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Law
Competition Policy

Legislation (Energy & Environment)

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

Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy 2014-2020

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

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).