COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Facts and figures on State aid in the EU Member States - 2012 Update – Accompanying the document State aid Scoreboard 2012 Update Report on State aid granted by the EU Member States
Date: 2012-12-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, State aid, aid to industry, bank, control of State aid, economic recession, service industry

EUROPEAN 
COMMISSION 

Brussels, 21.12.2012  
SWD(2012) 443 final 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 

Facts and figures on State aid in the EU Member States 

- 2012 Update – 

Accompanying the document 

State aid Scoreboard 2012 Update 

Report on State aid granted by the EU Member States 

{COM(2012) 778 final}

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COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 

Facts and figures on State aid in the EU Member States 

- 2012 Update – 

Accompanying the document 

State aid Scoreboard 2012 Update 

Report on State aid granted by the EU Member States 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 6 

State aid in the context of the economy in 2011 ........................................................................ 6 

Purpose, scope and content of the Scoreboard........................................................................... 6 

Scope and content of this Scoreboard ........................................................................................ 6 

Publication of the Scoreboard .................................................................................................... 7 

1. 

Overview of State aid expenditure in 2011.................................................................. 8 

1.1. 

Total State aid in absolute and relative terms .............................................................. 8 

1.1.1.  Non-crisis aid ............................................................................................................... 8 

1.1.2.  Crisis aid granted to the financial sector ...................................................................... 8 

1.1.3.  Aid granted under the temporary framework............................................................... 8 

1.2. 

Broad sectoral distribution of non-crisis State aid ....................................................... 8 

2. 

2.1. 

2.2. 

Trends and patterns of non-crisis State aid expenditure in the Member States ........... 9 

Trends in levels of State aid to industry and services .................................................. 9 

State aid earmarked for horizontal objectives of common interest............................ 11 

2.2.1.  Horizontal versus sectoral aid .................................................................................... 11 

2.2.2.  Aid for horizontal objectives...................................................................................... 12 

2.2.2.1.  Block-exempted aid ................................................................................................... 13 

2.2.3.  Research, development and innovation...................................................................... 16 

2.2.4.  Environmental protection........................................................................................... 18 

2.2.5.  Regional development and cohesion.......................................................................... 19 

2.3. 

State aid earmarked for specific sectors..................................................................... 20 

2.3.1.  Rescue and restructuring of firms in difficulty .......................................................... 20 

2.3.2.  Shipbuilding ............................................................................................................... 20 

2.3.3.  Steel industry.............................................................................................................. 21 

2.3.4.  Coal ............................................................................................................................ 21 

2.3.5.  Transport .................................................................................................................... 22 

2.3.5.1.  Land transport ............................................................................................................ 22 

2.3.5.2.  Maritime transport...................................................................................................... 23 

2.3.5.3.  Aviation...................................................................................................................... 23 

2.3.6.  Agriculture ................................................................................................................. 24 

2.3.7.  Fisheries and aquaculture........................................................................................... 25 

2.4. 

Use of the State aid instruments................................................................................. 26 

3. 

State aid granted to the financial sector and support for the real economy ............... 27 

3.1. 

State aid measures for the financial sector................................................................. 27 

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3.1.1.  General background ................................................................................................... 27 

3.1.2.  State aid measures for the financial sector................................................................. 28 

3.1.3.  State aid per instrument.............................................................................................. 32 

3.1.3.1.  Guarantees for bank debt ........................................................................................... 32 

3.1.3.2.  Recapitalisation measures .......................................................................................... 34 

3.1.3.3.  Impaired asset relief ................................................................................................... 37 

3.1.3.4.  Liquidity measures other than guarantees.................................................................. 38 

3.1.4.  Restructuring .............................................................................................................. 40 

3.2. 

Aid granted under the temporary framework............................................................. 42 

3.2.1.  Context and purpose of the temporary framework .................................................... 42 

3.2.2.  Aid granted in 2011.................................................................................................... 43 

4. 

5. 

5.1. 

5.2. 

5.3. 

5.4. 

Trends in non-crisis State aid expenditure by type of aid measures .......................... 44 

Enforcing the State aid rules ...................................................................................... 46 

Unlawful aid............................................................................................................... 46 

Recovery of unlawful aid ........................................................................................... 47 

Enforcement of State aid law: cooperation with national courts ............................... 47 

Ex post monitoring..................................................................................................... 47 

Notes on methodology ............................................................................................................. 50 

Scope of the Scoreboard........................................................................................................... 50 

Methodology for calculating non-crisis aid ............................................................................. 51 

Specific provisions with respect to aid granted under the temporary framework.................... 53 

Key figures on State aid expenditure in the EU and Member States ....................................... 54 

Figure 41: Total non-crisis aid to industry and services .......................................................... 54 

Figure 42: Aid to agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and transport .................................... 55 

Figure 43: Non-crisis State aid earmarked for horizontal objectives of common interest and 

sectoral aid as a percentage of total non-crisis aid to industry and services .............. 56 

Figures 44: Financial crisis aid – approved amount per year and instrument.......................... 58 

Figure 44 a: Guarantees: approved budget............................................................................... 58 

Figure 44 b: Recapitalisation: approved budget....................................................................... 59 

Figure 44 c: Impaired Assets: approved budget....................................................................... 60 

Figure 44 d: Liquidity measures: approved budget.................................................................. 61 

Figure 45: Overview of measures adopted under the temporary framework (until 

31 December 2011) .................................................................................................... 62 

Figures 46: Aid expenditure by Member State ........................................................................ 66 

Figure 47: Legislation and communications adopted since the last report .............................. 93 

Figures 48: Recovery ............................................................................................................... 94 

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Figure 48 a: Trend in the number of recovery decisions (aid to industry and services) and 

amounts to be recovered............................................................................................. 94 

Figure 48 b: Pending recovery decisions ................................................................................. 95 

Figure 48 c: Pending recovery cases in which the Commission has decided to bring the matter 

before the Court of Justice and in which the illegal and incompatible aid has not yet 
been recovered (30 June 2012) ................................................................................ 100 

Summary of rules in the transport sector ............................................................................... 105 

Status of reporting by Member States .................................................................................... 106 

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INTRODUCTION 

State aid in the context of the economy in 2011 

Until mid-2011, the economy in the EU was characterised by a slow recovery following the 
downturn  caused  by  the  financial  crisis  of  2008-2009.  GDP  growth  was  very  moderate  and 
stood  at  1.5 %.  Private  and  public  spending  were  still  at  a  low  level  and  began  to  rise  only 
slowly,  while  public  deficits  continued  to  be  at  high  levels.  However,  the  recovery  was 
subdued and sluggish and for the second half of 2011, the economy turned out to be weaker 
than  expected,  as  evidenced  by  lower  GDP  growth  that  moved  towards  zero  growth  by  the 
end  of  the  year1.  At  the  same  time,  unemployment  in  the  EU  exceeded  10 %  and  an 
intensifying European sovereign-debt crisis also weighted heavily on the EU economy. 

Overall, State aid expenditure remained high in 2011 due to the additional support given to 
the financial sector. The worsening of the sovereign crisis in mid-2011 led the Member States 
and  the  Commission  to  agree  on  a  package  of  measures  to  strengthen  banks’  capital  and 
provide  guarantees  on  their  liabilities  (the  banking  package2).  On  1  December  2011  the 
Commission  prolonged  the  State  aid  crisis  measures  for  the  financial  sector,  clarifying  and 
updating  the  rules  on  pricing  and  other  conditions.  With  respect  to  crisis  aid  to  the  real 
economy, a substantial decrease was seen in 2011. Chapter 3 provides more detail. 

Purpose, scope and content of the Scoreboard 

Since  2001,  the  Commission  has  published  every  autumn  the  State  Aid  Scoreboard  (‘the 
Scoreboard’), which reports in an aggregated manner on State aid expenditure in the Member 
States  in  the  previous  year  and  highlights  trends3.  The  Scoreboard  is  the  Commission’s 
benchmarking  instrument  for  providing  a  transparent  and  publicly  accessible  source  of 
information on the overall State aid situation in the Member States and on the Commission’s 
State  aid  control  activities.  Furthermore,  the  information  in  the  report  is  used  for  advanced 
statistical analysis and represents an important source to which reference is made in speeches, 
articles and other Commission publications on State aid. The Scoreboard information is also 
used by external bodies and the Member States. 

The  Scoreboard  information  is  based  on  the  annual  reports  provided  by  Member  States. 
Article 6(1) of Regulation 794/2004 requires each Member State to submit its report on State 
aid  expenditure  carried  out  during  the  previous  year  no  later  than  30  June  of  the  following 
year. Annex III of that Regulation sets out the scope and format of the annual report. 

Scope and content of this Scoreboard 

State aid expenditure is expenditure which Member States have actually granted pursuant to 
Article 107  TFEU4.  The  information  in  the  annual  report  refers  to  measures  authorised  by 
Commission decisions or being implemented by Member States under block exemption, but 
excludes  measures  which  are  still  under  examination.  General  measures  that  do  not  favour 
certain  enterprises  or  sectors,  and  public  subsidies  that  do  not  affect  trade  or  distort 
competition, are not dealt with in the Scoreboard as they are not subject to the Commission’s 
investigative powers under the State aid rules. 

1 
2 
3 

4 

DG ECFIN Economic Forecast Spring 2012. 
See ECOFIN Council conclusion of 8 November 2011. 
The legal basis of the Scoreboard is provided in Article 6(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) 794/2004 
(OJ  L  140,  30.4.2004,  p.1),  which  provides  that  the  Commission  will  publish  each  year  a  state  aid 
Synopsis containing a synthesis of the information contained in the Member States’ annual reports. 
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.  

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This  2012  report  gives  updated  information  on  State  aid  expenditure  for  all  existing  aid 
measures under which Member States granted aid in 2011, covering existing measures and aid 
newly implemented in 20115. The Scoreboard consists of two parts. While the Report adopted 
by  the  College  of  Commissioners  provides  a  summary  of  the  facts,  the  accompanying  Staff 
Working Document gives further details on the data and signals trends. 

Apart from providing an update on expenditure by the Member States, this edition also reports 
on  the  progress  achieved  in  the  Commission's  State  aid  control  activities,  namely  on  the 
recovery of unlawful aid. 

The  Scoreboard  presents  the  State  aid  situation  in  five  chapters.  Chapter  1  provides 
information  on  total  State  aid  expenditure  in  the  EU  and  indicates  the  broad  sectoral 
distribution of the aid. Chapter 2 reports on the trend and patterns of aid granted to industry 
and  services  and  includes  more  detail  on  horizontal  aid  and  aid  to  certain  sectors  of  the 
economy.  Chapter  3.1  gives  an  update  on  State  aid  measures  to  the  financial  sector  and 
chapter 3.2 supplies details of aid granted under the temporary framework. Chapter 4 shows 
the  trend  in  State  aid  expenditure  in  terms  of  numbers  of  measures  and  corresponding  aid 
amounts.  Chapter  5  reports  on  ongoing  efforts  to  enforce  the  State  aid  rules  and  to  recover 
unlawful aid. Finally, the note on methodology is followed by tables showing key figures on 
State aid expenditure by Member State. The annexes also provide details of newly introduced 
legislation, an overview of aid authorised under the temporary framework, and information on 
the  recovery  status  and  the  reporting  situation  by  Member  States,  which  as  from  2012  are 
using  a  new  tool  to  encode  information  on  State  aid  expenditure  and  to  submit  the  annual 
report directly through that system to the Commission. 

Publication of the Scoreboard 
DG Competition  publishes the Scoreboard on its website6,  where previous editions can also 
be found. Access to key indicators and in-depth statistics covering the EU as a whole as well as 
individual  Member  States  is  provided  via  the  same  web  address,  where  further  underlying 
information can be found which supports statements made in this document and is omitted from 
the individual chapter to avoid excessive length. 
The EFTA Surveillance Authority also publishes annually a Scoreboard7 showing the volume 
of State aid granted in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. 

5 
6 
7 

Around 4,500 active aid measures of which 750 are measures authorised or implemented in 2011.  
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/studies_reports.html. 
http://www.eftasurv.int/press--publications/scoreboards/state-aid-scoreboards/.  

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1. 

1.1. 

OVERVIEW OF STATE AID EXPENDITURE IN 2011 
Total State aid8 in absolute and relative terms 

1.1.1.  Non-crisis aid 
Figure 1: Total non-crisis aid9 

In € billion 

As a % of 

GDP 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

Trend 
2008-2010 
(in % of GDP) 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous trend 
(2006-2008)  

EU-27 

64.3 

0.5 % 

- 0.06% 

0.58% 

- 0.05% 

Notified subsidies to railways10 in 2011 amounted to € 32.6 billion 11, or represent 0.25 % of 
EU GDP. 

1.1.2.  Crisis aid granted to the financial sector 
Figure 2: Financial Crisis Aid: amount used12 

In € billion 

As a % of 

GDP 

682.9 

5.4% 

31.7 

0.25 

Guarantees and 
liquidity measures 

Recapitalisation and 
impaired assets 

1.1.3.  Aid granted under the temporary framework 
Figure 3: Aid granted under the temporary framework13 

In € billion 

As a % of 

GDP 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

Trend 
2009-2011 
(in % of GDP) 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous trend 
(2006-2008) 

Approved 
amount 

0 

n/a 

Not applicable since temporary 
framework has not been in force over 
a period of three years. 

Amount used 

4.8 

0.037% 

- 0.07% 

8 
9 

10 

11 

12 
13 

See the methodology notes, which give details on the calculation of the aid. 
Source:  DG  Competition,  DG  Agriculture,  DG  Maritime  Affairs  and  Fisheries.  Total  non-crisis  aid 
excludes aid to railways and comprises aid to industry and services, including coal, agriculture, fisheries 
and aquaculture and transport. 
The information on subsidies to railways differs in scope and detail from that collected from Member 
States  on  aid  granted  to  industry  and  services  in  accordance  with  Annex  III  A  of  Commission 
Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 (OJ L 140, 30.4.2004, p.1). Aggregation into a single State aid total is 
thus not possible.  
At  the  time  of  finalising  this  report,  information  on  subsidies  to  railways  had  not  been  submitted  by 
Czech Republic, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Slovakia. Cyprus and Malta have no 
railway operators. 
Source: DG Competition.  
Source: DG Competition, DG Agriculture.  

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Broad sectoral distribution of non-crisis State aid 

1.2. 
Figure 4: Broad sectoral distribution of non-crisis State aid14 

Broad sectoral distribution of non-crisis state aid (2011) 

EU-27 

In € billion 

As a % of GDP 

Difference 
when compared 
to previous 
year 
(in % of GDP) 

Trend 2009-
2011 
(in % of GDP) 

Difference 
when compared 
to previous 
trend (2006-
2008) 

Aid to industry and services 

Agriculture 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

52.96 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.42% 

0.069% 

0.0009% 

0.02% 

-0.06% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

0.48% 

0.076% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

0.02% 

-0.012% 

-0.002% 

-0.06% 

2. 

TRENDS  AND  PATTERNS  OF  NON-CRISIS STATE  AID  EXPENDITURE  IN  THE MEMBER 
STATES 

This chapter examines expenditure on non-crisis State aid granted to industry and services for 
the year 2011 and looks at the trend over the period 2006 to 2011 by comparing 2006-2008 
with 2009-2011 in order to show to what extent individual Member States have (or have not) 
been  able  to  reduce  overall  aid  levels  and  were  furthermore  able  (or  unable)  to  redirect  aid 
towards horizontal objectives of common interest. 

Trends in levels of State aid to industry and services15 
2.1. 
Figure 5: Total State aid to industry and services from 1992 onwards16 

State aid granted to industry and services further decreased in 2011, both when compared to 
the  previous  year  and  when  looking  at  the  trend.  It  stood  at  a  low  overall  level  of  between 
0.4 % and 0.5 % of EU GDP, almost reaching the lowest level observed in 2007. 

