State aid
The Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy provide guidance on how the Commission will assess the compatibility of environmental protection, including climate protection, and energy aid measures which are subject to the notification requirement under Article 107(3), point (c), of the Treaty
The new guidelines, applicable as from January 2022, create a flexible, fit-for-purpose enabling framework to help Member States provide the necessary support to reach the Green Deal objectives in a targeted and cost-effective manner. The rules involve an alignment with the important EU’s objectives and targets set out in the European Green Deal and with other recent regulatory changes in the energy and environmental areas and will cater for the increased importance of climate protection. They include sections on energy efficiency measures, aid for clean mobility, infrastructure, circular economy, pollution reduction, protection and restoration of biodiversity, as well as measures to ensure security of energy supply, subject to certain conditions.
Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy 2022
- The guidelines and annexes – available in all EU languages
- Questions and answers on Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy 2022
- Press release on endorsement of the Guidelines in December 2021
- Adopted Impact Assessment Report and the Executive Summary
Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy 2014-2020
- The guidelines and annexes – available in all EU official languages
Guidelines on certain State aid measures in the context of the system from greenhouse gas emission allowance trading post-2021 enable Member States to support some heavy electricity users at risk of carbon leakage
- The guidelines– available in all EU official languages
- Annex I and Annex II
- Standard form for the Member States’ annual reports
If an aid category is not covered by the above guidelines, it may still be directly assessed under and declared compatible with the Treaty rules. The Commission will balance the positive effects of the aid (the aid must facilitate the development of an economic activity) against the negative ones (the aid measure cannot unduly affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest).