Overview
On 16 March 2026, the European Commission adopted the new State aid Land and Multimodal Transport Guidelines (LMTG) and the new State aid Transport Block Exemption Regulation (TBER). These rules make it easier and faster for Member States to support sustainable land transport solutions.
Land and Multimodal Transport Guidelines (LMTG)
The LMTG set out the conditions under which State aid subject to prior notification under Article 108(3) TFEU may be declared compatible with the internal market.
Transport Block Exemption Regulation (TBER)
The TBER complements the LMTG by exempting certain categories of aid in the rail, inland waterways and sustainable multimodal transport sectors from the requirement of prior notification to and approval by the Commission.
The LMTG apply as of 30 March 2026, and remain in force until further notice.
The TBER applies as of 30 March 2026, and remains in force until 31 December 2034.
The LMTG and TBER contain provisions for the following types of aid measures:
- Aid to reduce the external costs of transport
- Aid to launch new commercial connections
- Aid that represents reimbursement for the discharge of certain obligations inherent in the concept of a public service in the rail freight transport sector (LMTG only)
- Aid for the construction, upgrade and renewal of unimodal and multimodal railway service and inland waterways facilities
- Aid for the construction, upgrade and renewal of private sidings
- Aid for the acquisition of vehicles for rail or inland waterways transport
- Aid for the acquisition of Intermodal Loading Units or cranes on board vessels (TBER only)
- Aid for interoperability
- Aid for technical adaptation and modernisation
For more information on the adoption of the LMTG and TBER, see also the press release, a factsheet and questions and answers/a memo.
See also the Impact Assessment Report and its Executive summary.
The LMTG build on the experience with the 2008 Community guidelines on State aid for railway undertakings (‘Railway Guidelines’) which they replace.
The Commission also provides guidance to facilitate the application of the LMTG and TBER by Member States: eState Aid Wiki
Reference documents
- Fitness Check on the rules applicable to the land and multimodal transport sector
- Inception Impact Assessment
- Roadmap - New Land Transport Enabling Regulation
- Call for Evidence - Block exemption regulation on the application of Articles 93 and 108 of the Treaty
- Proposal for a Council Regulation on the application of Articles 93, 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to certain categories of State aid in the rail, inland waterway and multimodal transport sector
- Council Regulation (EU) 2022/2586 of 19 December 2022 on the application of Articles 93, 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to certain categories of State aid in the rail, inland waterway and multimodal transport sector
- Public consultation - draft LMTG and draft TBER
- Impact assessment support study for the review of the Community guidelines on State aid for railway undertakings