Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken by the Community within the Association Committee established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Latvia, of the other part, with regard to the adoption of a Regional aid map on the basis of which public aid granted by Latvia will be assessed
Date: 2002-02-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Latvia, State aid, association agreement (EU), eligible region, regional aid

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 01.02.2002
COM(2002) 36 final

2002/0031 (ACC)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken by the Community within the Association Committee
established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their
Member States, of the one part, and Latvia, of the other part, with regard to the
adoption of a Regional aid map on the basis of which public aid granted by Latvia will
be assessed

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.

This is a proposal for the adoption of a Regional aid map on the basis of which
public aid granted by Latvia will be assessed.

According to Article 64(4)(a) of the Europe Agreement, the Parties recognised that
during the first five years after its entry into force, any public aid granted by Latvia
shall be assessed taking into account the fact that Latvia shall be regarded as an area
identical to those areas of the Community described in Article 87(3)(a) of the Treaty
establishing the European Community.

On 20 March 2001 the EU-Latvia Association Council adopted decision No 3/2001
with regard to the extension for a further period of five years of Latvia as an area
identical to those areas of the Community described in Article 87(3)(a) of the Treaty
establishing the European Community. The decision was applied as
from
1 January 2000 and expires on 31 December 2004.

Article 2 of decision No 3/2001 obliged Latvia to submit the GDP per capita figures
which have been harmonised at NUTS II level to the European Commission within
six months of the date of the adoption of the decision. On that basis, the Latvian
State aid monitoring authority and the European Commission jointly evaluated the
eligibility of the region as well as the maximum aid intensities in relation thereto, in
order to draw up the regional aid map on the basis of the Community guidelines on
national regional aid 1.

According to the Community guidelines on national regional aid, in the case of
regions falling under Article 87(3)(a) of the Treaty the intensity of regional aid must in
general not exceed the rate of 50% NGE, except in the outermost regions, where it may
be as much as 65% NGE. In the NUTS level II regions eligible under Article 87(3)(a)
whose per capita GDP/PPS is greater than 60% of the Community average, the intensity
of regional aid must not exceed 40% NGE, except in the outermost regions, where it
may be as high as 50% NGE. The GDP/PPS of each region and the Community
average to be used in the analysis must relate to the average of the last three years for
which statistics are available.

All the above mentioned ceilings may be raised by 15 percentage points gross in the
case of aid granted to small and medium-sized enterprises2. They nevertheless
constitute upper limits which apply to the total aid whenever assistance is granted
concurrently under several regional schemes, and regardless of whether it comes from
local, regional, national or Community sources. Beneath these ceilings, it will be
ensured that the regional aid intensity is adjusted to reflect the seriousness and intensity
of the regional problems addressed.

The Commission hereinafter submits the joint proposal to the Council and requests
the Council to adopt the attached proposal for an Association Committee Decision.

OJ C 74 of 10.3.1998, p. 9
OJ L 107 of 30.4.1996, p. 4.

2

2.

3.

1

2

2002/0031 (ACC)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken by the Community within the Association Committee
established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their
Member States, of the one part, and Latvia, of the other part, with regard to the
adoption of a Regional aid map on the basis of which public aid granted by Latvia will
be assessed

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article
133 in conjunction with the first sentence of Article 300(2) thereof;

Having regard to the proposal of the Commission;

Having regard to Article 64(4)(a) of the Europe Agreement;

Having regard to Article 4(2) of the Implementing Rules for the application of the provisions
on State aid of the Europe Agreement;

Having regard to decision No 3/2001 of the EU-Latvia Association Council of 20 March 2001
with regard to the extension for a further period of five years of Latvia as an area identical to
those areas of the Community described in Article 87(3)(a) of the Treaty establishing the
European Community;

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Article 2 of the decision No 3/2001 obliged Latvia within six months of the date of the
adoption of the decision to submit the GDP per capita figures which have been
harmonised at NUTS II level to the European Commission;

The Latvian State aid monitoring authority and the European Commission jointly
evaluated the eligibility of the regions as well as the maximum aid intensities in
relation thereto in order to draw up the regional aid map on the basis of the
Community guidelines on national regional aid3;

3

OJ C 74 of 10.3.1998, p. 9

3

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

(12)

According to the above mentioned decision, a joint proposal shall be submitted to the
Association Committee, which shall take a decision to this effect;

According to the Community guidelines on national regional aid, in the case of regions
falling under Article 87(3)(a) of the Treaty the intensity of regional aid must in general
not exceed the rate of 50% NGE, except in the outermost regions, where it may be as
much as 65% NGE;

In the NUTS level II regions eligible under Article 87(3)(a) whose per capita GDP/PPS is
greater than 60% of the Community average, the intensity of regional aid must not
exceed 40% NGE, except in the outermost regions, where it may be as high as 50%
NGE;

The GDP/PPS of each region and the Community average to be used in the analysis must
relate to the average of the last three years for which statistics are available;

All the above mentioned ceilings may be raised by 15 percentage points gross in the case
of aid granted to small and medium-sized enterprises4, and constitute upper limits which
apply to the total aid whenever assistance is granted concurrently under several regional
schemes, and regardless of whether it comes from local, regional, national or Community
sources;