14 
15 

16 

Source: DG Competition, DG Agriculture, DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. 
State aid granted to the sectors of agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture is reported by Member States in 
accordance with Annexes III B and C of Commission Regulation (EC) 794/2004 (OJ L 140, 30.4.2004, 
p.  1),  which  differ  from  Annex  III  A  of  that  Regulation,  under  which  aid  granted  to  industry  and 
services is reported. With respect to transport aid, a comprehensive legislative framework exists - see 
Summary  of  rules  for  the  transport  sector  annexed  to  this  document.  As  a  result,  the different  sets of 
information cannot be combined to produce a single set of aggregate information across all sectors and 
so agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and transport are excluded from the subsequent observations.  
Source: DG Competition. 

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Observing that downward trend in more detail for 2011, on the one hand Member States seem 
to have continued exercising strict discipline on State aid expenditure and on the other hand 
some of the Member States substantially cut back expenditure as a result of the economic and 
financial  crisis.  A  further  reason  can  be  found  in  some  Member  States  where  schemes  that 
gave rise to large expenditure in previous years expired and have not been replaced. 
Figure 6: Trend in State aid to industry and services as a percentage of GDP17 

17 

Source: DG Competition. 

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Although  the  overall  total  aid  granted  to  industry  and  services  decreased  at  EU-27  level  in 
2011, like in 2010, in most Member States, the trend shows that the majority granted more aid 
in  the  period  2009-2011  than  in  2006-2008.  That  feature  can  be  explained  by  looking  at 
Figure 5 which shows relatively low levels of aid for the years 2006 to 2008. A small but non-
negligible  peak  in  aid  expenditure  in  2009  can  be  accounted  for  by  many  Member  States 
granting more aid in the period 2009-2011, as Figure 6 indicates. Nevertheless, it can be noted 
that  increases  were  small  in  many  Member  States,  i.e.  of  less  than  0.2 %  of  their  GDP. 
Moreover,  the  increase  can  be  mostly  accounted  for  by  aid  earmarked  for  horizontal 
objectives, which is in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy. 

2.2. 

State aid earmarked for horizontal objectives of common interest 

The  concept  of  horizontal  aid,  which  is  aid  that  is  not  granted  to  specific  sectors  of  the 
economy, derives from the Treaty. It leaves room for the Commission to make policy choices 
whereby  State  aid  can  be  considered  compatible  with  the  internal  market  if  it  provides 
effective  support  for  common  policy  objectives.  Most  prominent  is  aid  earmarked  for 
research,  development  and  innovation,  safeguarding  the  environment,  and  fostering  energy 
saving and promoting the use of renewable energy sources; those categories are followed by 
regional development, aid to SMEs, job creation and the promotion of training. 

The  long-term  trend  clearly  shows  that,  following  the  calls  from  numerous  European 
Councils,  Member  States  have  re-oriented  their  State  aid  efforts  towards  earmarking  more 
State aid for horizontal objectives of common interest. 
In  that  light,  some  of  the  Europe  2020  Strategy  goals18  generally  fit  into  the  concept  of 
horizontal  aid,  inter  alia  to  increase  employment,  to  invest  in  research,  development  and 
innovation,  to  increase  energy  efficiency  and  to  foster  energy  production  from  renewable 
energy sources. 

2.2.1.  Horizontal versus sectoral aid 
Figure 7: Horizontal versus sectoral aid in the EU-2719 

Horizontal and sectoral aid, 2011) 

EU-27 

In € billion 

As a % of total 
aid to industry 
and services 

Difference 
when compared 
to previous 
year 
(in % of total 
aid to industry 
and services) 

Trend 2009-
2011 
(in % of total 
aid to industry 
and services) 

Difference 
when compared 
to previous 
trend (2009-
2011) 

89.67% 

4.32% 

86.63% 

3.24% 

Total horizontal aid 

Environmental aid 
(incl. energy saving) 

Regional development 

47.5 

12.4 

14.0 

23.40% 

26.39% 

Research and 
development 
and innovation 

SME  

Risk capital 

Training 

Employment 

Other 

Total sectoral aid 

10.0 

18.93% 

2.4 

0.6 

0.8 

1.5 

6.3 

5.5 

4.62% 

1.11% 

1.46% 

2.74% 

11.89% 

10.33% 

-1.34% 

1.12% 

0.90% 

0.32% 

-0.05% 

0.09% 

0.13% 

3.57% 

-4.32% 

24.15% 

25.06% 

18.34% 

5.19% 

1.06% 

1.45% 

3.27% 

8.70% 

13.37% 

-0.75% 

4.34% 

3.88% 

-5.09% 

0.08% 

0.08% 

-2.70% 

3.24% 

-3.24% 

18 
19 

For more information on EU 2020, see: http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/index_en.htm.  
Source: DG Competition. 

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The  trend  seen  over  many  years  whereby  Member  States  have  directed  more  aid  towards 
horizontal objectives of common interest continued in 2011. Less aid was granted to the coal 
sector and substantially less aid was granted to other non-manufacturing services. 

Member States’ main focus of horizontal aid in terms of aid expenditure was on regional aid, 
environmental  protection,  including  energy  saving,  and  research  and  development,  which 
includes innovation. Further details on some individual objectives are given from paragraph 
2.2.3 onwards. 
Figure 8: Horizontal versus sectoral aid by Member State20 

20 

Source: DG Competition. 

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2.2.2.  Aid for horizontal objectives 

Overall, aid earmarked for horizontal objectives of common interest reached about 89.7 % of 
total  aid  to  industry  and  services  in  the  EU21.  However,  that  level  is  not  uniform  in  all 
Member States: while in 21 Member States it was above the EU-27 level, only two Member 
States did not reach 50 %. 

The Czech Republic, France, Finland and Sweden can be referred to as Member States which 
directed significantly more aid towards horizontal objectives in 2011. In some Member States, 
less  horizontal  aid  was  granted,  largely  due,  however,  to  the  fact  that  larger  aid  schemes 
expired  and  their  renewal  has  been  postponed,  probably  as  a  result  of  stricter  budgetary 
conditions in Member States, or the fact that aid measures were newly introduced under block 
exemption but with a narrower scope when compared to previously notified schemes. 

When  looking  at  the  concept  of  horizontal  aid,  it  is  worth  stressing  that  it  is  the  so-called 
‘primary  objective’  of  the  aid  which  classifies  the  measure  under  the  various  horizontal 
objectives. When Member States notify aid measures and the Commission approves them, or 
in  case  of  block-exempted  aid  where  Member  States  inform  the  Commission  of  its 
implementation22, the aid expenditure is measured by the earmarked horizontal objective and 
not according to the beneficiary, i.e. the sector of the economy in which it has its activities. 

Generally,  large  disparities  exist  among  Member  States  in  terms  of  the  share  of  aid 
earmarked for the various horizontal objectives23. 

At EU-27 level, aid earmarked for regional development accounted for roughly 26.4 % of aid 
granted to industry and services. Some Member States even granted more than 50 %, notably 
Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Lithuania and Slovakia. 

Closely  following  was  environmental  aid,  including  energy  saving,  which  accounted  for 
approximately 23.4 % of total aid to industry and services. Outstanding cases were Latvia, the 
Netherlands, Austria and Sweden, which spent more than 50 % to provide environmental aid. 

In third position was aid earmarked for research, development and innovation, accounting for 
roughly 18.9 % of total aid to industry and services. More than 30 % of such aid was granted 
by Luxembourg and the Netherlands. 

When those horizontal objectives are grouped together, they account for roughly two-thirds of 
total aid to industry and services in the EU-27 and thus represent the most widest use of aid in 
the EU on average.  

Aid earmarked for SMEs, including risk capital, and for training and employment accounted 
for roughly 9.9 % of total aid to industry and services while the remainder24 of horizontal aid 
represented 11.1 %. 

21 
22 

23 

24 

Aid granted under block exemption is included under horizontal aid. 
Block-exempted  measures  falling  under  the  General  block  exemption  Regulation  (Commission 
Regulation  (EC)  No  800/2008,  OJ  L  214,  9.8.2008,  p.  3)  have  only  objectives.  To  calculate  the  aid 
earmarked  for  horizontal  objectives,  objectives  are  grouped  and  the  group  is  mapped  to  the 
corresponding primary objective.  
Aid  earmarked  for  horizontal  objectives  may  be  granted  to  SMEs  as  well  as  to  large  enterprises  if 
schemes are open to all. In this respect, aid earmarked for SMEs represents particularly  measures for 
which  large  enterprises  are  not  eligible.  Given  the  present  scope  of  Member  States’  reporting 
obligations, as laid down in Annex III of Commission Regulation (EC) 794/2004 (OJ 140, 30.4.2004, p. 
1),  information  on  aid  granted  by  category  of  enterprise  cannot  be  provided  under  most  horizontal 
objectives.  
Inter alia culture, heritage conservation, social support to individual consumers. 

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2.2.2.1.  Block-exempted aid 

Figure  9:  Block-exempted  aid  as  a  percentage  of  total  aid  to  industry  and  services 
(earmarked for the same horizontal objective)25 

Generally,  aid  granted  under  block  exemption  increased  further  in  2011.  It  stood  at 
approximately € 17.2 billion, or 32.5 % of total  aid to industry and services. Block-exempted 
aid represented roughly 41 % of aid earmarked for the same horizontal objective. 

Figure 10: Share of block-exempted aid as a percentage of total aid earmarked for the 
same horizontal objective26 

Figure  11:  Trend  in  the  share  of  block-exempted27  aid  as  a  percentage  of  total  aid 
earmarked for the same horizontal objective28 

25 
26 

Source: DG Competition. 
Source: DG Competition. 

EN 

14 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
(Expenditure in € billion)

2006 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

Block-exempted aid to SMEs incl. Risk 
capital 
Total aid to SMEs incl. Risk capital 
Share of this aid as a % of total expenditure 
on this objective 
Block-exempted aid to Employment 
Total aid to Employment 
Share of this aid as a % of total expenditure 
on this objective 
Block-exempted aid to Training 
Total aid to Training 
Share of this aid as a % of total expenditure 
on this objective 
Block-exempted aid to Regional development 
Total aid to Regional development 
Share of this aid as a % of total expenditure 
on this objective 
Block-exempted aid to Research and 
development incl. Innovation 
Total aid to Research and development incl. 
Innovation 
Share of this aid as a % of total expenditure 
on this objective 
Block-exempted aid to Environmental 
protection incl. Energy saving 
Total aid to Environmental protection incl. 
Energy saving 
Share of this aid as a % of total expenditure 
on this objective 
Total horizontal aid 
Share of above block-exempted aid as a % 
of total aid earmarked for the same 
horizontal objectives 

1.9

6.1

31.4

0.7
3.8

17.0

0.7
0.9

74.9

0.2
11.2

1.8

0.1

7.0

0.8

0.0

15.3

0.0

46.3

2.9

6.2

3.3

6.6

2.4 

4.7 

1.5

3.3

1.5

3.0

46.5

50.5

51.9 

45.5

48.5

0.8
3.0

1.5
3.2

1.3 
2.8 

1.4
1.6

1.3
1.5

25.9

47.5

46.3 

89.2

89.2

0.6
0.6

86.8

2.5
10.3

24.1

0.1

8.1

1.5

0.0

0.7
0.8

92.7

4.3
13.5

31.6

0.1

9.2

1.4

0.0

0.8 
0.9 

87.4 

5.3 
14.6 

36.6 

0.7
0.8

83.4

7.2
15.1

48.0

0.7
0.8

86.9

7.0
14.0

49.8

1.0 

1.2

2.2

11.2 

10.8

10.0

9.0 

0.7 

10.8

21.8

0.7

4.6

12.8

13.7

15.1 

14.7

12.4

0.0

0.0

4.4 

43.8

49.9

52.6 

4.8

50.9

37.1

47.5

7.5

15.6

19.9

22.0 

24.9

36.2

Trend - comparison of 2009-2011 with 2006-2008 

Figure  12:  Trend  in  the  share  of  horizontal  objectives  as  a  percentage  of  total  aid  to 
industry and services29 

27 

28 
29 

Block-exempted aid comprises aid granted under the individual block exemption regulations (BERs) for 
employment (Commission Regulation (EC) No 2204/2002, OJ L 337, 13.12.2002, p. 20), regional aid 
(Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006, OJ L 302, 1.11.2006, p. 29), aid to SMEs (Commission 
Regulation  (EC)  70/2001,  OJ  L  10,  13.1.2001,  p.  33)  and  training  (Commission  Regulation  (EC)  No 
68/2001, OJ L 10, 13.1.2001, p. 20), which Member States have been phasing-out and aid granted under 
the General Block Exemption Regulation (Commission Regulation (EC) 800/2008, L 214, 9.8.2008, p. 
3) (GBER).  
Source: DG Competition. 
Source: DG Competition. 

EN 

15 

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Despite  the  decrease  in  State  aid  expenditure  seen  in  2010  and  2011  at  EU-level,  Member 
States  nevertheless  seem  to  be  committed  to  granting  aid  towards  horizontal  objectives  of 
common interest, to judge by the trend, i.e. when we compare aid expenditure between 2006-
2008 and 2009-2011. In the period 2009-2011, large aid amounts were earmarked for regional 
aid,  environmental  aid,  including  energy  saving,  and  aid  for  research,  development  and 
innovation (R&D&I). When compared to 2006-2008, more aid was granted in particular for 
regional development and R&D&I during 2009-2011. Aid earmarked for SMEs, training and 
employment accounted for a much smaller proportion of aid granted to industry and services. 
Less aid granted to the coal sector and to non crisis-related financial services also contributed 
to the overall decrease in sectoral aid. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  overall  trend  as  outlined  above  can  be  different  when 
looking at individual Member States30. 

2.2.3.  Research, development and innovation 
Figure 13: Aid earmarked for research, development and innovation31 

30 

31 

For  more  detail  on  individual  Member  States,  see  the  online  State  Aid  Scoreboard  published  by  DG 
Competition, http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/studies_reports.html.  
Source: DG Competition and Eurostat. Member States are sorted by overall R&D expenditure. Figures 
on government sectors' expenditure on R&D are not directly comparable with state aid expenditure data 
as (i) the source is different and (ii) for many countries, data on government sectors are not available for 
2011. However, the data allow a graph to be produced which indicates the approximate share of State 
aid in relation to total expenditure on R&D. 

EN 

16 

   EN 

 
 
                                                 
R&D&I  has  been  placed  at  the  heart  of  the  Europe  2020  Strategy32  as  one  of  its  flagship 
initiatives because of its potential to contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the EU 
economy  and  to  ensure  sustainable  growth,  with  a  target  of  spending  3 %  of  EU  GDP  on 
R&D by 202033. In its Communication ‘Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative: Innovation Union’34, 
the  Commission  outlined  what  must  be  done  to  boost  innovation  and  to  re-focus  R&D&I 
policy to help address the challenges that society faces today, e.g. climate change, energy and 
resource efficiency, health and demographic change. 
In  2011,  State  aid  represented  roughly  4 %  of  overall  R&D  expenditure35,  equal  to 
€ 10.0 billion or 0.08 % of EU GDP. Almost 60  % of total State aid for R&D&I in 2011 was 

32 
33 

34 
35 

‘Europe 2020: a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth’, COM (2010) 2020, p. 12. 
The Barcelona European Council in 2002 set a 3 % of GDP target for expenditure on R&D by 2010. 
The target was not reached by 2010 and the Europe 2020 Strategy has maintained it and established a 
new deadline. 
Communication ‘Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative Innovation Union’, COM(2010) 546 final. 
Data on R&D expenditure for 2010. 

EN 

17 

   EN 

 
 
                                                 
granted  by  three  Member  States:  Germany  (around  €  3  billion),  France  (€  1.9  billion)  and 
Spain  (€ 0.9 billion).  In  relative  terms,  R&D&I  aid  accounted  for  18.9 %  of  total  aid  to 
industry and services. Block-exempted aid reported as R&D&I aid amounted to around € 2.2 
billion  in  2011,  which  represented  21.8 %  of  total  horizontal  aid  granted  for  the  same 
objective. Germany (€ 1.1 billion) 36, Italy (€ 171.2 million) and the United Kingdom (€ 132.7 
million) made the most use of that instrument. 
The Community framework for State aid for research and development and innovation37 and 
the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER)38 form the legal basis for the assessment of 
R&D&I State aid measures. Following the mid-term review39 of the framework in 2011, the 
Commission  conducted  in  2012  a  public  consultation.  Member  States  and  interested  parties 
were  invited  to  submit  their  input  and  views  on  the  review  of  the  EU  State  aid  rules  for 
supporting R&D&I ahead of the expiry of the R&D&I framework at the end of 2013. 

2.2.4.  Environmental protection 
‘Sustainable growth’40, a further flagship initiative under the Europe 2020 Strategy, includes 
the  so-called  ‘20/20/20’  environmental  protection  targets41  which  are  part  of  the  long-term 
action  plan  entitled  ‘A  resource-efficient  Europe’.  State  aid  in  that  area  can  directly  or 
indirectly assist in achieving those objectives, in particular when addressing market failure or 
plugging the gaps in incentives to improve environmental protection (e.g. general regulatory 
measures). 

In 2011, State aid for environmental purposes, including energy saving, stood at € 12.4 billion 
or 0.09 % of EU GDP, and represented 23.4 % of total aid granted to industry and services. 
The  largest  grantors  were  Germany42  (€ 3.6  billion),  Sweden 43  (€ 2.4  billion),  the  United 
Kingdom  (€  1.4  billion),  the  Netherlands  (€ 0.9 
billion),  Austria  (€ 0.9   billion)  and  Spain 
(€ 0.8 billion).  

Aid  measures,  such  as  to  support  energy  saving  and  waste  management  or  to  improve 
production  processes,  pursue  a  direct  benefit  to  the  environment.  In  2011,  such  expenditure 
was  equivalent  to  around  € 4.0 billion.  The  larg est  contributors  to  that  amount  were:  the 

36 
37 

38 

39 
40 

41 

42 

43 

Germany multiplied by five its expenditure on R&D&I via block-exempted measures in 2010. 
Framework  for  State  aid  for  research  and  development  and  innovation,  OJ  C  323,  30.12.2006,  p.  1. 
(entry into force 1 January 2007). 
Commission  Regulation  (EC)  No  800/2008  of  6  August  2008  declaring  certain  categories  of  aid 
compatible with the common market in application of Article 87 and 88 of the Treaty (General Block 
Exemption Regulation), OJ L 214, 9.8.2008, p. 3 (entry into force 29 August 2008). 
Mid-term review of the R&D&I Framework. 
Communication on ‘A resource-efficient Europe - Flagship initiative under the Europe 2020 Strategy’, 
COM(2011) 21 final. 
20 %  reduction  in  CO2  emissions;  a  20 %  share  for  renewable  energy  in  EU  energy  consumption;  a 
20 % increase in energy efficiency. 
The most important scheme in quantitative terms was the tax scheme ‘Ermäßigter Stromsteuersatz für 
Unternehmen des Produzierenden Gewerbes’ (N 449/2001). 
Most  of  the  aid  for  environmental  protection  in  Sweden  was  granted  under  the  tax  reduction  scheme 
‘Prolongation of energy tax on electricity for the manufacturing sector’ (N 596/2005). 

EN 

18 

   EN 

 
                                                 
Netherlands44  (roughly  €  1  billion),  Spain 45  (€  0.8  billion),  Sweden 46  (€  0.5  billion)  and 
Austria47 (€ 0.4 billion). 

Of indirect effect are inter alia reductions in or exemptions from environmental taxes, i.e. tax 
revenue forgone, which thus cannot be used as a proxy measure of the environmental benefit 
which the taxes themselves may have brought. In 2011, 20.4 % of environmental aid, equal to 
around  € 2.5 billion,  fell  into  th at  category.  Within  that  total,  Sweden  granted  most 
(€ 1.4 billion), followed by Germany (€ 580 million) and Finland (€ 382 million). 

Block-exempted  aid  for  environmental  protection  amounted  to  €  4.6  billion  in  2011, 
corresponding  to  around  37 %  of  total  aid  for  environmental  objectives48.  The  share  has 
increased  sharply  compared  to  last  year,  when  it  represented  only  4.8 %  of  total 
environmental  aid.  Slightly  more  than  80 %  of  the  block-exempted  aid  in  that  field  was 
granted by Germany, Luxembourg and Portugal. 

Since  the  environmental  aid  guidelines  introduced  new  criteria  for  the  necessity  and 
proportionality  test  for  tax  exemptions  below  EU  minimum  tax  levels  (harmonised  taxes), 
Member States have to adopt appropriate measures to bring existing tax reductions into line 
with the environmental guidelines by 31 December 2012, including when taxes are below EU 
minimum levels. 

2.2.5.  Regional development and cohesion 
Figure 14: Aid for regional development49 

In € billion 

As a % of total 

aid to industry 
and services 

Difference when 
compared to previous 
year (in % of total aid 
to industry and 
services) 

Trend 
2009-2011 
(in % of total aid to 
industry and 
services) 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous trend 
(2006-2008)  

14.0 

26.39% 

1.12% 

25.06% 

4.34% 

As a % of GDP 

Difference when 
compared to previous 
year (in % of GDP) 

Trend 
2009-2011 
(in % of GDP) 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous trend 
(2006-2008)  

15.2 

0.12% 

- 0.04% 

0.13% 

0.01% 

2.9 

0.023% 

0% 

0.02% 

0.01% 

Aid earmarked 
for regional 
development 

 Aid pursuant to 
Article 107(3)(a) 

Regional aid 
pursuant to 
Article 107(3)(c) 

44 

45 

46 
47 

48 
49 

The  most  important  measure  having  a  direct  beneficial  effect  on  the  environment  in  the  Netherlands 
was  the  energy  saving  scheme  'MEP  Stimulating  CHP'  for  combined  heat  and  power  production  (N 
543/2005).  
More than 90 % of the aid to having a direct beneficial effect on the environment in Spain was granted 
under  the  scheme  ‘Tax  exemption  for  biofuels’  (NN61/2004),  which  sets  a  zero  rate  for  the  tax  on 
hydrocarbons.  
Most important contributor was the scheme N 539/2010 ‘Tax exemption for biofuels’. 
The  most  important  scheme  in  quantitative  terms  in  Austria  was  the  scheme  ‘Ökostromgesetznovelle 
2008’ (N 446/2008), which concerns the production of green electricity. 
None of the block-exempted aid measures were exemptions from environmental taxes.  
Source: DG Competition. The volume of aid quoted under ‘aid earmarked for regional development’ is 
different from the aggregated volume of aid pursuant to Article 107(3)(a) and 107(3)(c) TFEU, due to 
the fact that some aid granted under the two latter categories is classified under different objectives and 
not under regional development. 

EN 

19 

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The  Commission  guidelines  on  national  regional  aid  for  2007-201350,  applicable  as  of 
1 January  2007,  explain  the  general  approach  taken  by  the  Commission  in  considering 
whether  aid  granted  to  promote  the  economic  development  of  certain  disadvantaged  areas 
within the European Union is compatible with the internal market. The aim of regional aid is 
to develop the economic, social and territorial cohesion of a Member State and of the EU as a 
whole. 

