EN Official Journal of the European Union L 179/77

EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY DECISION

No 20/14/COL

of 29 January 2014

amending for the ninety-second time the procedural and substantive rules in the field of State aid

THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY,

HAVING REGARD to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (1), in particular to Articles 61 to 63 and Protocol 26 thereof,

HAVING REGARD to the Agreement between the EFTA States on the Establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice (2), in particular its Articles 5(2)(b) and 24,

Whereas:

The Chapter in the EFTA Surveillance Authority's State Aid Guidelines for shipbuilding (3) expired on 31 December 2013 (4).

That Chapter corresponded to the Community Framework on State aid for shipbuilding (5) which also expired on 31 December 2013 (6).

On 6 December 2013, the European Commission (‘the Commission’) published a communication concerning the prolongation of the application of the Framework on State aid to shipbuilding until 30 June 2014 (7).

As established in paragraph 10 of the Community Framework, the Commission envisages including the provisions on innovation aid for shipbuilding in the Community Framework for State aid for research and development and innovation and integrating regional aid for shipbuilding into the Guidelines on regional aid.

On 19 June 2013, the Commission adopted the new Guidelines on regional State aid for 2014–2020. The EFTA Surveillance Authority (‘the Authority’) has also adopted new Guidelines on regional State aid for 2014–2020. However, both Guidelines will only be applicable as from 1 July 2014.

The Commission is also currently reviewing the Framework for State aid for research and development and innovation. The date of adoption of the new Framework for State aid for research and development and innovation is not yet known but it is the intention of the Commission to complete that process by 30 June 2014.

Taking into account that the Authority also envisages extending general horizontal provisions to the shipbuilding sector, as established in paragraph 10 of its Guidelines for shipbuilding, and in order to ensure the uniform application of State aid rules throughout the European Economic Area, the current Chapter of the Authority's State aid Guidelines for shipbuilding should be prolonged.

The Commission and the EFTA States have been consulted,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The first sentence of paragraph 35 of the Chapter in the EFTA Surveillance Authority's State Aid Guidelines for shipbuilding shall read as follows:

‘(35) The Authority will apply the principles set out in these guidelines until 30 June 2014.’

Article 2

Only the English version is authentic.

Done at Brussels, 29 January 2014. For the EFTA Surveillance Authority Oda Helen SLETNES President Frank BÜCHEL College Member

(1) The ‘EEA Agreement’.

(2) The ‘Surveillance and Court Agreement’.

(3) OJ L 31, 31.1.2013, p. 77, EEA Supplement No 7, 31.1.2013, p. 1.

(4) See paragraph 35 of the EFTA Surveillance Authority's State aid Guidelines for shipbuilding.

(5) OJ C 364, 14.12.2011, p. 9.

(6) See paragraph 35 of the Community Framework on State aid to shipbuilding.

(7) OJ C 357, 6.12.2013, p. 1.