moreover, the information from the Member
States' annual reports on aid granted under the temporary framework is checked
against the information which Member States provided in their reply to the
Commission's questionnaire enquiring about the effects of the crisis aid
measures which included aid measures granted under the temporary framework.[143] Key figures on
state aid expenditure in the EU and Member States Figure 35:
Total non-crisis aid to industry and services[144] || In € billion (2010) || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of GDP) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007) EU-27 || 61.0 || 0.50% || -0.01% || 0.49% || 0.05% Belgium || 1.8 || 0.52% || 0.04% || 0.45% || 0.16% Bulgaria || 0.0 || 0.04% || -0.05% || 0.06% || -0.05% Czech Republic || 0.9 || 0.65% || 0.13% || 0.66% || 0.11% Denmark || 2.0 || 0.83% || -0.09% || 0.82% || 0.14% Germany || 14.7 || 0.59% || -0.03% || 0.59% || -0.06% Estonia || 0.0 || 0.10% || 0.02% || 0.09% || 0% Ireland || 0.9 || 0.56% || 0.10% || 0.51% || 0.10% Greece || 1.8 || 0.78% || 0.02% || 0.69% || 0.47% Spain || 4.3 || 0.41% || -0.05% || 0.43% || 0.05% France || 12.6 || 0.65% || 0.03% || 0.60% || 0.18% Italy || 3.3 || 0.21% || -0.09% || 0.27% || -0.06% Cyprus || 0.1 || 0.51% || 0.13% || 0.45% || -0.17% Latvia || 0.1 || 0.40% || 0.28% || 0.24% || -0.39% Lithuania || 0.1 || 0.29% || 0.03% || 0.23% || 0.07% Luxembourg || 0.1 || 0.18% || -0.07% || 0.19% || 0.05% Hungary || 1.9 || 1.94% || 0.56% || 1.72% || 0.65% Malta || 0.1 || 1.12% || -0.48% || 1.47% || -1.03% Netherlands || 1.9 || 0.32% || 0.01% || 0.29% || 0.04% Austria || 2.1 || 0.72% || 0.08% || 0.65% || 0.17% Poland || 2.5 || 0.72% || -0.01% || 0.72% || 0.28% Portugal || 1.5 || 0.90% || -0.06% || 0.92% || -0.08% Romania || 0.2 || 0.17% || 0.03% || 0.17% || -0.28% Slovenia || 0.3 || 0.89% || 0.10% || 0.71% || 0.28% Slovakia || 0.2 || 0.37% || 0.01% || 0.39% || -0.02% Finland || 0.8 || 0.43% || -0.04% || 0.44% || 0.08% Sweden || 2.6 || 0.76% || -0.06% || 0.80% || -0.07% United Kingdom || 4.1 || 0.24% || 0.00% || 0.23% || 0.04% Norway || 2.3 || 0.91% || n/a || n/a || n/a Iceland || 0.02 || 0.76% || n/a || n/a || n/a Liechtenstein || 0.001 || 0.04% || n/a || n/a || n/a Figure 36: Aid
to agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and transport[145] || In € billion (2010) || As % of GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend 2008-2010 (in % of GDP) || Difference when compared to previous trend (2005-2007) EU-27 || 12.7 || 0.10% || -0.02% || 0.12% || -0.07% Belgium || 0.32 || 0.09% || -0.04% || 0.11% || 0% Bulgaria || 0.04 || 0.11% || -0.34% || 0.37% || 0.17% Czech Republic || 0.24 || 0.17% || -0.02% || 0.18% || 0.00% Denmark || 0.18 || 0.08% || -0.02% || 0.09% || -0.02% Germany || 1.22 || 0.05% || -0.01% || 0.05% || 0% Estonia || 0.03 || 0.19% || -0.02% || 0.20% || 0.02% Ireland || 0.70 || 0.46% || -0.02% || 0.55% || 0.38% Greece || 0.04 || 0.02% || -0.08% || 0.09% || -0.12% Spain || 0.67 || 0.06% || -0.01% || 0.08% || -0.02% France || 2.79 || 0.14% || 0% || 0.15% || -0.39% Italy || 1.23 || 0.08% || 0% || 0.08% || 0% Cyprus || 0.03 || 0.17% || -0.48% || 0.33% || 0.05% Latvia || 0.10 || 0.54% || -0.06% || 0.50% || -0.43% Lithuania || 0.08 || 0.28% || -0.08% || 0.31% || -0.08% Luxembourg || 0.02 || 0.05% || 0.00% || 0.05% || -0.04% Hungary || 0.34 || 0.34% || -0.12% || 0.47% || -0.89% Malta || 0.02 || 0.30% || 0.02% || 0.28% || -0.12% Netherlands || 1.25 || 0.21% || 0.06% || 0.17% || 0.03% Austria || 0.19 || 0.07% || -0.19% || 0.13% || 0.05% Poland || 0.68 || 0.19% || -0.03% || 0.21% || -0.10% Portugal || 0.03 || 0.02% || 0% || 0.02% || -0.01% Romania || 0.10 || 0.08% || -0.44% || 0.35% || -0.02% Slovenia || 0.08 || 0.21% || 0.00% || 0.21% || -0.04% Slovakia || 0.06 || 0.09% || -0.05% || 0.12% || 0.02% Finland || 1.29 || 0.71% || -0.04% || 0.72% || -0.17% Sweden || 0.24 || 0.07% || -0.03% || 0.09% || -0.02% United Kingdom || 0.74 || 0.04% || 0% || 0.05% || 0% Figure 37: Non-crisis
state aid earmarked for horizontal objectives of common interest and sectoral
aid as % of total non-crisis aid to industry and services[146] || Total of horizontal objectives || Environment and energy savings || Regional development || R&D&I || Risk capital || SME || Training || Employment aid || Compensation of damages caused by natural disaster || Culture || Heritage conservation || Promotion of export and internationalisation || Social support to individual consumers || Other || Total Sectoral Aid || Coal || Other sectoral aid EU-27 || 85.0 || 23.7 || 24.3 || 17.9 || 1.3 || 4.2 || 1.3 || 4.6 || 0.0 || 2.8 || 0.3 || 0.4 || 3.5 || 0.7 || 15.0 || 4.7 || 10.3 Belgium || 100 || 24 || 7 || 43 || 0 || 12 || 2 || 7 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 Bulgaria || 100 || 7 || 41 || 16 || 0 || 4 || 6 || 25 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 Czech Republic || 81 || 5 || 45 || 27 || 0 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 19 || 0 || 19 Denmark || 97 || 15 || 0 || 12 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 67 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 3 || 0 || 3.0 Germany || 88 || 38 || 25 || 21 || 0 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 12 || 12 || 0 Estonia || 100 || 39 || 15 || 4 || 3 || 7 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 32 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 Ireland || 90 || 8 || 33 || 27 || 3 || 4 || 4 || 2 || 0 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 10 || 0 || 10 Greece || 99 || 0 || 89 || 0 || 1 || 10 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 Spain || 77 || 17 || 25 || 26 || 0 || 3 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 23 || 19 || 4 France || 79 || 4 || 34 || 14 || 0 || 5 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 17 || 0 || 21 || 0 || 21 Italy || 96 || 7 || 33 || 17 || 0 || 18 || 6 || 6 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 4 Cyprus || 96 || 0 || 9 || 2 || 0 || 5 || 12 || 0 || 0 || 65 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 4 Latvia || 100 || 78 || 13 || 6 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 Lithuania || 100 || 2 || 67 || 14 || 0 || 8 || 0 || 9 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 Luxembourg || 100 || 17 || 2 || 57 || 0 || 14 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 10 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 Hungary || 54 || 1 || 26 || 5 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 9 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 9 || 46 || 2 || 44 Malta || 25 || 0 || 22 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 75 || 0 || 75 Netherlands || 100 || 55 || 1 || 37 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 Austria || 99 || 49 || 6 || 25 || 1 || 4 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 6 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 Poland || 76 || 11 || 29 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 2 || 28 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 24 || 8 || 16 Portugal || 17 || 0 || 7 || 4 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 83 || 0 || 83 Romania || 71 || 0 || 52 || 16 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 29 || 29 || 0 Slovenia || 96 || 29 || 26 || 30 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 4 || 0 Slovakia || 98 || 36 || 47 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 0 Finland || 100 || 40 || 6 || 31 || 2 || 4 || 3 || 6 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 Sweden || 98 || 86 || 3 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 2 United Kingdom || 93 || 34 || 6 || 20 || 15 || 5 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 7 || 0 || 7 Figures 38:
Financial Crisis Aid – Approved amount per year and instrument Figure 38 a:
Guarantees: Approved budget Figure 38 b:
Recapitalisation: Approved budget Figure 38 c:
Impaired Assets: Approved budget Figure 38 d:
Liquidity measures: Approved budget Figure 39: Overview
of measures adopted under the Temporary Framework (until 1 October 2011) Member State || EUR 500.000 per under-taking || Guarantee || Reduced-interest rate loans || Reduced-interest rate loans for green products || Risk capital aid || Simplification of requirements of the Export Credit Communication Belgium || || N117/2009, 20/03/2009 || || || N68/2009 03/06/2009 || N532/2009, 06/11/2009 SA.32159[147], 30/05/2011 Bulgaria || N 333/2010, 10/09/2010 || || || || || Czech Republic || N236/2009, 07/05/2009 || || N237/2009 06/05/2009 || || || Denmark || || || || || || N198/2009, 06/05/2009 N554/2009[148],29/10/2009 SA.32047[149], 21/12/2010 SA.32513[150], 01/03/2011 Germany || N668/2008, 30/12/2008 N299/2009[151], 04/06/2009 N411/2009[152], 17/07/2009 N 255/2010[153], 31/10/2010 SA.32031[154], 17/12/2010 || N27/2009, 27/02/2009 SA.32032[155], 17/12/2010 || N661/2008 30/12/2008 N38/2009 19/02/2009 SA.32030[156] 17/12/2010 || N426/2009 04/08/2009 || N39/2009 3/02/2009 || N384/2009, 05/08/2009 N 91/2010[157], 31/05/2010 SA.32033[158], 21/12/2010 Estonia || N387/2009, 13/07/2009 SA.32104[159], 13/01/2011 || || || || || Ireland || N186/2009, 15/04/2009 N473/2009[160], 15/12/2009 || || || || || Greece || N304/2009, 15/07/2009 SA.32512[161], 28/02/2011 || N308/2009, 03/06/2009 || N309/2009 03/06/2009 || || || Spain || N307/2009, 08/06/2009 || N68/2010, 30/03/2010 N 157/2010[162],24/06/2010 SA.32986[163],31/05/2011 || || N140/2009 30/03/2009 || N683/2009 02/02/2010 || France || N7/2009, 19/01/2009 N188/2009[164], 17/04/2009 N278/2009[165], 08/06/2009 SA.32140[166], 24/01/2011 || N23/2009, 27/02/2009 SA.32183[167],24/01/2011 || N15/2009 04/02/2009 SA.32182[168] 28/01/2011 || N11/2009 03/02/2009 || N119/2009 16/03/2009 N36/2009 30/06/2009 || N449/2009, 05/10/2009 SA.32090[169], 30/03/2011 Italy || N248/2009, 28/052009 SA.32036[170], 20/12/2010 || N266/2009, 28/05/2009 SA.32035[171],17/12/2010 || N268/2009 29/052009 SA.32039[172] 20/12/2010 || N542/2009 26/10/2009 || N279/2009 20/05/2009 || Latvia || N124/2009, 19/03/2009 N506/2009[173], 22/12/2009 SA.32051[174], 23/05/2011 || N139/2009, 22/04/2009 N670/2009, 15/12/2009 || || || || N84/2010, 10/06/2010 Lithuania || N272/2009, 08/06/2009 N523/2009[175], 13/11/2009 N46/2010[176], 10/03/2010 || || || || || N659/2009, 21/12/2009 Luxembourg || N99/2009, 27/02/2009 || N128/2009, 11/03/2009 || || || || N50/2009, 20/04/2009 SA.32846[177], 27/05/2011 Hungary || N77/2009, 24/02/2009 SA.32040[178], 20/12/2010 || N114/2009, 10/03/2009 N203/2009, 24/04/2009 N341/2009, 01/07/2009 N 56/2010[179], 06/05/2010 SA.32306[180], 22/02/2011 SA.32216[181], 27/01/2011 || N78/2009 24/02/2009 SA.32215[182] 24/01/2011 || || || N 187/2010, 06/07/2010 Malta || N118/2009, 18/05/2009 || || || || || Netherland || N156/2009, 01/04/2009 SA.32506[183], 18/02/2011 || || || || || N409/2009, 02/10/2009 N14/2010[184], 05/02/2010 Austria || N47a/2009, 20/03/2009 N317/2009[185], 18/06/2009 SA.32171[186], 30/03/2011 || || || || N47d/2009 26/03/2009 || N434/2009, 17/12/2009 Poland || N408/2009, 17/08/2009 N 22/2010[187], 16/07/2010 N 50/2010[188], 16/07/2010 N 86/2010[189], 16/07/2010 || || || || || Portugal || N13/2009, 19/01/2009 || || || || || Romania || N547/2009, 03/12/2009 || N286/2009, 05/06/2009 N478/2009[190], 13/11/2009 N680/2009[191], 17/12/2009 N 173/2010[192], 30/07/2010 || || || || Slovenia || N228/2009, 12/06/2009 || NN34/2009, 12/06/2009 N105/2010[193], 16/04/2010 || || || || N713/2009, 16/03/2010 SA.32066[194], 20/01/2011 Slovakia || N222/2009, 30/04/2009 N711/2009[195], 02/02/2010 || || || || || Finland || N224/2009, 03/06/2009 || N82b/2009, 09/06/2009 || || || || N258/2009, 22/062009 SA.32075[196], 21/12/2010 Sweden || || N80/2009, 05/06/2009 N541/2009, 08/02/2010 N520/2010[197], 16/12/2010 || || || || N605/2009, 25/11/2009 United Kingdom || N43/2009, 04/02/2009 || N71/2009, 27/02/2009 || N257/2009 15/05/2009 N460/2009[198] 14/08/2009 || N72/2009 27/02/2009 || || Figures 40:
Aid expenditure by Member State Key state aid data (2010) || Belgium || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[199] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[200] Total non-crisis aid || 2.15 || 0.6% || 0.2% || 0.56% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 1.83 || 0.52% || 0.04% || 0.45% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.1 || 0.03% || 0.005% || 0.03% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.22 || 0.06% || -0.03% || 0.07% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 793 || 0.22% || 43% Environmental aid || 440 || 0.12% || 24% Regional aid || 120 || 0.03% || 7% Employment & Training || 170 || 0.05% || 9% SME || 219 || 0.06% || 12% Other horizontal objectives || 93 || 0.03% || 5% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 0 || 0% || 0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 200 || 91% Employment & Training || 146 || 86% Regional aid || 92 || 76% Environmental aid || 156 || 36% Other || 121 || n/a Total || 715 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 325.37 || 25.86 || 55.46 || 29.37 || 20.5% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 8.1 || 0.22 || 0.06% Key state aid data (2010) || Bulgaria || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[201] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[202] Total non-crisis aid || 0.1 || 0.15% || -0.4% || 0.42% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.01 || 0.04% || -0.05% || 0.06% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.04 || 0.11% || -0.34% || 0.37% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 2.22 || 0.01% || 16% Environmental aid || 1.03 || 0.003% || 7% Regional aid || 5.74 || 0.02% || 41% Employment & Training || 4.31 || 0.01% || 31% SME || 0.62 || 0.002% || 4% Other horizontal objectives || 0 || 0% || 0% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 0 || 0% || 0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 0.62 || 100% Employment & Training || 4.31 || 100% Regional aid || 0.43 || 7.52% Environmental aid || 0 || 0% Other || 0 || n/a Total || 5.36 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0.001 || 0 || 0% Key state aid data (2010) || Czech Republic || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[203] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[204] Total non-crisis aid || 1.2 || 0.82% || 0.1% || 0.84% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.9 || 0.65% || 0.13% || 0.66% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.21 || 0.14% || -0.003% || 0.15% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.02 || 0.015% || -0.0047% || 0.016% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.01 || 0.01% || -0.01% || 0.02% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 252.08 || 0.17% || 27% Environmental aid || 42.95 || 0.03% || 5% Regional aid || 423.03 || 0.29% || 45% Employment & Training || 13.89 || 0.01% || 1% SME || 24.94 || 0.02% || 3% Other horizontal objectives || 7.07 || 0.005% || 1% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 76.06 || 0.05% || 8% Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 105.56 || 0.07% || 11.2% Other services || 0 || 0% || 0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 24.94 || 100% Employment & Training || 12.19 || 87.75% Regional aid || 365.69 || 86.44% Environmental aid || 13.88 || 32.32% Other || 10.95 || n/a Total || 427.65 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 1.12 || 0.31 || 0.21% Key state aid data (2010) || Denmark || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[205] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[206] Total non-crisis aid || 2.0 || 0.9% || -0.1 || 0.1 || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 2.0 || 0.83% || -0.09 || 0.1 || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.09 || 0.04% || -0.01 || 0.04 || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.001 || 0.00050% || -0.0069% || 0.028 || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.09 || 0.04 || 0.00 || 0.04 || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 224.29 || 0.10% || 12% Environmental aid || 283.88 || 0.12% || 15% Regional aid || 0.03 || 0% || 0% Employment & Training || 98.32 || 0.56% || 67% SME || 0.70 || 0% || 0% Other horizontal objectives || 69.09 || 0.03% || 4% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 58.34 || 0.02% || 3.0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 0.70 || 100% Employment & Training || 103.05 || 7.87% Regional aid || 0.03 || 100% Environmental aid || 14.77 || 5.20% Other || 82.92 || n/a Total || 201.47 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 600.11 || 585.44 || 14.22 || 0.46 || 67.2% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0 || 0 || 0 Key state aid data (2010) || Germany || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[207] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[208] Total non-crisis aid || 15.9 || 0.6% || -0.03% || 0.6% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 14.7 || 0.6% || -0.03% || 0.6% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 1.1 || 0.04% || -0.004% || 0.04% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.003 || 0.0001% || -0.00005% || 0.0002% || 0.1 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.2 || 0.01% || -0.002% || 0.01% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research development and innovation || 2809 || 0.1% || 19.1% Environmental aid || 5535 || 0.2% || 37.7% Regional aid || 3637 || 0.2% || 24.8% Employment & Training || 99 || 0.004% || 0.7% SME || 283 || 0.01% || 1.9% Other horizontal objectives || 560 || 0.02% || 3.8% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 1758 || 0.07% || 12.0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 14 || 0.001% || 0.1% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 0 || 0% || 0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 227 || 80% Employment & Training || 99 || 100% Regional aid || 3557 || 98% Environmental aid || 171 || 3% Other || 259 || n/a Total || 4312 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2007 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2007+2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2007-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 620.3 || 52.5 || 190.4 || 164.5 || 10.1% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 29.6 || 4.0 || 0.16% Key state aid data (2010) || Estonia || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[209] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[210] Total non-crisis aid || 0.042 || 0.3% || -0.002% || -28% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.014 || 0.10% || 0.02% || 0.09% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.03 || 0.19% || -0.02% || 0.19% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.0001 || 0.00055% || -0.001% || 0.0008% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.0002 || 0.0012% || 0.0002% || 0.0012% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 0.56 || 0.004% || 4% Environmental aid || 5.43 || 0.04% || 39% Regional aid || 2.09 || 0.01% || 15% Employment & Training || 0.08 || 0.001% || 1% SME || 0.98 || 0.01% || 7% Other horizontal objectives || 4.93 || 0.034% || 35% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 0 || 0% || 0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 0.979 || 100% Employment & Training || 0.076 || 100% Regional aid || 1.991 || 95.35% Environmental aid || 0 || 0% Other || 0.562 || n/a Total || 3.609 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || - Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0.204 || 0.006 || 0.04% Key state aid data (2010) || Ireland || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[211] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || As % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[212] Total non-crisis aid || 1.6 || 1.0% || 0.08% || 1.1% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.9 || 0.6% || 0.1% || 0.5% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.7 || 0.5% || -0.02% || 0.5% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.002 || 0.002% || -0.002% || 0.006% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.003 || 0.002% || -0.002% || 0.004% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 237 || 0.2% || 27.4% Environmental aid || 72 || 0.05% || 8.4% Regional aid || 289 || 0.2% || 33.3% Employment & Training || 53 || 0.03% || 6.2% SME || 31 || 0.02% || 3.6% Other horizontal objectives || 96 || 0.06% || 11.1% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 53 || 0.03% || 6.1% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 35 || 0.02% || 4.0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 31 || 100% Employment & Training || 35 || 65% Regional aid || 41 || 14% Environmental aid || 0.4 || 0.5% Other || 0.4 || n/a Total || 108 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 570.1 || 360.0 || 275.0 || 361.3 || 268.5% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0.4 || 0.09 || 0.06% Key state aid data (2010) || Greece || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[213] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[214] Total non-crisis aid || 1.8 || 0.8% || -0.1% || 0.8% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 1.8 || 0.8% || 0.02% || 0.7% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.04 || 0.02% || -0.08% || 0.07% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.001 || 0.0005% || -0.0005% || 0.0006% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.002 || 0.001% || 0.0005% || 0.02% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 1.47 || 0.001% || 0.1% Environmental aid || 0 || 0% || 0% Regional aid || 1604.9 || 0.7% || 89% Employment & Training || 0.017 || 0% || 0.001% SME || 171.2 || 0.07% || 10% Other horizontal objectives || 12.42 || 0.005% || 1% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 5 || 0.002% || 0.3% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 4.55 || 0.002% || 0.3% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 171.2 || 100% Employment & Training || 0.017 || 100% Regional aid || 136.6 || 8.51% Environmental aid || 0 || 0% Other || 1.385 || n/a Total || 309.2 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 108.5 || 1.88 || 10.55 || 35.08 || 16.9% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 4.0 || 1.54 || 0.67% Key state aid data (2010) || Spain || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[215] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[216] Total non-crisis aid || 5.0 || 0.5% || - 0.1% || 0.5% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 4.3 || 0.4% || - 0.05% || 0.4% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.5 || 0.05% || - 0.01% || 0.06% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.01 || 0.001% || - 0.002% || 0.005% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.15 || 0.01% || 0.001% || 0.01% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 1146.7 || 0.11% || 26% Environmental aid || 747.4 || 0.07% || 17% Regional aid || 1079.4 || 0.10% || 25% Employment & Training || 111.9 || 0.01% || 3% SME || 130.1 || 0.01% || 3% Other horizontal objectives || 135.5 || 0.01% || 3% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 816.4 || 0.08% || 