Beneath these ceilings, it will be ensured that the regional aid intensity is adjusted to
reflect the seriousness and intensity of the regional problems addressed;

The seriousness and intensity of the regional problems addressed must be assessed within
the broader context of all the countries which have concluded Europe agreements with
the European Communities;

Latvia consists of a single NUTS II region, which has a per capita GDP/PPS that does
not exceed 60% of the Community average, according to statistical data available for
years 1996-1998;

The relative situation of each NUTS III level region does not justify any differentiation of
the level of regional aid;

The maximum aid intensities applicable therein, as jointly evaluated by the Latvian
State aid monitoring authority and the European Commission, are in conformity with
the requirements set by the Community guidelines on national regional aid;

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

4

OJ L 107 of 30.4.1996, p. 4.

4

The position to be taken by the Community within the Association Committee established by
the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the
one part, and Latvia, of the other part, with regard to the adoption of the regional aid map
shall be based on the draft decision of the Association Committee annexed to this Decision.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council
The President

5

ANNEX

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNIONAND LATVIA

- The Association Committee-

DECISION No …/2001 OF THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTE

BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

AND THEIR MEMBER STATES, OF THE ONE PART,

AND LATVIA, OF THE OTHER PART,

of

adopting a regional aid map on the basis of which public aid

granted by Latvia will be assessed

THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European
Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Latvia, of the other part5 and in
particular Article 64(4)(a) thereof,

Having regard to Article 4(2) of the Implementing Rules for the application of the provisions
on State aid of the Europe Agreement;

Having regard to decision No 3/2001 of the EU-Latvia Association Council of 20 March 2001
with regard to the extension for a further period of five years of Latvia as an area identical to
those areas of the Community described in Article 87(3)(a) of the Treaty establishing the
European Community;

(1) Whereas Article 2 of the decision No 3/2001 obliged Latvia within six months of the
date of the adoption of the decision to submit the GDP per capita figures which have been
harmonised at NUTS II level to the European Commission;

(2) Whereas the Latvian State aid monitoring authority and the European Commission
jointly evaluated the eligibility of the regions as well as the maximum aid intensities in
relation thereto in order to draw up the regional aid map on the basis of the Community
guidelines on national regional aid 6;

(3) Whereas according to the above mentioned decision, a joint proposal shall be
submitted to the Association Committee, which shall take a decision to this effect;

(4) Whereas according to the Community guidelines on national regional aid, in the case
of regions falling under Article 87(3)(a) of the Treaty the intensity of regional aid must in general

5

6

OJ L 26 , 2.2.1998 p. 3 – 255
OJ C 74 of 10.3.1998, p. 9

6

not exceed the rate of 50% NGE, except in the outermost regions, where it may be as much as
65% NGE;

(5) Whereas in the NUTS level II regions eligible under Article 87(3)(a) whose per capita
GDP/PPS is greater than 60% of the Community average, the intensity of regional aid must not
exceed 40% NGE, except in the outermost regions, where it may be as high as 50% NGE;

(6) Whereas the GDP/PPS of each region and the Community average to be used in the
analysis must relate to the average of the last three years for which statistics are available;

(7) Whereas all the above mentioned ceilings may be raised by 15 percentage points gross in
the case of aid granted to small and medium-sized enterprises7, and constitute upper limits which
apply to the total aid whenever assistance is granted concurrently under several regional
schemes, and regardless of whether it comes from local, regional, national or Community
sources;

(8) Whereas beneath these ceilings, it will be ensured that the regional aid intensity is
adjusted to reflect the seriousness and intensity of the regional problems addressed;

(9) Whereas the seriousness and intensity of the regional problems addressed must be
the countries which have concluded Europe
assessed within the broader context of all
agreements with the European Communities;

(10) Whereas Latvia consists of a single NUTS II region, which has a per capita GDP/PPS
that does not exceed 60% of the Community average, according to statistical data available for
years 1996-1998;

(11) Whereas the relative situation of each NUTS III level region does not justify any
differentiation of the level of regional aid;

(12) Whereas the maximum aid intensities applicable therein, as jointly evaluated by the
Latvian State aid monitoring authority and the European Commission, are in conformity with
the requirements set by the Community guidelines on national regional aid;

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The maximum aid intensity applicable in Latvia shall be limited, in net grant equivalent, to
50%.

Article 2

The maximum aid intensity referred to under Article 1 may be raised by 15 gross percentage
points in the case of aid granted to small and medium-sized enterprises8. It shall constitute an
upper limit which applies to the total aid whenever assistance is granted concurrently under
several regional schemes, and regardless of whether it comes from local, regional, national or
Community sources.

7

8

OJ L 107 of 30.4.1996, p. 4.
OJ L 107 of 30.4.1996, p. 4.

7

This Decision shall enter
31 December 2004, or the date of Latvia’s accession to the EU, whichever comes earlier.

into force on the day of its adoption.

It shall expire on

Article 3

Done at Brussels,

For the Association Committee

The President

8