# C_2006153EN.01001301.xml

| 1.7.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 153/13 |
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1.7.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 153/13

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State Aid: Guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013: Acceptance by 24 Member States of the Commission's proposal of the appropriate measures pursuant to Article 88(1) of the EC Treaty

(pursuant to Article 26(1) of Regulation (EC) No 659/99 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 EC (1))

(pursuant to Article 26(1) of Regulation (EC) No 659/99 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 EC (1

(2006/C 153/04)

Following the adoption of the Guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013 (2), the Commission by separate letters dated 6 March 2006, proposed to Member States the following appropriate measures:

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| 1. | Without prejudice to Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid for small and medium-sized enterprises, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 364/2004 and to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2204/2002 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid for employment, Member States shall limit the application in time of all existing regional aid schemes to aid to be granted on or before 31 December 2006. |
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1.

Without prejudice to Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid for small and medium-sized enterprises, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 364/2004 and to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2204/2002 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid for employment, Member States shall limit the application in time of all existing regional aid schemes to aid to be granted on or before 31 December 2006.

| 2. | Where environment aid schemes allow regional investment aid to be granted for environmental investments pursuant to footnote 29 of the Community guidelines on State aid for environmental protection, Member States shall amend the relevant schemes in order to ensure that aid may only be granted after 31 December 2006 if it complies with the new regional aid map in force on the date the aid is granted. |
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2.

Where environment aid schemes allow regional investment aid to be granted for environmental investments pursuant to footnote 29 of the Community guidelines on State aid for environmental protection, Member States shall amend the relevant schemes in order to ensure that aid may only be granted after 31 December 2006 if it complies with the new regional aid map in force on the date the aid is granted.

| 3. | Member States shall as necessary amend other existing aid schemes in order to ensure that any regional bonuses such as those allowed for training aid, aid for research and development or environment aid may be granted only after 31 December 2006 in areas which are eligible for support under Article 87(3)(a) or (c) in accordance with the regional aid maps adopted by the Commission in force on the date the aid is granted. |
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3.

Member States shall as necessary amend other existing aid schemes in order to ensure that any regional bonuses such as those allowed for training aid, aid for research and development or environment aid may be granted only after 31 December 2006 in areas which are eligible for support under Article 87(3)(a) or (c) in accordance with the regional aid maps adopted by the Commission in force on the date the aid is granted.

By the above mentioned letters, the Commission requested the Member States to express their unconditional and explicit agreement to the appropriate measures within the given deadline.

The following Member States have given their explicit and unconditional agreement to the proposed appropriate measures by letters:

| Member State | Date of acceptance |
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| Belgium | 21 April 2006, 8 May 2006, 11 May 2006 |
| Czech Republic | 25 May 2006 |
| Denmark | 4 April 2006 |
| Estonia | 25 May 2006 |
| Greece | 7 April 2006 |
| Spain | 19 April 2006 |
| France | 20 April 2006 |
| Ireland | 7 April 2006 |
| Italy | 20 April 2006 |
| Cyprus | 6 April 2006 |
| Latvia | 25 April 2006 |
| Lithuania | 24 April 2006 |
| Luxembourg | 30 March 2006 |
| Hungary | 5 April 2006 |
| Malta | 27 April 2006 |
| Netherlands | 7 April 2006 |
| Austria | 20 April 2006 |
| Poland | 13 April 2006 |
| Portugal | 10 May 2006 |
| Slovenia | 30 March 2006 |
| Slovakia | 11 April 2006 |
| Finland | 3 May 2006 |
| Sweden | 6 April 2006 |
| United Kingdom | 3 April 2006 |

Member State

Date of acceptance

Belgium

21 April 2006, 8 May 2006, 11 May 2006

Czech Republic

25 May 2006

Denmark

4 April 2006

Estonia

25 May 2006

Greece

7 April 2006

Spain

19 April 2006

France

20 April 2006

Ireland

7 April 2006

Italy

20 April 2006

Cyprus

6 April 2006

Latvia

25 April 2006

Lithuania

24 April 2006

Luxembourg

30 March 2006

Hungary

5 April 2006

Malta

27 April 2006

Netherlands

7 April 2006

Austria

20 April 2006

Poland

13 April 2006

Portugal

10 May 2006

Slovenia

30 March 2006

Slovakia

11 April 2006

Finland

3 May 2006

Sweden

6 April 2006

United Kingdom

3 April 2006

Pursuant to Article 19(1) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999, the Commission hereby takes note of the unconditional and explicit agreement to the appropriate measures by the above mentioned Member States.

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(1)  OJ L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1.

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(2)  OJ C 54, 4.3.2006, p. 13.

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