18.9% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 126.2 || 0.01% || 2.9% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 35.9 || 0.003% || 0.8% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 125.4 || 96.4% Employment & Training || 84.7 || 75.7% Regional aid || 451.3 || 41.8% Environmental aid || 75.8 || 10.2 Other || 174.8 || n/a Total || 912.0 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 336.96 || 2.33 || 56.74 || 87.15 || 8.4% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 2.5 || 0.35 || 0.03% Key state aid data (2010) || France || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[217] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[218] Total non-crisis aid || 15.4 || 0.8% || 0 % || 0.75% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 12.6 || 0.65% || 0.03% || 0.6% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 2.43 || 0.13% || 0% || 0.12% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.073 || 0.003% || -0.0009% || 0.0041% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.29 || 0.01% || -0.01% || 0.02% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 1803.88 || 0.09% || 14% Environmental aid || 458.18 || 0.02% || 4% Regional aid || 4306.36 || 0.22% || 34% Employment & Training || 92.13 || 0% || 1% SME || 662.53 || 0.03% || 5% Other horizontal objectives || 2624.61 || 0.14% || 21% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 2539.97 || 0.13% || 20.2% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 1 || 0% || 0% Other services || 104.97 || 0.01% || 0.8% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 115.60 || 17.45% Employment & Training || 11.50 || 12.49% Regional aid || 222.24 || 5.16% Environmental aid || 19.94 || 4.35% Other || 41.24 || n/a Total || 410.53 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 351.1 || 21.86 || 103.18 || 91.53 || 6% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0.6[219] || 1.79 || 0.09% Key state aid data (2010) || Italy || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[220] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[221] Total non-crisis aid || 4.6 || 0.3% || - 0.1% || 0.35% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 3.3 || 0.2% || - 0.09% || 0.27% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.85 || 0.05% || 0.003% || 0.05% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.002 || 0.0001% || -0.0001% || 0.0002% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.38 || 0.02% || 0.00% || 0.03% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 569.2 || 0.04% || 17% Environmental aid || 236.8 || 0.02% || 7% Regional aid || 1111.6 || 0.07% || 33% Employment & Training || 424.7 || 0.03% || 13% SME || 609.7 || 0.04% || 18% Other horizontal objectives || 248.0 || 0.02% || 7% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 40.11 || 0.003% || 1.2% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 88.06 || 0.01% || 2.6% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 243.3 || 39.9% Employment & Training || 338.2 || 79.64% Regional aid || 386.8 || 34.79% Environmental aid || 130.1 || 54.94% Other || 160.7 || n/a Total || 1259.1 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 20 || 0 || 4.05 || 0 || 0.3% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0.4 || 0.27 || 0.02% Key state aid data (2010) || Cyprus || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[222] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[223] Total non-crisis aid || 0.1 || 0.7% || -0.3% || 0.78% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.1 || 0.51% || 0.13% || 0.45% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.03 || 0.15% || -0.48% || 0.32% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.0027 || 0.02% || 0.00003% || 0.02% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 1.79 || 0.01% || 2% Environmental aid || 0.04 || 0.0003% || 0.05% Regional aid || 8.31 || 0.05% || 9% Employment & Training || 10.85 || 0.06% || 12% SME || 4.79 || 0.03% || 5% Other horizontal objectives || 58.98 || 0.34% || 67% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0.015 || 0.0001% || 0.02% Other services || 3.8 || 0.02% || 4.3% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 4.79 || 100% Employment & Training || 10.85 || 100% Regional aid || 8.31 || 100% Environmental aid || 0 || 0% Other || 1.69 || n/a Total || 25.64 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 3.0 || 0 || 0.56 || 2.82 || 16.1% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0 || 0 || 0% Key state aid data (2010) || Latvia || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[224] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[225] Total non-crisis aid || 0.17 || 0.9% || 0.2% || 0.73% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.07 || 0.40% || 0.28% || 0.24% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.02 || 0.13% || -0.04% || 0.11% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.07 || 0.41% || -0.02% || 0.39% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 4.28 || 0.02% || 6% Environmental aid || 55.58 || 0.31% || 78% Regional aid || 9.01 || 0.05% || 13% Employment & Training || 0.94 || 0.01% || 1% SME || 0.53 || 0.003% || 1% Other horizontal objectives || 1.17 || 0.01% || 2% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 0.01 || 0.0001% || 0.02% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 0 || 0% || 0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 0.53 || 100% Employment & Training || 0.94 || 100% Regional aid || 6.56 || 72.75% Environmental aid || 0 || 0% Other || 4.41 || n/a Total || 12.44 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 8.8 || 0.96 || 1.92 || 1.53 || 13.0% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0.56 || 0.05 || 0.25% Key state aid data (2010) || Lithuania || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[226] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[227] Total non-crisis aid || 0.2 || 0.6% || -0.05% || 0.5% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.1 || 0.29% || 0.03% || 0.2% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.08 || 0.28% || -0.07% || 0.3% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.0003 || 0.001% || -0.001% || 0.0011% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.001 || 0.004% || -0.005% || 0.005% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 11 || 0.04% || 13.7% Environmental aid || 1 || 0.01% || 1.7% Regional aid || 54 || 0.20% || 67.4% Employment & Training || 7 || 0.03% || 8.7% SME || 6 || 0.02% || 8.0% Other horizontal objectives || 0.4 || 0.001% || 0.5% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 0 || 0% || 0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 6 || 100% Employment & Training || 7 || 100% Regional aid || 29 || 52% Environmental aid || 0 || 0% Other || 11 || n/a Total || 53 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 1.7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0.1 || 0.0001 || 0.0004% Key state aid data (2010) || Luxembourg || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[228] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[229] Total non-crisis aid || 0.1 || 0.2% || -0.07% || 0.2% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.1 || 0.2% || -0.07% || 0.2% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.02 || 0.05% || -0.001% || 0.05% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.0002 || 0.001% || 0.0003% || 0.0004% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 38 || 0.09% || 51.3% Environmental aid || 13 || 0.03% || 16.8% Regional aid || 2 || 0.004% || 2.3% Employment & Training || 0 || 0% || 0% SME || 10 || 0.03% || 13.9% Other horizontal objectives || 12 || 0.03% || 15.7% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 0 || 0% || 0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 8 || 72% Employment & Training || 0 || 0% Regional aid || 0 || 0% Environmental aid || 0.9 || 7% Other || 40 || n/a Total || 49 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 7.3 || 2.94 || 2.39 || 1.59 || 11.9% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0.5 || 0.01 || 0.02% Key state aid data (2010) || Hungary || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[230] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[231] Total non-crisis aid || 2.2 || 2.3% || 0.4% || 2.2% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 1.9 || 1.94% || 0.56% || 1.7% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.29 || 0.29% || -0.12% || 0.43% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.05 || 0.05% || 0% || 0.04% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 99 || 0.1% || 5.21% Environmental aid || 13 || 0.01% || 0.70% Regional aid || 491 || 0.5% || 25.72% Employment & Training || 183 || 0.19% || 9.59% SME || 10 || 0.01% || 0.50% Other horizontal objectives || 235 || 0.24% || 12.33% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 29 || 0.03% || 1.52% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 198 || 0.20% || 10.38% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 650 || 0.66% || 34,06% Other services || 0 || 0% || 0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 10 || 100% Employment & Training || 183 || 100% Regional aid || 452 || 92% Environmental aid || 0 || 0% Other || 0 || n/a Total || 645 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 10.33 || 0 || 2.24 || 1.05 || 2.3% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 9.7 || 0.11 || 0.11% Key state aid data (2010) || Malta || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[232] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[233] Total non-crisis aid || 0.1 || 1.4 || -0.46 || 1.7 || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.1 || 1.12 || -0.48 || 1.47 || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.01 || 0.17% || -0.05% || 0.21% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || -0.0012% || 0.0005% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.01 || 0.13% || 0.07% || 0.07% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 0.2 || 0.003% || 0.3% Environmental aid || 0 || 0% || 0% Regional aid || 15 || 0.2% || 22% Employment & Training || 0.1 || 0.001% || 0.09% SME || 0.1 || 0.002% || 0.2% Other horizontal objectives || 2 || 0.03% || 3% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 50 || 0.8% || 71% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 3 || 0.04ù || 4% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 0.1 || 100% Employment & Training || 0.06 || 100% Regional aid || 15 || 97% Environmental aid || 0 || 0% Other || 0 || n/a Total || 15 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0.04 || 0.0002 || 0.003% Key state aid data (2010) || The Netherlands || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[234] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[235] Total non-crisis aid || 3.2 || 0.5% || 0.07% || 0.5% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 1.9 || 0.32% || 0.01% || 0.3% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.98 || 0.17% || 0.04% || 0.1% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.005 || 0.0009% || 0.00004% || 0.0025% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.27 || 0.05% || 0.02% || 0.03% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 703 || 0.12% || 37% Environmental aid || 1053 || 0.18% || 55% Regional aid || 11 || 0.002% || 0.6% Employment & Training || 1 || 0.0001% || 0.04% SME || 50 || 0.01% || 2.6% Other horizontal objectives || 88 || 0.01% || 4.6% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 6 || 0.001% || 0.3% Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0ù