The  Commission  encourages  Member  States  to  grant  regional  aid  on  the  basis  of  multi-
sectoral  schemes  which  form  part  of  a  national  regional  policy.  Those  schemes  should  lay 
down the general conditions under which a Member State may grant regional aid, normally 
without  needing  to  notify  individual  cases  to  the  Commission.  In  October  2006,  the 
Commission  adopted  a  block  exemption  regulation  concerning  national  regional  investment 
aid51 which remains applicable until the end of 2013, although Member States may also grant 
regional aid measures under the GBER. 

Regional  aid  can  also  be  assessed  when  directly  authorised  under  the  Treaty,  i.e. 
Article 107(3)(a) and 107(3)(c) TFEU. Article 107(3)(a)  TFEU  authorises  aid that  promotes 
the economic development of areas where the standard of living is abnormally low or where 
serious  underemployment  exists;  they  are  called  Category  A  regions.  Regional  aid  under 
Article  107(3)(c)  TFEU  relates  to  aid  for  facilitating  the  development  of  certain  economic 
areas, where such aid does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent that is contrary 
to the common interest; they are referred to as Category C regions. 

Finally, aid granted to Category A or C regions does not need to have a regional development 
objective; other objectives are possible. Thus, the aggregate aid volumes of Category A and C 
regions are different from those quoted under aid earmarked for regional development. 

2.3. 

State aid earmarked for specific sectors 

2.3.1.  Rescue and restructuring of firms in difficulty 
Figure 15: Rescue and restructuring aid52 

EU-27 

In € billion 

As a % of total 

aid to industry 
and services 

Difference when 
compared to previous 
year (in % of total aid 
to industry and 
services) 

Trend 
2009-2011 
(in % of total aid to 
industry and 
services) 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous trend 
(2006-2008)  

Rescue and 
restructuring aid 

0.75 

1.4% 

0.4 

1.58% 

0.5% 

France, Italy, Poland and Romania kept up their efforts to reduce aid granted for rescue and 
restructuring  during  2009-2011.  While  overall  rescue  and  restructuring  aid  decreased  by 
roughly one-third when comparing the period 2009-2011 with 2006-2008, Austria, the Czech 
Republic and the United Kingdom granted more such aid, accounting for roughly 80 % of all 
rescue and restructuring aid. 

Shipbuilding 

2.3.2. 
Figure 16: Aid to the shipbuilding sector53 

50 
51 
52 
53 

OJ C 54, 4.3.2006, p. 13. 
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006 of 24 October 2006, OJ L 302, 1.11.2006, p. 29. 
Source: DG Competition. 
Source: DG Competition. 

EN 

20 

   EN 

 
                                                 
EU-27 

In € billion 

As a % of total 

aid to industry 
and services 

Difference when 
compared to previous 
year (in % of total aid 
to industry and 
services) 

Trend 
2009-2011 
(in % of total aid to 
industry and 
services) 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous trend 
(2006-2008)  

Aid to the ship 
building sector 

0.086 

0.16% 

0.05% 

0.16% 

-0.53% 

Aid  to  the  ship-building  sector  decreased  substantially  both  when  compared  to  the  previous 
year  and  when  looking  at  the  trend;  in  both  instances  the  decrease  represented  more  than 
60 %. 

Steel industry 

2.3.3. 
Figure 17: Aid to the steel industry54 

EU-27 

In € billion 

As a % of total 

aid to industry 
and services 

Difference when 
compared to previous 
year (in % of total aid 
to industry and 
services) 

Trend 
2009-2011 
(in % of total aid to 
industry and 
services) 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous trend 
(2006-2008)  

Aid to the steel 
industry 

0.017 

0.03% 

0% 

0.09% 

-0.35% 

Since  the  European  Coal  and  Steel  Community  (ECSC)  Treaty  expired  on  23  July  2002, 
general  State  aid  rules  have  been  applied  to  the  steel  sector,  with  the  exception  that  no 
investment or restructuring aid may be granted to steel production unless it is closure aid55. 

While  in  2011  aid  to  the  steel  sector  decreased  slightly  compared  to  the  previous  year,  the 
trend  shows  that  the  aid  volume  dropped  by  almost  three-quarters  in  2009-2011  when 
compared to 2006-2008. Only Germany increased steel aid during 2009-2011. 

2.3.4.  Coal 
Figure 18: Aid to the coal sector56 

EU-27 

In € billion 

As a % of total 

aid to industry 
and services 

Difference when 
compared to previous 
year (in % of total aid 
to industry and 
services) 

Trend 
2009-2011 
(in % of total aid to 
industry and 
services) 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous trend 
(2006-2008)  

Aid to the coal 
sector 

2.3 

4.5% 

- 0.98 

4.62% 

-1.54% 

Council Decision  2010/787/EU57 on State aid to facilitate the closure of uncompetitive coal 
mines was adopted on 10 December 2010 to cover the period starting on 1 January 2011 until 
31  December  2018.  That  Decision  permits  Member  States  to  grant  aid  for  uncompetitive 
mines within a closure plan. It provides for only two categories of aid: (i) operating aid for the 
closure of mines (Article 3) and (ii) aid for exceptional costs (Article 4). Uncompetitive mines 
must  be  closed  by  31  December  2018  and  their coal  production  progressively  reduced  over 
the  period.  Aid  for  exceptional  costs  includes  redundancy  payments,  re-training  costs,  site 
cleaning-up or safety costs. The Decision will expire at the end of 2027. 

54 
55 

56 
57 

Source: DG Competition. 
Aid under the GBER remains possible with the exception of regional aid favouring activities in the steel 
sector (Article 1(3)(e)). 
Source: DG Competition. 
OJ L 336, 21.12.2010, p. 24. 

EN 

21 

   EN 

 
                                                 
The following Decisions have been taken under Council Decision 2010/787/EU: 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Germany - decision of 7 December 2011, Case SA.24642 (N708/2007); 

Romania - decision of 23 February 2012, Case SA.33033; 

Slovenia - decision of 30 June 2011, Case SA.30907 (N175/2010): only aid to cover 
exceptional costs under Article 4 is provided; 
Poland  -  decision  of  23  November  2011  Case  SA.3301358:  only  aid  to  cover 
exceptional costs under Article 4 is provided. 

2.3.5.  Transport 
Figure 19: Aid to the transport sector59 

EU-27 

In € billion 

As a % of GDP 

Difference 
when compared 
to previous 
year (in % of 
GDP) 

Trend 2009-
2011 (in % of 
GDP) 

Difference 
when compared 
to previous 
trend (2006-
2008)  

Total aid to the 
transport sector 
Road and 
combined 
transport 
Maritime 
transport 
Inland water 
transport 

Air transport 

2.22 

0.28 

1.55 

0.02 

0.16 

0.018% 

-0.002% 

0.02% 

-0.06% 

0.002% 

0.0004% 

0.002% 

-0.06% 

0.012% 

-0.002% 

0.01% 

-0.001% 

0.0002% 

0.0001% 

0.0001% 

0.00003% 

0.001% 

0.0003% 

0.005% 

0.001% 

State  aid  to  the  transport  sector  is  governed  by  specific  rules  in  the  TFEU,  as  well  as 
secondary legislation and rules of soft law. 

Member  States  spend  considerable  resources  for  the  provision  of  Services  of  General 
Economic Interest (SGEIs) in the transport sector and on the construction, management and 
maintenance of infrastructure. EU law provides for a number of mechanisms allowing for and 
encouraging  the  provision  of  such  services.  Member  States  must  however  ensure  that  the 
public  financing  complies  with  the  applicable  rules  and,  in  particular,  that  it  avoids 
overcompensation and undue distortion of competition. 

2.3.5.1.  Land transport 

In 2011, the Commission dealt with several files concerning land transportation. 

On  23  February,  the  Commission  approved  the  new  financing  system  of  the  Rhine-Ruhr 
Passenger  Transport  Network  under  Article  9(1)  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  1370/200760  and 
Article 93 TFEU. 

Also  in  2011,  the  Commission  approved  three  aid  schemes  in  support  of  inland  waterway 
transportation, applicable in Austria, Belgium and the Czech Republic. 

