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Antitrust
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Commission sends Statement of Objections to Crédit Agricole, HSBC and JPMorgan for suspected participation in euro interest rate derivatives cartel
20 May 2014
The Commission has informed Crédit Agricole, HSBC and JPMorgan of its preliminary view that they may have breached EU antitrust rules by colluding to influence the pricing of interest rate derivatives denominated in the euro currency.
Press release >
Press statement >
Competition
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European Competition Network (ECN) publishes May 2014 issue of news brief
20 May 2014
Among other news, this issue reports on the new UK competition authority, that started works on 1 April, and on Irish plans to merge the competition authority with the consumers authority.
The next issue will be published in July 2014.
Go to ECN Brief >
State aid
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Commission adopts new rules facilitating public support for research, development and innovation
21 May 2014
The Commission has adopted new rules that will facilitate the granting of aid measures by Member States in support of research, development and innovation (R&D&I) activities.
The new R&D&I state aid framework sets out the conditions under which Member States can grant state aid to companies to carry out R&D&I activities.
Moreover, the scope of measures that no longer need to be notified to the Commission for prior approval has been widened under the new General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER).
These new rules will help Member States reach the targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, while at the same time limiting distortions in the Single Market.
VP Almunia's statement >
R&D&I policy brief >
Press release >
Frequently asked questions >
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Commission exempts more aid measures from prior notification
21 May 2014
As another milestone of its state aid modernisation (SAM) initiative, the European Commission has considerably extended the scope of exemptions from prior notification of state aid granted to companies.
Under the revised General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), Member States will be able to grant more aid measures and higher amounts without having to notify them to the Commission for prior authorisation, because they are less likely to lead to undue distortions of competition in the Single Market.
This will significantly reduce the administrative burden for Member States and local authorities and increase legal certainty for aid beneficiaries.
The Regulation will enter into force on 1 July 2014.
VP Almunia's statement >
Press release >
Frequently asked questions >
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Commission introduces new transparency requirements
21 May 2014
As a cornerstone of its State Aid Modernisation (SAM) initiative, the Commission has introduced new transparency requirements concerning state aid granted by Member States to undertakings.
For each state aid award above €500 000, Member States will be required to publish the identity of the beneficiary, the amount and objective of the aid and the legal basis.
Transparency policy brief >
Press release >
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Commission approves regional aid map 2014-2020 for Spain
The Commission has approved Spain's map for granting regional investment aid between 2014 and 2020.
The map is based on the new regional aid guidelines adopted by the Commission in June 2013, which set out the conditions under which Member States can grant state aid to businesses for regional development purposes.
The guidelines aim to foster growth and greater cohesion in the Single Market.
Read more >
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Commission approves regional aid map 2014-2020 for Ireland
21 May 2014
The Commission has approved Ireland's map for granting regional investment aid between 2014 and 2020.
The map is based on the new regional aid guidelines adopted by the Commission in June 2013, which set out the conditions under which Member States can grant state aid to businesses for regional development purposes.
The guidelines aim to foster growth and greater cohesion in the Single Market.
Read more >
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Commission approves regional aid map 2014-2020 for UK
21 May 2014
The Commission has approved the UK's map for granting state aid between 2014 and 2020 within the framework of the new regional aid guidelines adopted by the Commission in June 2013.
The new guidelines set out the conditions under which Member States can grant state aid to businesses for regional development purposes.
They aim to foster growth and greater cohesion in the Single Market.
Read more >
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Commission approves regional aid map 2014-2020 for Lithuania
21 May 2014
The Commission has approved Lithuania's map for granting state aid between 2014 and 2020 within the framework of the new regional aid guidelines adopted by the Commission in June 2013.
The new guidelines set out the conditions under which Member States can grant state aid to businesses for regional development purposes.
They aim to foster growth and greater cohesion in the Single Market.
Read more >
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Commission approves regional aid map 2014-2020 for Austria
21 May 2014
The Commission has approved Austria's map for granting regional development aid between 2014 and 2020.
The map is based on the new regional aid guidelines adopted by the Commission in June 2013, which set out the conditions under which Member States can grant state aid to businesses for regional development purposes.
The guidelines aim to foster growth and greater cohesion in the Single Market.
Read more >
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Commission approves regional aid map 2014-2020 for Estonia
21 May 2014
The Commission has approved Estonia's map for granting regional development aid between 2014 and 2020.
The map is based on the new regional aid guidelines adopted by the Commission in June 2013, which set out the conditions under which Member States can grant state aid to businesses for regional development
The guidelines aim to foster growth and greater cohesion in the Single Market.
Read more >
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Commission approves UK compensation for indirect costs of carbon price floor
21 May 2014
The Commission has found UK plans to compensate certain energy-intensive users from higher electricity costs triggered by a mandatory carbon price floor to be in line with EU state aid rules.
The UK carbon price floor, a tax on carbon-intensive fuels, is aimed at reducing the use of electricity produced by fossil fuels.
The compensation partially offsets the higher electricity costs, similarly to what is done for the costs of the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS).
The Commission concluded that the measure would further EU energy objectives without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market.
Read more >
Court
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