Other services || 0 || 0% || 0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 50 || 100% Employment & Training || 0.8 || 100% Regional aid || 11 || 100% Environmental aid || 3 || 0.2% Other || 9 || n/a Total || 74 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 313.3 || 28.1 || 71.4 || 53.6 || 16.1% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0.0[236] || 0.03 || 0.005% Key state aid data (2010) || Austria || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[237] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[238] Total non-crisis aid || 2.2 || 0.8% || -0.1% || 0.78% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 2.06 || 0.72% || 0.08% || 0.65% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.17 || 0.06% || -0.003% || 0.06% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.01 || 0.0041% || -0.19% || 0.07% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 521.76 || 0.18% || 25% Environmental aid || 1016.10 || 0.36% || 49% Regional aid || 132.01 || 0.05% || 6% Employment & Training || 30.40 || 0.01% || 1% SME || 88.61 || 0.03% || 4% Other horizontal objectives || 260.32 || 0.09% || 13% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 11.37 || 0.004% || 0.55% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 1.9 || 0.0007% || 0.09% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 87.19 || 98.40% Employment & Training || 30.02 || 98.75% Regional aid || 124.08 || 93.99% Environmental aid || 104.97 || 10.33% Other || 18.27 || n/a Total || 364.53 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 91.3 || 3.33 || 20.74 || 19.92 || 9.5% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 10.18 || 1.06 || 0.37% Key state aid data (2010) || Poland || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[239] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[240] Total non-crisis aid || 3.2 || 0.9% || 0% || 0% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 2.5 || 0.72% || -0.01% || 0.72% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.66 || 0.19% || 0% || 0.2% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.01 || 0% || -0.03% || 0.01% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 70.33 || 0.02% || 3% Environmental aid || 289.51 || 0.08% || 11% Regional aid || 735.41 || 0.21% || 29% Employment & Training || 774.42 || 0.22% || 30% SME || 4.65 || 0% || 0% Other horizontal objectives || 62.81 || 0.02% || 2% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 194 || 0.05% || 7.6% Financial services || 0 || O% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 55.06 || 0.02% || 2.2% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 326.68 || 0.09% || 12.8% Other services || 32.29 || 0.01% || 1.3% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 4.65 || 100% Employment & Training || 774.42 || 100% Regional aid || 371.36 || 50.5% Environmental aid || 2.15 || 0.74% Other || 70.33 || n/a Total || 1222.94 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 9.2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0.2 || 0 || 0% Key state aid data (2010) || Portugal || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[241] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[242] Total non-crisis aid || 1.6 || 09% || -0.1% || 0.94% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 1.5 || 0.9% || -0.06% || 0.92% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.02 || 0.01% || 0% || 0.01% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.004 || 0.002% || 0% || 0.002% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.01 || 0.01% || 0% || 0% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 50 || 0.0003% || 3.21% Environmental aid || 0 || 0% || 0% Regional aid || 114 || 0.0007% || 7.37% Employment & Training || 69 || 0.0004% || 4.47% SME || 18 || 0.0001% || 1.15% Other horizontal objectives || 7 || 0% || 0.44% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 1280 || 0.74% || 82.71% Manufacturing sectors || 10 || 0.01% || 0.65% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 0 || 0% || 0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 17.6 || 99% Employment & Training || 0.1 || 0.1% Regional aid || 31 || 27% Environmental aid || 0 || 0% Other || 55 || n/a Total || 104 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 47.45 || 1.19 || 5.24 || 4.99 || 3% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0.8 || 0 || 0% Key state aid data (2010) || Romania || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[243] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[244] Total non-crisis aid || 0.3 || 0.2 % || -0.4 % || 0.5% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.2 || 0.17 % || 0.03% || 0.17% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.09 || 0.08 % || -0.43 % || 0.33% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0 || 0 || -0.01 || 0.01% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 31.86 || 0.03 % || 16% Environmental aid || 0 || 0 % || 0% Regional aid || 107.58 || 0.09 % || 52% Employment & Training || 0 || 0 % || 0 % SME || 3.69 || 0 % || 2 % Other horizontal objectives || 3.08 || 0 % || 2 % Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 59.30 || 0.05 % || 28.9 % Financial services || 0 || 0 % || 0 % Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0 % || 0 % Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0 % || 0 % Other services || 0 || 0 % || 0 % Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 3.69 || 100% Employment & Training || 0 || 0 % Regional aid || 84.97 || 78.99 % Environmental aid || 0 || 0 % Other || 0.14 || n/a Total || 88.82 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0.4 || 0.33 || 0.27 % Key state aid data (2010) || Slovenia || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[245] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[246] Total non-crisis aid || 0.4 || 1.1% || 0.1% || 0.91% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.32 || 0.89% || 0.1% || 0.71% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.06 || 0.18% || 0.01% || 0.18% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0 || 0% || 0% || 0% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.01 || 0.03% || -0.01% || 0.02% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 96.94 || 0.27% || 30% Environmental aid || 93.53 || 0.26% || 29% Regional aid || 83.37 || 0.23% || 26% Employment & Training || 17.97 || 0.05% || 6% SME || 0.83 || 0.002% || 0.3% Other horizontal objectives || 11.81 || 0.03% || 4% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 11.65 || 0.03% || 3.7% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 2.65 || 0.01% || 0.8% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 0 || 0% || 0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 0.81 || 97.36% Employment & Training || 17.97 || 100% Regional aid || 83.37 || 100% Environmental aid || 0 || 0% Other || 6.99 || n/a Total || 109.14 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 12.3 || 0 || 1.0 || 2.15 || 6% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 1.32 || 0.43 || 1.19% Key state aid data (2010) || Slovakia || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[247] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[248] Total non-crisis aid || 0.3 || 0.5% || -0.04% || 0.51% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.24 || 0.37% || 0.01% || 0.39% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.06 || 0.08% || -0.02% || 0.09% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.00003 || 0.00004% || -0.0001% || 0.0001% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.01 || 0.01% || -0.03% || 0.03% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 18.07 || 0.03% || 7% Environmental aid || 87.33 || 0.13% || 36% Regional aid || 112.78 || 0.17% || 47% Employment & Training || 17.39 || 0.03% || 7% SME || 0.81 || 0.001% || 0.3% Other horizontal objectives || 0.07 || 0.0001% || 0.03% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 4.83 || 0.01% || 2.0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 0 || 0% || 0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 0.81 || 100% Employment & Training || 14.61 || 84.01% Regional aid || 66.58 || 59.04% Environmental aid || 0 || 0% Other || 8.54 || n/a Total || 90.54 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 3.5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0.4 || 0.02 || 0.02% Key state aid data (2010) || Finland || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[249] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[250] Total non-crisis aid || 2.1 || 1.1% || -0.1% || 0.1 || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 0.8 || 0.3% || -0.04% || 0.44 || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 1.21 || 0.67% || -0.02% || 0.68 || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.001 || 0.00067% || -0.004% || 0.0008 || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.08 || 0.04% || -0.01% || 0.05 || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research. development and innovation || 239.65 || 0.13% || 30% Environmental aid || 311.62 || 0.17% || 40% Regional aid || 42.937 || 0.02% || 6% Employment & Training || 70.21 || 0.03% || 9% SME || 30.342 || 0.02% || 4% Other horizontal objectives || 78.91 || 0.05% || 10% Particular sectors. of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 0.2 || 0% || 0% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other services || 0.5 || 0% || 0.1% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 30.342 || 100% Employment & Training || 37.95 || 54.05% Regional aid || 38.737 || 90.22% Environmental aid || 0.26 || 0.08% Other || 1.75 || n/a Total || 109.039 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 54 || 0.12 || 0.06 || 0 || 0.1% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 0.5 || 0.45 || 0.25% Key state aid data (2010) || Sweden || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[251] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[252] Total non-crisis aid || 2.9 || 0.8% || -0.1% || 0.9% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 2.6 || 0.76% || -0.06% || 0.80 || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.05 || 0.01% || -0.02% || 0.03% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.002 || 0.0007% || 0.014% || 0.007% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.19 || 0.06% || 0.01 || 0.06% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 103.94 || 0.03% || 4% Environmental aid || 2281.67 || 0.66% || 86% Regional aid || 86.92 || 0.03% || 3% Employment & Training || 6.29 || 0% || 0% SME || 1.30 || 0% || 0% Other horizontal objectives || 115.14 || 0.03 || 5% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 0 || 0% || 0% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 48.23 || 0.01% || 1.8% Other services || 0 || 0% || 0% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 1.30 || 100% Employment & Training || 3.47 || 55.17% Regional aid || 45.71 || 52.59% Environmental aid || 0 || 0.00% Other || 3.84 || n/a Total || 54.3 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2008 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2008-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 161.6 || 0.54 || 14.79 || 19.92 || 6% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 1.3 || 0.22 || 0.06% Key state aid data (2010) || United Kingdom || EU-27 € bn || as % of GDP[253] || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend || € bn || as % of EU GDP || Difference when compared to previous year (by % of GDP) || Trend[254] Total non-crisis aid || 4.9 || 0.3% || -0.002% || 0.3% || 73.7 || 