On  the  basis  of  Article  93  TFEU,  public  financing  of  intermodal  infrastructure  in 
Ablasserdam  (Netherlands),  Beverdonk  (Belgium),  Genk  (Belgium)  and  Le  Havre  (France), 
were considered to be compatible with the internal market. 

As in previous years, the Commission approved several schemes in 2011 to support rail and 
combined  transport  (Austria,  Denmark,  Germany,  Italy,  Netherlands  and  United  Kingdom), 
mainly as aid for the reduction of external costs. 

58 
59 
60 

Not yet published. 
Source: DG Competition. 
OJ L 315, 3.12.2007, p. 1. 

EN 

22 

   EN 

 
                                                 
2.3.5.2.  Maritime transport 

In  the  course  of  2011,  the  Commission  opened  proceedings  in  three  maritime  cases  one  of 
which related to the restructuring aid to SeaFrance (operator on the Calais-Dover route) which 
was  followed  by  a  negative  decision  with  recovery.  An  in-depth  investigation  was  also 
conducted  into  the  non-notified  prolongation  of  existing  public  service  contracts  for  the 
benefit of the Tirrenia group, which was operating ferries between mainland Italy and various 
islands  as  well  as  the  modalities  of  the  privatisation  process  of  the  group.  Finally,  the 
Commission launched an investigation into the tax benefits granted by Spain since 2002 for 
the purchase of ships. 

The  Commission  approved  the  overhaul  of  the  Finnish  tonnage  tax  system  (a  decision  in 
which  the  Commission  inter  alia  clarified  its  approach  with  respect  to  renting  ships  out 
without a crew). Similarly, the Commission authorised an environmental support scheme for 
Finnish  shipping  companies  aimed  at  encouraging  the  acquisition  of  environmentally 
friendlier ships. 

Authorisation was also given to the prolongation of the Irish refund system of social security 
contributions with respect to seafarers. 

There  were  two  cases  in  which  the  Commission  authorised  public  financing  of  port 
infrastructure  (notably  the  Latvian  port  cases).  Following  an  in-depth  investigation,  the 
Commission  also  took  a  final  decision  to  approve  equipment  transfer  procedures  under  the 
French port reform (transfer from French public ports to the private sector). 

2.3.5.3.  Aviation 

In the aviation sector, the Commission approved three cases in 2011 concerning projects for 
financing airport infrastructure (Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Greece). One start-up aid 
scheme was notified to the Commission by Lithuania and was also approved. 

Several  Member  States  have  introduced  taxes  on  flights  in  recent  years.  In  2011,  the 
Commission  undertook  a  preliminary  investigation  into  the  Dutch  flight  tax  and  the 
exemptions  for  transfer  and  transit  passengers,  and  decided  that  no  State  aid  was  involved. 
The  Irish  flight  tax  system  was  also  assessed  by  the  Commission  in  2011.  In  this  case  the 
Commission concluded that the Irish flight tax entailed State aid and expressed doubts about 
compatibility. Consequently, the Commission opened the formal investigation procedure for 
an in-depth assessment. 

In  2011,  the  Commission  continued  to  process  its  considerable  workload  involving  the 
examination  of  a  large  number  of  complaints  concerning  investment  aid  for  airport 
infrastructure  and  aid  to  airlines.  While  the  Commission  closed  two  complaint  cases  as  no 
grounds  were  identified  for  a  further  investigation,  it  also  opened  six  formal  investigation 
proceedings. Five of those concerned aid for airport infrastructure and in some cases also aid 
to airlines (Germany, Romania, France), while one case concerns restructuring aid measures 
(Czech  Republic).  In  addition  to  those,  the  Commission  continued  the  formal  investigation 
procedures opened in 2010. 

Furthermore, the Commission approved aid measures notified by Slovenia, which concerned a 
remediation of damage to airlines and airports caused by seismic activity in Iceland and the 
volcanic ash in April 2010. In addition, two cases of social aid concerning remote regions in 
the  United  Kingdom  and  the  outermost  regions  of  France  were  also  approved  by  the 
Commission in 2011. 

On 24 March 2011, the General Court delivered its judgement in the Joined Cases T-443/08 
and T-455/08 Freistaat Sachsen and Others al. / Commission. The General Court confirmed 

EN 

23 

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that  the  operation  of  an  airport  is  an  economic  activity,  an  inseparable  part  of  which  is  the 
construction of airport infrastructure, and that the economic or non-economic character of the 
later  use  of  the  infrastructure  necessarily  determines  the  nature  of  the  construction.  The 
General  Court  therefore  agreed  that  public  financing  of  the  construction  of  airport 
infrastructure  (in  particular  runways)  can  constitute  State  aid.  The  only  exception  concerns 
certain  activities  that  are  part  of  the  exercise  of  public  powers  (security,  police  etc.).  The 
General Court also highlighted that for an activity to qualify as economic, it is irrelevant that 
it  is  not  carried  out  by  private  operators  or  that  it  is  not  profitable.  At  the  same  time  the 
General Court partially annulled the contested Commission decision ‘to the extent that it fixes 
the aid amount at € 350 million’ without dedu cting the costs of a non-economic nature (e.g. 
security,  air  traffic  control,  police  and  customs),  which  do  not  constitute  aid.  That  partial 
annulment does not affect the part of the decision qualifying the measure as compatible aid. 

In  2011  the  Commission  decided  to  initiate  a  revision  of  both  sets  of  the  existing  State  aid 
guidelines  for  the  aviation  sector,  i.e.  of  the  "Application  of  Articles  92  and  93  of  the  EC 
Treaty  and  Article  61  of  the  EEA  Agreement  to  State  aids  in  the  aviation  sector"61  (1994 
Guidelines)  and  the  "Community  guidelines  on  financing  of  airports  and  start-up  aid  to 
airlines departing from regional airports"62 (2005 Guidelines). 

The revision started with a public consultation on the previous application of the two sets of 
Guidelines in force63. The revision procedure is still on-going. As soon as a public version of 
the  revised  guidelines  becomes  available,  the  Commission  will  invite  stakeholders  to 
comment. 

2.3.6.  Agriculture 
Figure 20: Aid to the agricultural sector64 

New 
notifications in 
2011 

Decisions in 
2011 

New block- exempted 
measures in 2011 

Number of aid measures  

122 

132 

18865; 19266 

In € billion  

As a % of 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year (in % 
of GDP) 

Aid granted to the 
agricultural sector 

Of which is block exempted 
aid 

8.7 

1.5 

0.07% 

- 0.05% 

0.012% 

-0.001% 

France  and  Finland  were  the  largest  grantors,  with  totals  of  € 1.3  billion  and  € 1.1  billion 
respectively. 

When  comparing  expenditure  in  2011  with  that  of  2010,  most  of  the  Member  States  (14) 
reduced  their  aid  volumes  to  the  agriculture  sector,  while  the  remainder  showed  a  slight 

61 
62 
63 

64 
65 
66 

OJ C 350, 10.12.1994, p. 5. 
OJ C 312, 9.12.2005, p. 1. 
Cf. replies to the public consultation on the previous application of the 1994 and 2005 guidelines, see: 
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2011_aviation_guidelines/index_en.html. 
Source: DG Agriculture. 
Published. 
Registered. 

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24 

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increase and Romania and Greece in particular showed the highest increase when compared to 
the previous year in % of GDP. 

Block-exempted aid in agriculture 

Fewer  block  exemption  measures  were  implemented  by  Member  States  in  2011,  continuing 
the decline in numbers compared to previous years67. Until now, only Malta has not made use 
of a block exemption. 

It  should  be  noted  that  since  2009  all  block-exempted  aid  schemes  have  been  submitted  by 
Member States under the Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006because since the entry 
into force of the GBER, Member States communicate directly to DG Competition agricultural 
measures  in  the  fields  of  research  and  development,  aid  in  the  form  of  risk  capital,  training 
aid,  environmental  aid  and  aid  for  disadvantaged  and  disabled  workers  (to  the  extent  that 
those categories of aid are not covered by Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006). In consequence, 
measures published under Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 are only recorded until August 2008. 