0.6% || -0.02% || 0.6% Non-crisis aid to industry and services || 4.1 || 0.2% || 0.002% || 0.2% || 61.0 || 0.5% || -0.01% || 0.4% Agriculture || 0.44 || 0.03% || -0.004% || 0.03% || 10.2 || 0.08% || -0.01% || 0.1% Fisheries and aquaculture || 0.002 || 0.0001% || -0.00005% || 0.0001% || 0.13 || 0.001% || 0% || 0.002% Transport || 0.30 || 0.02% || 0.0005% || 0.02% || 2.3 || 0.02% || -0.01% || 0.02% Non-crisis aid to industry and services Horizontal objectives || € million || as % of GDP || as % of aid to industry and services Research, development and innovation || 801 || 0.05% || 19.9% Environmental aid || 1422 || 0.08% || 34.4% Regional aid || 267 || 0.02% || 6.5% Employment & Training || 89 || 0.01% || 2.2% SME || 208 || 0.01% || 5.0% Other horizontal objectives || 1041 || 0.06% || 25.2% Particular sectors, of which || || || Coal || 0 || 0% || 0% Financial services || 0 || 0% || 0% Manufacturing sectors || 2 || 0.0001% || 0.04% Other non-manufacturing sectors || 265 || 0.02% || 6.4% Other services || 39 || 0.002% || 0.9% Block exempted aid || € million || as % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective SME || 45 || 21% Employment & Training || 89 || 100% Regional aid || 263 || 99% Environmental aid || 14 || 1% Other || 89 || n/a Total || 501 || n/a State aid for the financial sector Total volume of aid approved (2007 to 30.09.2011; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2007+2008) || Amount used (2009) || Amount used (2010) || Overall amount used in the years 2007-2010 (as % of 2010 GDP) 850.3 || 78.5 || 212.3 || 200.1 || 17.8% Aid granted under the temporary union framework Total volume of aid approved (2009 + 2010; all figures in € billion) || Amount used (2010) || as % of GDP 10.1 || 0.5 || 0.03% Figure 41:
Legislation and communications adopted in 2010 Legislative act || Validity || Title and OJ Reference Temporary rules in response to crisis || 01.01.2011 - 31.12.2011 || Communication of the Commission: Temporary Union framework for state aid measures to support access to finance in the current financial and economic crisis. Official Journal C6, 11.1.2011, p.5. Temporary rules in response to crisis || From of 01 01.2012* || Communication from the Commission on the application, after 1 January 2011, of state aid rules to support measures in favour of banks in the context of the financial crisis. Official Journal C329, 7.12.2010, p.7. Regional aid guidelines || 01.01.2011 – 31.12.2013 || Communication of the Commission on the review of the state aid status and the aid ceiling of the statistical effect regions in the following National regional state aid maps for the period 1.1.2011-31.12.2013. Official Journal C 222, 17.08.2010, p.2; press release: IP/10/976. Risk capital guidelines || From 01 01.2011* || Communication from the Commission amending the Community guidelines on state aid to promote risk capital investments in small and medium-sized enterprises. Official Journal C329, 7.12.2010, p.4. Export Credit Insurance || Until 31.12.2012 || Communication from the Commission amending the period of application of Communication of the Commission to the Member States pursuant to Article 93(1) of the EC Treaty applying Articles 92 and 93 of the Treaty to short-term export-credit insurance. Official Journal C329, 7.12.2010, p.6. * No end of
validity is specified in the text. Figures 42: Recovery Figure 42 a:
Trend in the number of recovery decisions (aid to industry and services)[255] Trend in the number of recovery decisions and amounts to be recovered (1) 2000-2011 (state of play: 30.06.2011) || Date of Decision || Total 2000 || 2001 || 2002 || 2003 || 2004 || 2005 || 2006 || 2007 || 2008 || 2009 || 2010 || 2011 Number of decisions adopted || 15 || 19 || 26 || 10 || 24 || 13 || 8 || 10 || 14 || 7 || 5 || 6 || 157 Total aid known to be recovered (in mio €) || 358 || 1603 || 2087 || 1129 || 4980 || 456 || 258 || 171 || 2611 || 308 || 148 || 48 || 14158 Amounts recovered: (in mio €) || 352 || 1204 || 1936 || 976 || 4977 || 154 || 244 || 56 || 1476 || 36 || 120 || 0 || 11531 Of which: || || || || || || || || || || || || || (a) Principal reimbursed/or in blocked account || 137 || 1116 || 1868 || 947 || 4106 || 154 || 199 || 54 || 1206 || 36 || 120 || 0 || 9942 (b) Aid lost in bankruptcy || 215 || 88 || 68 || 29 || 871 || 0 || 45 || 2 || 270 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1588 (c) Interest || 9 || 157 || 321 || 353 || 1447 || 55 || 51 || 17 || 331 || 6 || 28 || 0 || 2776 Aid registered in bankruptcy || 0 || 8 || 3 || 17 || 0 || 8 || 0 || 216 || 415 || 5 || 29 || 0 || 701 Amount outstanding (2) || 6 || 399 || 151 || 153 || 3 || 302 || 14 || 115 || 1135 || 272 || 28 || 48 || 2627 % still pending to be recovered (2) || 1.7% || 24.9% || 7.2% || 13.6% || 0.1% || 66.2% || 5.3% || 67.2% || 43.5% || 88.5% || 19.0% || 100.0% || 18.6% || || || || || || || || || || || || || Notes: (1) Only for decisions for which the aid amount is known. || || || || || || || (2) Total aid known to be recovered less principal reimbursed and aid lost in bankruptcy. Amount excluding interest. Figure 42 b:
Pending recovery decisions[256] SA number || Case number || Working title of the case || Member State || Date of the decision || Number of the decision || Official Journal of the European Union SA.28973 || 2011/CR || Aid to certain Greek Casinos || Greece || 24/05/2011 || || Not yet published SA.23011 || 2011/CR || Restructuring aid for Legler || Italy || 23/03/2011 || || Not yet published SA.23602 || CR 48/2008 || Alleged aid to mining company Ellenikos Xrysos || Greece || 23/02/2011 || 2011/452/EU || OJ L 193 of 23/07/2011, p. 27 SA.20168 || CR 13/2006 || Preferential electricity tariffs for energy intensive industry in Sardinia || Italy || 23/02/2011 || || Not yet published SA.29150 || CR 7/2010 || Easing of fiscal carry-forward of losses (Sanierungklausel) || Germany || 26/01/2011 || 2011/526/EU || OJ L 235 of 10/09/2011, p. 1 SA.22309 || CR 46/2011 || Amortization of financial goodwill for acquisitions of foreign targets II || Spain || 12/01/2011 || 2011/282/EU || OJ L 135 of 21/05/2011, p. 1 SA.4360 || CR 38/2010 || Centre d'exportation du livre français (CELF) || France || 14/12/2010 || 2011/179/EU || OJ L 78 of 24/03/2011, p. 37 SA.28787 || CR 33/2009 || Restructuring of BPP || Portugal || 20/07/2010 || 2011/349/EU || OJ L 235 of 04/09/2010, p. 26 SA.10842 || CR 4/2003 || Export aid to WAM || Italy || 24/03/2010 || 2010/473/EU || OJ L 235 of 04/09/2010, p. 26 SA.20850 || CR 36/2010 || Preferential electricity tariff in favour - Alcoa || Italy || 19/11/2009 || 2010/460/EC || OJ L 227 of 28/08/2010, p. 62 SA.22309 || CR 45/2007 || Amortization of financial goodwill for acquisitions of foreign targets || Spain || 28/10/2009 || 2011/5/EC || OJ L 7 of 11/01/2011 p. 48 SA.20616 || CR 59/2007 || Rescue aid to Ixfin || Italy || 28/10/2009 || 2010/359/EC || OJ L 167 of 01/07/2010, p. 39 SA.22046 || CR 19/2008 || Rescue aid for Sandretto || Italy || 30/09/2009 || 2010/215/EC || OJ L 92 of 13/04/2010, p. 19 SA.21034 || CR 55/2007 || BT Group plc || UK || 11/02/2009 || 2009/703/EC || OJ L 242 of 15/09/2009, p. 21 SA.17426 || CR 19/2005 || Restructuring aid for Szczecin Shipyard || Poland || 06/11/2008 || 2010/3/EC || OJ L 5 of 08/01/2010, p. 1 SA.17543 || CR 17/2005 || Restructuring aid for Gdynia shipyard || Poland || 06/11/2008 || 2010/47/EC || OJ L 33 of 04/02/2010, p. 1 SA.24639 || 2011/CR || Olympic Airways/ Olympic Airlines || Greece || 17/09/2008 || 2010/7777/EC || OJ L 222 of 24/08/2010, p. 62 SA.14895 || CR 1/2004 || Regional law nr 9/98 || Italy || 02/07/2008 || 2008/854/EC || OJ L 302 of 13/11/2008, p. 9 SA.15526 || CR 16/2004 || Hellenic Shipyard || Greece || 02/07/2008 || 2009/610/EC || OJ L 225 of 27/08/2009, p. 104 SA.20727 || CR 56/2006 || Bank Burgenland || Austria || 30/04/2008 || 2008/719/EC || OJ L 239 of 06/09/2008, p. 32 SA.20618 || CR 13/2007 || Rescue aid to New Interline || Italy || 16/04/2008 || 2008/697/EC || OJ L 235 of 02/09/2008, p. 12 SA.20056 || CR 38/2007 || Alleged aid to Arbel Fauvet Rail SA || France || 02/04/2008 || 2008/716/EC || OJ L 238 of 05/09/2008, p. 27 SA.20949 || CR 23/2006 || Technologie Buczek || Poland || 24/10/2007 || 2008/344/EC || OJ L 116 of 30/04/2008, p. 26 SA.17066 || CR 37/2005 || Tax-exempt reserve fund for certain companies || Greece || 18/07/2007 || 2008/723/EC || OJ L 244 of 12/09/2008, p. 11 SA.31614 || CR 3/2010 || Sardinia Ferries (Tourship group) || Italy || 10/07/2007 || 2008/92/EC || OJ L 29 of 02/02/2008, p. 24 SA.20203 || CR 16/2006 || Restructuring aid to Nuova Mineraria Silius || Italy || 21/02/2007 || 2007/499/EC || OJ L 185 of 17/07/2007, p. 18 SA.11981 || CR 79/2001 || Exemption from excise duty for the production of alumina in Gardanne || France || 07/02/2007 || 2007/375/EC || OJ L 147 of 08/06/2007, p. 29 SA.12186 || CR 80/2001 || Exemption from excise duty for the production of alumina in Sardinia || Italy || 07/02/2007 || 2007/375/EC || OJ L 147 of 08/06/2007, p. 29 SA.16212 || CR 38/2005 || Biria Gruppe || Germany || 24/01/2007 14/12/2010 || 2007/492/EC 2011/471/EU || OJ L 183 of 13/07/2007, p. 27 OJ L 195 of 27/07/2011, p. 55 SA.17075 || CR 30/2005 || Restructuring aid to Kliq NV || Netherlands || 19/07/2006 || 2006/939/EC || OJ L 366 of 21/12/2006, p. 40 SA.13972 || CR 2/2004 || Ad hoc financing of Dutch public broadcasters || Netherlands || 22/06/2006 || 2008/136/EC || OJ L 49 of 22/272008, p.1 SA.18211 || CR 25/2005 || Measures in favour of Frucona Kosice || Slovakia || 07/06/2006 || 2007/254/EC || OJ L 112 of 30/04/2007, p. 14 SA.16417 || 2011/CR || Soutien financier en faveur des transporteurs aériens 11-14 septembre 2001 || Greece || 26/04/2006 || 2010/768/EC || OJ L 327 of 11/12/2010, p. 71 SA.15395 || 2011/CR || Olympic Airways - Privatisation || Greece || 14/09/2005 || 2011/97/EC || OJ L 45 of 18/02/2011, p.1 SA.15315 || CR 8/2004 || Fiscal incentives for newly listed companies || Italy || 16/03/2005 || 2006/261/EC || OJ L 094 of 01/04/2006, p. 42 SA.15316 || CR 12/2004 || Fiscal incentives for outward FDI || Italy || 14/12/2004 || 2005/919/EC || OJ L 335 of 21/12/2005, p. 39 SA.14911 || CR 57/2003 || Tremonti bis || Italy || 20/10/2004 || 2005/315/EC || OJ L 100 of 20/04/2005, p. 46 SA.1365 || CR 57/2002 || Article 44 septies CGI || France || 16/12/2003 || 2004/343/EC || OJ L 108 of 16/04/2004, p. 38 SA.12312 || CR 39/2001 || Aid to Minas Rio Tinto sal || Spain || 27/05/2003 || 2004/300/EC || OJ L 098 of 02/04/2004, p. 49 SA.9885 || CR 94/2001 || Export aid scheme Mecklenburg-Vorpommern || Germany || 05/03/2003 || 2003/595/EC || OJ L 202 of 09/08/2003, p. 15 SA.12402 || CR 70/2001 || Aid to Hilados y Tejidos Puigneró S.A. || Spain || 19/02/2003 || 2003/876/EC || OJ L 337 of 23/12/2003, p. 14 SA.10375 || CR 35/2002 || Fiscal aid scheme – Açores || Portugal || 11/12/2002 || 2003/442/EC || OJ L 150 of 18/06/2003, p. 52 SA.16203 || 2011/CR || Aid granted by Greece to Olympic Airways || Greece || 11/12/2002 || 2003/372/EC || OJ L 132 of 25/05/2003, p. 1 SA.9950 || CR 27/1999 || Aid to Municipalizzate || Italy || 05/06/2002 || 2003/193/EC || OJ L 077 of 24/03/2003, p. 21 SA.10562 || CR 53/1999 || Fiscal aid - Province of Guipuzcoa (II) || Spain || 11/07/2001 || 2002/894/EC || OJ L 314 of 18/11/2002, p. 26 SA.10679 || CR 54/1999 || Fiscal aid - Province of Vizcaya (II) || Spain || 11/07/2001 || 2003/27/EC || OJ L 017 of 22/01/2003, p. 1 SA.10563 || CR 52/1999 || Fiscal aid - Province of Vizcaya (I) || Spain || 11/07/2001 || 2002/806/EC || OJ L 279 of 17/10/2002, p. 35 SA.10565 || CR 50/1999 || Fiscal aid - Province of Guipuzcoa (I) || Spain || 11/07/2001 || 2002/540/EC || OJ L 174 of 04/07/2002, p. 31 SA.10264 || CR 48/1999 || Fiscal aid - Province of Alava (I) || Spain || 11/07/2001 || 2002/820/EC || OJ L 296 of 30/10/2002, p. 1 SA.10564 || CR 49/1999 || Fiscal aid - Province of Alava (II) || Spain || 11/07/2001 || 2002/892/EC || OJ L 314 of 18/11/2002, p. 1 SA.6281 || CR 41/1999 || Aid to Lintra beteiligungsholding Gmbh || Germany || 28/03/2001 || 2001/673/EC || OJ L 236 of 05/09/2001, p. 3 SA.813 || CR 38/1998 || Aid for Kimberly Clark/Scott Group || France || 12/07/2000 || 2002/14/EC || OJ L 012 of 15/01/2002, p. 1 SA.9440 || CR 81/1997 || Social security reductions - Venezia and Chioggia || Italy || 25/11/1999 || 2000/394/EC || OJ L 150 of 23/06/2000, p. 50 SA.9398 || CR 49/1998 || Employment aid measures (Loi Nr 196/97) || Italy || 11/05/1999 || 2000/128/EC || OJ L 042 of 15/02/2000, p. 1 SA.8989 || CR 44/1997 || Aid for Magefesa || Spain || 14/10/1998 || 1999/509/EC || OJ L 198 of 30/07/1999, p. 15 Figure 42 c: Pending recovery cases for which the Commission has decided to bring
the case before the Court of Justice and for which the illegal and incompatible
aid is not yet recovered (30 June 2011)[257] SA number || Case number || Working title || MS || Court case || State of play and recent developments SA.20727 || CR 56/2006 || Bank Burgenland || Austria || C-551/09 || 14/07/09: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Austria Press release: IP/09/1134 SA.813 || CR 38/1998 || Aid for Kimberly Clark/Scott Group || France || C-232/05 || 05/10/06: CoJ condemning France for failing to execute Commission decision SA.1365 || CR 57/2002 || Exonérations fiscales en faveur de la reprise d'entreprises en difficulté - Article 44 septies CGI || France || C-214/07 || 24/10/06: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) action against France Press release: IP/06/1471 13/11/08: CoJ condemning France for failing to execute Commission decision 05/05/10: Commission sent letter of formal notice to France under Art. 260(2) TFEU: IP/10/529 SA.20056 || CR 38/2007 || Alleged aid to Arbel Fauvet Rail SA || France || || 28/10/09: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against France Press release: IP/09/1627 23/06/2010: new negative decision adopted SA.17066 || CR 37/2005 || Tax exempt reserve fund || Greece || C-354/10 || 24/02/10: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Greece Press release: IP/10/183 SA.15526 || CR 16/2004 || Hellenic Shipyards || Greece || C-485/10 || 14/04/10: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Greece Press release: IP/10/428 1/12/2010: Commission decision which takes into account the invocation by Greece of Article 346 Press release: IP/10/1637 SA.20850 || CR 36/2010 || Preferential electricity tariff – Alcoa || Italy || || 23/03/11: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/11/352 SA.9398 || CR 49/1998 || Employment aid measures (Loi Nr 196/97) || Italy || C-99/02 || 01/04/04: CoJ condemning Italy for failing to execute Commission decision 19/07/07: Commission sent letter of formal notice to Italy 21/01/08:Commission decision to send a Reasoned Opinion to Italy 25/06/2009: Commission decision to initiate Art. 260(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/11/1028 SA.9950 || CR 27/1999 || Aid to Municipalizzate || Italy || C-207/05 || 01/06/06: CoJ condemning Italy for failing to execute Commission decision 19/07/07: Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Italy 21/01/08: Commission decision to send a Reasoned Opinion to Italy 05/05/10: Commission decision to send a complementary letter of formal notice under Art. 206(2) TFEU 28/10/10: Commission decision to initiate Art. 260(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/10/1401 SA.14911 || CR 57/2003 || Tremonti Bis || Italy || C-303/09 || 25/01/06: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/06/77 11/03/08: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy SA.15315 || CR 8/2004 || Fiscal incentives for newly listed companies || Italy || C-304/09 || 19/07/06: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/06/1040 11/03/08: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/08/435 22/12/10: CoJ condemning Italy for failing to execute Commission decision SA.9440 || CR 81/1997 || Social security reductions – Venezia e Chioggia || Italy || C-302/09 || 10/05/07: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/07/648 11/03/08: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy SA.15316 || CR 12/2004 || Fiscal incentives for outward FDI || Italy || C-305/09 || 11/03/08: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/08/435 SA.20618 || CR 13/2007 || Rescue aid to New Interline SPA || Italy || C-454/09 || 25/11/09: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/09/1140 SA.14895 || CR 1/2004 || Regional law 9/98 – Misuse of aid || Italy || C-243/10 || 27/01/10: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Italy Press release: IP/10/103 SA.20949 || CR 23/2006 || Technologie Buczek || Poland || C-331/09 || 11/03/08: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Poland Press release: IP/09/777 SA.18211 || CR 25/2005 || Measures in favour of Frucona Kosice || Slovakia || C-507/08 || 17/06/08: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Slovakia Press release: IP/08/952 22/12/10: CoJ condemning Slovakia for failing to execute Commission decision SA.8989 || CR 44/1997 || Aid to Magefesa || Spain || C-499/99 C-610/10 || 02/07/02: CoJ judgment condemning Spain for failing to execute part of Commission decision 17/06/09: Commission decision to initiate Art. 108(2) TFEU action against Spain Press release: IP/09/960 19/11/09: Commission sent letter of formal notice to Spain Press release: IP/09/1789 18/03/10: Commission decision to send a complementary letter of formal notice under Art. 206(2) TFEU 30/09/10: Commission decision to initiate Art. 260(2) action against Spain Press release: IP/10/1214 SA.10264, SA.10564, SA.10565, SA.10563, SA.10562, SA.10679 || CR 48/1999 CR 49/1999 CR 50/1999 CR 52/1999 CR 53/1999 CR 54/1999 || Fiscal aid – Province of Alava (I) Fiscal aid - Province of Alava (II) Fiscal aid – Province of Guipuzcoa (I) Fiscal aid – Province of Vizcaya (I) Fiscal aid - Province of Guipuzcoa (II) Fiscal aid - Province of Vizcaya (II) (Basque fiscal aid schemes) || Spain || C-485/03, C-486/03, C 487/03, C-488/03, C-489/03, C-490/03, C-184/11 || 14/12/06: CoJ judgment condemning Spain for failing to execute Commission decisions 26/06/08: Commission decision to send a Reasoned Opinion to Spain 24/11/10: Commission decision to initiate Art. 260(2) TFEU action against Spain Press release: IP/10/1544 Summary of
rules in the transport sector Land transport (road. rail. inland waterways) –
Article 93 TFEU
contains rules for the compatibility of state aid in the area of coordination
of transport and public service obligation in transport. The Commission
considers in its constant practice that Article 93 constitutes a lex specialis
with respect to Article 107(2) and Article 107(3), as it contains special rules
for the compatibility of state aid. In addition, Article 93 TFEU constitutes a
lex specialis also with respect to Article 106(2) TFEU, and therefore, Article
106(2) TFEU cannot be applied in the area of coordination of transport and
public service obligation in the inland transport sector[258]; –
Until 2 December 2009,
Article 93 was in practice implemented by means of 3 Council Regulations: 1)
Council Regulation 1191/69[259], 2) Council Regulation
1107/70[260] and 3) Council
Regulation 1192/69[261]. As from 3 December
2009 Regulation 1370/07[262] will replace
Regulations 1191/69 and 1107/70. Regulation 119/69 remains applicable for a
three years transitional period to the inland freight transport; –
Community guidelines on
state aid for railway undertakings, adopted on 30 April 2008[263]. Aviation –
Communication on the
Application of Articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty and Article 61 of the EEA
agreement to state aids in the aviation sector[264]; –
Community guidelines on
financing of airports and start-up aid to airlines departing from regional
airports[265]. Maritime transport –
Community guidelines on
state aid to maritime transport[266]; –
Communication from the
Commission providing guidance on state aid complementary to Community funding
for the launching of the motorways of the sea[267]; Communication from
the Commission providing guidance on state aid to ship management companies.[268] Situation on
reporting by Member States[269] [1] DG ECFIN Economic Forecast Spring 2011. [2] Banking sector support is also provided through
monetary policy instruments by the ECB/ESCB. As for State aid some
countries/sectors still rely strongly on central bank interventions. [3] The legal basis of the Scoreboard is provided in
Article 6(2) of Commission Regulation 794/2004 which stipulates that the
Commission shall publish each year a state aid synopsis containing a synthesis
of the information contained in the Member States' annual reports. [4] Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. [5] Slightly more than 5000 active aid measures of which
826 are new measures. [6] Communication from the Commission – Temporary
Framework, OJ C 83, 7.4.2009, p. 1; Modification of the Temporary Framework –
to allow separate limited amount of aid to farmers, OJ C 261, 31.10.2009, p. 1;
2nd Modification of the Temporary Framework – technical modification
to further facilitate access to finance and encourage long-term investment, OJ
C 303, 15.12.2009, p. 6; Temporary Union Framework for state aid measures to
support access to finance in the current financial and economic crisis, OJ C 6,
11.1.2011, p. 5. [7] http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/studies_reports.html. [8] http://www.eftasurv.int/press--publications/scoreboards/state-aid-scoreboards/
. [9] See the methodology notes which give detail on the
calculation of the aid. [10] Source: DG Competition, DG Agriculture, DG Maritime
Affairs. Total non-crisis aid excludes aid to railways and comprises aid to
industry and services including coal, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture
and transport. [11] Source: DG Competition. [12] Source: DG Competition, DG Agriculture. [13] Source: DG Competition, DG Agriculture, DG Maritime
Affairs. [14] Of which coal represents approximately € 2.8 billion. [15] State aid granted to the sectors of agriculture,
fisheries and aquaculture have been reported by Member States according to
Annexes III B and C of Commission Regulation (EC) 794/2004; OJ L 140,
30.4.2004, p. 1), which are different from Annex III A of that Regulation under
which aid granted to industry and services is reported. With respect to
transport aid, a comprehensive legislative framework exists – see Summary of
rules for the transport sector in Annex to this document. As a result, the
different sets of information prevent to produce single aggregate information
across all sectors and hence agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and
transport are excluded from the further observations. [16] Source: DG Competition. [17] Read more detail on the overall decreasing trend in the
previous Autumn 2010 Scoreboard, p. 14. [18] Source: DG Competition. [19] Greece granted substantially more regional aid and some
more sectoral aid. [20] Hungary granted more aid for environmental protection
and employment aid. [21] Read more about EU 2020 here: http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/index_en.htm.
[22] Source: DG Competition. [23] Includes the objective energy savings. [24] Aid granted under block exemption is included under
horizontal aid. [25] For instance, Belgium, Bulgaria, Lithuania and
Luxembourg with each 100%, followed by Denmark, Cyprus, Netherlands, Austria,
Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and United Kingdom with each more than 90%.
[26] Malta, Portugal. [27] Czech Republic, Spain, Hungary, Portugal. [28] Block exempted measures falling under the General block
exemption Regulation (Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008, OJ L 214,
9.8.2008, p. 3) have only objectives. For the purpose to allow calculating the
aid earmarked to horizontal objectives, objectives are grouped and the group is
mapped to the corresponding primary objective. [29] Belgium, Czech Republic, Ireland, Spain, the
Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia and Finland. [30] E.g. culture, heritage conservation, risk capital,
social support to individual consumers. [31] Source: DG Competition. [32] It is recalled that block exempted aid comprises aid
granted under the individual block exemption regulations for employment
(Commission Regulation (EC) No 2204/2002; OJ L 337, 13.12.2002, p.20), regional
aid (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006; OJ L 302, 1.11.2006, p. 29), aid
to SMEs (Commission Regulation (EC) 70/2001; OJ L 10, 13.1.2001, p. 33) and
training (Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2001; OJ L 10, 13.1.2001, p.20), which
Member States have been phasing-out and aid granted under the General block
exemption Regulation (Commission Regulation (EC) 800/2008; L 214, 9.8.2008, p.
3) "GBER". [33] Source: DG Competition. [34] Source: DG Competition. [35] Source: DG Competition. [36] More detail for each Member State can be found in the
online Scoreboard which DG Competition publishes at http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/studies_reports.html.
[37] Source: DG Competition and
Eurostat. Member States are sorted by the overall R&D expenditure. Figures
on government sectors' expenditure on R&D are not directly comparable with state
aid expenditure data as i) the source is different and ii) for many countries,
data on government sectors are not available for 2010. However, the data allow
producing a graph which indicates the approximate share of state aid in
relation to total expenditure on R&D. [38] "Europe 2020: a strategy
for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth", COM
(2010) 2020, p. 12. [39] The Barcelona European Council in 2002 settled a 3% of
GDP target for expenditure on R&D by 2010. The target was not reached by
2010 and the Europe 2020 Strategy has maintained it and
stablished a new deadline. [40] Communication on "Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative
Innovation Union", COM(2010)
546 final. [41] Data on R&D expenditure for 2009. [42] More than one-third of the aid was granted under the
schemes: ""IKT 2020, R&D&I-scheme, Germany" (N
375/2007), "Innovation and new energy Technologies - 5. Federal
program for research in the field of energy" (N
454/2005) and "Temporary modification of 'ZIM'. R&D&I-scheme.
Germany (federal)" (N
65/2009). [43] Around 58% of the aid was granted under the following
schemes: "Agence Nationale de la Recherche" (N
407/2007) and "Régime OSEO" (N
408/2007). [44] More than 40% of the aid was granted under the schemes:
"Plan Nacional de Investigación Científica, Desarrollo e Innovación
Tecnológica 2008-2011" (N
400/2010, which is a modification of the previous "Spanish national
Research, development and innovation scheme" (N188/2008), "Actividades del Centro para el
desarrollo tecnologico industrial CDTI" and "Programa CENIT" (N
390/2006). [45] Germany multiplied by 5 the expenditure in
R&D&I with block exempted measures in comparison to 2010. [46] Framework for State aid for Research and Development
and Innovation, OJ
C 323 of 30.12.2006, p. 1. (entry into force 1 January 2007). [47] Commission
Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 of 6 August 2008 declaring certain categories
of aid compatible with the common market in application of Article 87 and 88 of
the Treaty (General block exemption Regulation). OJ
L 214, 9.8.2008, p. 3 (entry into force 29 August 2008). [48] Mid-term
review of the R&D&I Framework. [49] Communication on "A resource-efficient Europe –
Flagship initiative under the Europe 2020 Strategy", COM(2011)
21 final. [50] More than 80% of the aid to environmental protection in
Germany was granted under one big tax reduction scheme: "Tax reductions
for manufacturing, agriculture and forestry and tax cap
("Spitzenausgleich") for energy intensive users" (N
775/2006). [51] More than 60% of the aid to environmental protection in
Sweden was granted under tax reduction scheme: "Prolongation of energy tax
on electricity for the manufacturing sector" (N
596/2005) [52] 64% of the aid to having a direct benefit to the
environment in the Netherlands was granted under the energy saving scheme: "MEP
Stimulating CHP" for combined heat and power production (N
543/2005). [53] Around 70% of the aid to having a direct benefit to the
environment in Austria was granted under two schemes: "Ökostromgesetz - Renewables feed-in tariff" (N
317a/2006) and "Ökostromgesetznovelle 2008"
(N
446/2008) which concern the production of green
electricity. [54] More than 90% of the aid to having a direct benefit to
the environment in Spain was granted under the scheme "Tax exemption for biofuels" (NN61/2004)
which consists in a zero-rate of the tax on hydrocarbons. [55] More than 50% of the aid to having a direct benefit to
the environment in France was granted under the scheme "ADEME Aid scheme for renewables 2009/2013" (N
584/2008) [56] In addition, there was one negative decision without
recovery concerning a Dutch case "Exemption from environmental taxes for
ceramic producers (C
5/2009)" and one positive decision concerning
a Dutch case "Energy green tax, reduction for the glasshouse horticulture
sector (N
270/2010)" which did not include a specific necessity and
proportionality assessment as the beneficiaries still paid at least the EU
minimum tax level. Furthermore, in another tax
exemption case concerning Denmark (C
30/2009), the Commission opened in October 2009, the formal investigation
procedure which is still ongoing. [57] Source: DG Competition. [58] OJ
C 54/13 of 4.3.2006. [59] Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006 of 24 October
2006; OJ L 302, 01.11.2006 p. 29. [60] Source: DG Competition. [61] Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Ireland, Cyprus, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovakia and Sweden. [62] Source: DG Competition. [63] Source: DG Competition. [64] Aid under the Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 of
6.August 2008 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common
market in application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty (OJ
L 214, 9.8.2008, p. 3-47) remains possible with the exception of
regional aid favouring activities in the steel sector (Article 1(3)(e)). [65] Source: DG Competition. [66] Council Regulation (CE) N° 1407/2002 of 23 July 2002,
EUOJ L205, 2.8.2002 p.1. [67] Council Regulation (CE) N° 1407/2002 of 23 July 2002,
EUOJ L205, 2.8.2002 p.1. [68] OJ L 336, 21.12.2010, p. 24. [69] Source: DG Competition. [70] 24 October 2011; Negative decision with recovery. [71] Source:
DG Agriculture. [72] Source: DG Maritime and Fisheries. [73] Source: DG Competition. [74] The underlying total amount used or total nominal
amount of the soft loans amounted to € 19.1 billion, or 0.15% of EU GDP. [75] The underlying total amount used or total nominal
amount of the guarantees amounted to € 34.1 billion, or 0.27% of EU GDP. [76] Ireland, France, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia and Sweden. [77] Denmark, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Austria, Romania and Slovenia. [78] Communication from the
Commission to the European Parliament and the Council, Long-term sustainability
of public finances for a recovering economy - COM(2009) 545, 14.10.2009 (http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/thematic_articles/article15994_en.htm). [79] For further details see the report on the effects of
temporary SA rules adopted in the context of the financial and economic crisis;
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/publications/reports/temporary_stateaid_rules_en.html
[80] While the Autumn 2011 Scoreboard generally updates on
state aid expenditure in 2010, the financial crisis chapter expands over a
longer period i.e. to include the most recent developments up to 1 October
2011. However, data on expenditure is presented for the years 2008-2010 that
are taken from Member States' annual reports. [81] 2008 figures contain the budget approved for the
recapitalisation of Northern Rock in 2007. [82] Some corrections have been made with respect to the
previous Scoreboard in order to avoid double counting. [83] 2008 figures contain the budget used for the
recapitalisation of Northern Rock in 2007. [84] Compared to previous Autumn Scoreboards, the Commission
has amended to some extent the methodology to measure state aid to financial
institutions. The figures do not longer report the value of the aid element
since for the particular nature of financial crisis measures its calculation appeared
to be rather complex. Instead the methodology to measure expenditure as regards
guarantees and other liquidity measures have been further refined. To ensure
that the data can continue to be compared with the data provided by Member
States in their annual reports over 2008 and 2009, Member States have been
requested to provide the data for the instruments concerned in accordance to
the new methodology also for these years. [85] The methodology for measuring recapitalisation has not
been changed compared to previous Scoreboards. [86] As regards guarantees the data in this Scoreboard
differ from the data in the Report prepared for the European Parliament on the
effects of temporary state aid Rules adopted in the context of the financial
and economic crisis, due to a change in the scope of the guarantee covered and
a change in the methodology to record the used amount. The Report includes only
guarantees relating to the emission of senior debt bonds by the beneficiary.
The Scoreboard however includes also guarantees on other liabilities, such as
short-term debt, wholesale and retail deposits or interbank liabilities. The
Report took as amounts for used guarantees the value of the senior debt bonds
issued under those guarantees and attributed once to the date on which the
bonds were issued. [87] A break down of the data per year is provided in the
tables in the annex. [88] Banking sector support is also provided through
monetary policy instruments by the ECB/ESCB. As for State aid some
countries/sectors still rely strongly on central bank interventions. [89] This percentage is computed excluding the liquidity
measure approved in 2010 the case of NL. This is because it refers to not
notified aid: i.e. aid which was already used in previous years but received
the approval of the Commission just in 2010. [90] Recapitalisation is the instrument which better show
concentration since the methodology used for guarantees and liquidity does not
let capture directly this feature while the use of impaired assets is
concentrated in few countries in the whole period considered. [91] http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/phase_out_bank_guarantees.pdf. [92] The threshold on outstanding guarantees liabilities is
evaluated both in absolute terms and in relation to total liabilities. [93] Communication from the Commission on the application,
after 1 January 2011, of State aid rules to support measures in favour of banks
in the context of the financial crisis; OJ C 329, 7.12.2010, p. 7. [94] According with the methodology used to compute
guarantees which focuses on the outstanding volumes, the overall amount of
guarantees used over the whole period is calculated by summing up the maximum
amount of outstanding guarantees provided by each member state. [95] Measures to limit moral hazard and to mitigate the
distortions in Competition, such as State remuneration and burden sharing,
applies, to a different extent, also for banks not subjected to restructuring. [96] The baseline scenario used in the 2011EU-Wide stress
test is mainly based on the Autumn 2010 European Commission forecast. [97] This amount just refers to the principal and does not
take into account interest. [98] Communication on the return to viability and the
assessment of restructuring measures in the financial sector in the current
crisis under the State aid rules, OJ C 195, 19.08.2009. [99] See,
for instance, the Commission decision in State aid case N249/2009 France
"Renforcement des fonds propres de l'entité qui sera issue du
rapprochement des organes centraux des groupes Caisses d'Epargne et Banques
Populaires (OJ 2009 C 186 of 8.8.2009 p.4) [100] One in October 2009 and the other in March 2010. [101] http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2010_temporary_measures/index.html#docs
[102] Communication of the Commission – Temporary Union
framework for State aid measures to support access to finance in the current
financial and economic crisis; OJ C 6, 11.1.2011, p.5. [103] Figure 41 (in annex) provides a complete overview on aid
measures reviewed by the Commission under the temporary framework. [104] Number excludes amendments to previously authorised
schemes under the temporary framework; a total of 13 schemes were amended in
2010. [105] 4 Amendments. [106] Source:
DG Competition. [107] Read more in the methodology note on the principles for
the calculation of the aid element. [108] http://ec.europa.eu/competition/publications/reports/temporary_stateaid_rules_en.html. [109] For
instance, in the Netherlands, 40 % of the
beneficiaries have been large companies, 33 % in Latvia and 30 % in
the Czech Republic. [110] Source: DG Competition. Figures refer to industry and
services. Note: Individual aid comprises ad hoc
aid and notified individual application within a scheme. Block exempted aid
comprises measures notified under the BERs and the GBER. [111] Commission Regulation (EC) No 2204/2002, OJ L 337,
13.12.2002, p. 3. [112] Commission Regulation (EC) 70/2001, OJ L 10, 13.1.2001,
p. 34. [113] Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2001, OJ L 10,
13.1.2001, p. 20. [114] Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006, OJ L 302,
1.11.2006, p.29. [115] Source: DG Competition. Figures refer to industry and
services. Note: Individual aid comprises ad hoc
aid and notified individual application within a scheme. Block exempted aid
comprises measures notified under the BERs and the GBER. [116] The Commission reports about
recovery on a cumulative, mid-year basis. [117] Period includes the first half of 2011. [118] C-179/2010, C-549/2009. [119] Commission Notice on the enforcement of State aid law by
National courts (OJ 85, 9.4.2009, p. 1) [120] http://ec.europa.eu/competition/court/state_aid.html.
[121] http://ec.europa.eu/competition/publications/state_aid/national_courts_booklet_en.pdf.
[122] Read
more on methodological remarks under
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/conceptual_remarks.html. [123] Commission Regulation (EC) 794/2004, OJ L 140,
30.4.2004, p. 1. [124] See on last page of this document. [125] Regulation (EC) 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and
the Council on public passenger transport services by rail and by road and
repealing Council Regulations 1161/69 and 1107/70, OJ L 315, 3.12.2007, p. 1;
Council Regulation (EEC) 1192/69 on common rules for the normalisation of the
accounts of railway undertakings, OJ L 156, 28.6.1969, p.8. [126] Financial crisis data include also cases for which the
aid has been already provided despite the approval of the Commission has not
yet been given on the basis of a final decision. [127] Annex IIIA sets out the reporting format covering all
sectors except agriculture and fisheries and aquaculture, for which Annexes
IIIB and IIIC provide the format respectively. [128] OJ L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1. [129] Usually, the part of the aid not covered by SGEI as
outlined in the decision authorising the measure. [130] For instance, more distinct primary objectives exist for
the agricultural and fisheries sector. [131] Article 21(1) of Regulation 659/1999 and Article 5 of
Regulation 794/2004, which includes the provisions attached in Annex III of
that Regulation. [132] Read
more on the calculation of the aid element under
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/conceptual_remarks.html. [133] For
more detail, read http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/conceptual_remarks.html.
[134] For instance, the aid element of tax exemptions is
difficult to determine since the exact number of beneficiaries or amounts may
not be known and authorities in the Member States may work with estimates. [135] The
overall maximum amount of State aid measures set up by the Member State and
approved by the Commission. [136] The actual volume of the aid measure which Member States
implemented. [137] For more detail, read chapter 3. [138] The
Scoreboard includes all guarantees, including newly emitted bonds by
beneficiary banks and guarantee aid for short-term liabilities. The precise
scope of information to report and further guidance are outlined in Annex D of
the instructions to Member States; read
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/conceptual_remarks.html#instructions
[139] For
more detail, read http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/conceptual_remarks.html.
[140] Read Chapter 3.2. [141] The
overall maximum amount of State aid measures set up by the Member State and
approved by the Commission. [142] The actual volume of the aid measure which Member States
implemented. [143] Sent in March 2011. [144] Source: DG Competition. [145] Source: DG Competition, DG Agriculture and Rural
Development and DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. [146] Source: DG Competition. [147] Prolongation
N532/2009. [148] Amendment to N198/2009. [149] Prolongation of N198/2009 and to N554/2009. [150] Amendment to SA.32047. [151] Amendment to N668/2008. [152] 2nd Amendment to N668/2008. [153] 3rd Amendment to N668/2008. [154] Prolongation of N668/2008. [155] Prolongation of N27/2009. [156] Prolongation of N38/2009. [157] Amendment to N384/2009. [158] Prolongation of N384/2009. [159] Prolongation of N387/2009. [160] Amendment to N186/2009. [161] Prolongation of N304/2009. [162] Amendment to N68/2010. [163] Prolongation of N68/2010 as amended by N157/2010. [164] Amendment to N7/2009. [165] Amendment to N7/2009. [166] Prolongation of N7/2009. [167] Prolongation of N23/2009. [168] Prolongation of N15/2009. [169] Prolongation of N449/2009. [170] Prolongation of N248/2009 and of N706/2009. [171] Prolongation of N266/2009. [172] Prolongation of N268/2009. [173] Changes to N124/2007. [174] Amendment to N506/2009. [175] Amendment to N272/2009. [176] Amendment to N272/2009. [177] Prolongation of N50/2009. [178] Prolongation of N77/2009. [179] Amendment to N341/2009. [180] Prolongation of N341/2009 amended by N56/2010. [181] Prolongation of N203/2009. [182] Prolongation of N78/2009. [183] Prolongation of N156/2009. [184] Amendment to N406/2009. [185] Amendment to N47a/2009. [186] Prolongation of N47a/2009. [187] Amendment to N408/2009. [188] 2nd Amendment to N408/2009. [189] 3rd Amendment to N408/2009. [190] Linked to N27/2009. [191] Amendment to N478/2009. [192] Amendment to N286/2009. [193] Amendment to NN34/2009. [194] Prolongation of N713/2009. [195] Amendment to N222/2009. [196] Prolongation to N258/2009. [197] Amendment to N80/2009. [198] Amendment to N257/2009. [199] GDP of the Member State. [200] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [201] GDP of the Member State. [202] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [203] GDP of the Member State. [204] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [205] GDP of the Member State. [206] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [207] GDP of the Member State. [208] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [209] GDP of the Member State. [210] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [211] GDP of the Member State. [212] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [213] GDP of the Member State. [214] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [215] GDP of the Member State. [216] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [217] GDP of the Member State. [218] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [219] As included in the decision authorising the aid measure. [220] GDP of the Member State. [221] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [222] GDP of the Member State. [223] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [224] GDP of the Member State. [225] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [226] GDP of the Member State. [227] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [228] GDP of the Member State. [229] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [230] GDP of the Member State. [231] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [232] GDP of the Member State. [233] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [234] GDP of the Member State. [235] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [236] As included in the decision authorising the aid measure. [237] GDP of the Member State. [238] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [239] GDP of the Member State. [240] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [241] GDP of the Member State. [242] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [243] GDP of the Member State. [244] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [245] GDP of the Member State. [246] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [247] GDP of the Member State. [248] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [249] GDP of the Member State. [250] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [251] GDP of the Member State. [252] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [253] GDP of the Member State. [254] Average level of aid in % of GDP
during the period 2008-2010. [255] Source: DG Competition. [256] Source: DG Competition. [257] Source: DG Competition. [258] See recital 17 of the Commission decision of 28 November
2005 on the application of Article 86(2) of the EC Treaty to State aid in the
form of public service compensation granted to certain undertakings entrusted
with the operation of services of general economic interest (OJ L 312,
29.11.2005, pages 67 - 73). [259] Regulation (EEC) No. 1191/69 of the Council of 26 June
1969 on action by Member States concerning the obligations inherent in the
concept of a public service in transport by rail, road and inland waterway, as
amended. [260] Regulation (EEC) No. 1107/70 of the Council of 4 June
1970 on the granting of aid for transport by rail, road and inland waterway, as
amended. [261] Regulation (EEC) No. 1192/69 on common rules for the
normalisation of accounts of railway undertakings is particularly important
from a State aid monitoring perspective as it exempts from the notification
procedure a number of different compensations from public authorities to
railway undertakings, as amended. [262] Regulation (EC) No. 1370/2007 of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on public passenger transport services by
rail and by road and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) Nos. 1191/69 and 1107/70
(OJ L 315, 3.12.2007, p. 1–13). [263] OJ C 184, 22.7.2008, p. 13. [264] OJ C 350, 10.12.1994, p. 5. [265] OJ C 312, 9.12.2005, p. 1. [266] OJ C 13, 17.1.2004, p. 3. [267] OJ C 317, 12.12.2008, p. 10. [268] OJ C 132, 11.6.2009, p. 6. [269] Annual reports including requests for clarification
submitted by Member States to DG Competition.