In  2011,  block-exempted  aid  accounted  for  approximately  17 %  of  State  aid  granted  to 
agriculture,  which  is  similar  to  2010  (roughly  15 %).  Analysing  the  situation  by  Member 
States, Italy granted around 45 % under block exemption, followed by Cyprus with 42 %. 

2.3.7.  Fisheries and aquaculture 
Figure 21: Aid to the fisheries and aquaculture sector68 

New 
notifications 
in 2011 

Decisions in 
2011 

New block- exempted 
measures in 2011 

Number of aid measures  

9 

8 

19 

In € billion   

As a % of GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year (in % 
of GDP) 

0.109 

0.01% 

- 0.00003 

0.013 

0.002% 

-0.0001 

Aid granted to the fisheries 
sector 

Of which is block exempted 
aid 

France  reported  the  highest  overall  State  aid  expenditure  (€  55.1  million),  followed  by  the 
Czech  Republic  (€  24.2  million),  Spain  (€  4.6  m illion),  the  Netherlands  (€  4.3  million)  and 
Ireland (€ 4.1 million). 

With respect to the number of aid measures, Spain reported the most schemes (17), followed 
by the Netherlands (16), and France and Italy (13 each). 

in all 47 block-exempted schemes which were notified in 2011 were put in place by no less 
than 12 Member States.  Ireland  spent € 4.1 million, followed by  the Czech  Republic  (€ 2.8 
million)  and  France  (€  1.6  million)  on  block-exempted  aid  in  the  fisheries  and  aquaculture 
field. 

No legislation has been adopted in 2011 as regards State aid in the fisheries and aquaculture 
sector.  In  the  context  of  the  on-going  reform  of  the  Common  Fisheries  Policy  and  of  the 
modernisation  of  State  aid,  legal  instruments  in  the  field  of  State  aid  in  the  fisheries  sector 
will have to be amended in 2013. 

67 
68 

Block-exempted measures: 2010: 242; 2008: 433 and 2007: 496. 
Source: DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. 

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25 

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2.4. 
Use of the State aid instruments 
Figure 22: Expenditure as per aid instrument69 

Expenditure as per aid instrument (2011) 

EU-27 

In € billion 

As a % of total 
aid to industry 
and services 

Difference 
when compared 
to previous 
year 
(in % of total 
aid to industry 
and services) 

Trend 2009-
2011 
(in % of total 
aid to industry 
and services) 

Difference 
when compared 
to previous 
trend (2009-
2011) 

Grants 

Soft loans 

Guarantees 
Equity 
participation 

Tax exemption 
(incl. tax deferrals) 

Other 

30.4 

1.6 

1.6 

0.2 

19.1 

0.1 

57.33% 

2.97% 

2.96% 

0.42% 

35.99% 

0.28% 

2.49% 

0.12% 

0.87% 

-0.55% 

-3.21% 

0.27% 

53.95% 

3.16% 

2.09% 

1.00% 

39.72% 

0.09% 

3.31% 

-0.22% 

0.59% 

0.61% 

-4.38% 

0.09% 

Across all aid objectives and in all 27 Member States, the direct grant is the instrument most 
widely used by Member States to grant aid, both in 2011 and during the period 2008-2011, 
representing  roughly  57.3 %  and  53.9 %  respectively  of  aid  granted.  In  second  position, 
Member  States  granted  aid  through  various  kinds  of  tax  exemptions,  accounting  for 
approximately 35.9 % and 39.7 % respectively. Loans, guarantees and other aid instruments 
only represented a minor fraction, about 6.8 % and 6.4 % respectively. 

The  situation  changes  entirely,  however,  when  looked  at  from  the  angle  of  individual 
horizontal  objectives.  For  instance,  Member  States  grant  aid  earmarked  for  environmental 
protection or energy-saving mostly through tax exemption, representing about 72 % in 2011 
and 73 % during the period 2008-2011. An almost opposite pattern can be seen when looking 
at  R&D&I  aid,  where  Member  States  granted  most  aid  through  grants,  about  85 %  in  2011 
and 80 % during the period 2008-2011, whereas for instance  tax exemption does  not play a 
major  role.  Finally,  the  form  in  which  regional  aid  is  granted  more  equally  shared  between 
grants  and  tax  exemptions,  each  accounting  for  between  38 %  and  50 %  both  in  2011  and 
during the period 2008-2011. 

Again,  another  pattern  occurs  when  the  use  of  aid  instruments  is  looked  at  from  the 
perspective  of  Member  States.  For  instance,  Denmark,  Cyprus,  Luxembourg  and  the 
Netherlands granted more than 90 % of aid to industry and services through the instrument of 
the  direct  grant  in  2011  and  more  than  80 %  during  the  period  2008-2011.  Portugal  and 
Sweden favour mostly tax exemptions which represented more than 80 % of aid to industry 
and services in 2011 and during the period 2008-2011. 

Figure  23:  Share  of  aid  instruments  as  a  percentage  of  total  aid  to  industry  and 
services70 

69 
70 

Source: DG Competition. 
Source: DG Competition. 

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26 

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3. 

STATE  AID  GRANTED  TO  THE  FINANCIAL  SECTOR  AND  SUPPORT  FOR  THE  REAL 
ECONOMY 

3.1. 

State aid measures for the financial sector 

3.1.1.  General background 

The financial and economic crisis has led Member States to use a sizeable amount of State aid 
since  2008  in  order  to  cope  with  the  negative  effects  of  the  downturn  in  the  European 
financial  sector.  Renewed  tensions  in  sovereign  and  bank  funding  conditions  have  required 
Member States to keep on granting State aid to tackle those effects. 

In the second half of 2011, amid an escalation of the crisis in sovereign bond markets and a 
slow-down in world output growth, the EU entered into recession in the fourth quarter. As a 
result,  EU  output  growth  was  1.5 %  in  2011,  though  there  were  marked  differences  among 
countries, e.g. Germany +3 %, France +1.7 %, Italy 0.4 % and Spain 0.7 %. 

In  the  first  months  of  2012,  crucial  political  decisions  at  EU  level  and  massive  liquidity 
support provided by the ECB to the EU banking sector succeeded in alleviating tensions in the 
financial and sovereign bond markets. In particular the ECB’s decisions to provide unlimited 
three-year  liquidity  to  banks  and  to  widen  the  range  of  eligible  collateral  have  significantly 
reduced the cost of bank funding and improved market sentiment. 

EN 

27 

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However,  the  EU  banking  sector  remains  fragile  since  banks  face  different  pressures.  They 
are required to strengthen their capital position in order to build a robust firewall to cope with 
default  and  devaluation  risks.  The  latter  in  particular  pose  serious  risks  to  banks'  balance 
sheets. The increase in the banks' capital ratio needs to be achieved without disrupting lending 
to  the  real  economy.  Finally,  banks  need  to  raise  capital  in  the  market  in  an  environment 
where they face high roll-over requirements. 

The  escalation  in  sovereign  market  tensions  has  jeopardised  the  whole  European  banking 
system. European banks own a large quantity of European sovereign bonds. Since they were 
regarded as risk-free assets before the crisis, the banks were not required to set aside capital to 
face  potential  losses.  The  higher  the  risk  perceived  by  the  sovereign  bonds,  the  higher  the 
capital  that  banks  need  to  raise  in  order  to  cover  the  risk  of  their  holdings.  However  poor 
investor confidence decreases banks’ ability to raise capital privately, triggering the need for 
state  support.  Since  the portfolio  of  European  banks  is  mainly  composed  of  national  bonds, 
the  more  the  state  financial  situation  deteriorates  following  intervention  in  the  national 
banking  sector,  the  higher  the  perceived  risk  for  banks’  sovereign  holdings.  Higher  risk 
triggers the need to raise further capital. That vicious circle is commonly called the sovereign 
feedback loop. 

The  worsening  of  the  sovereign  crisis  in  mid-2011  led  the  Member  States  and  the 
Commission  to  agree  on  a  package  of  measures  to  strengthen  banks'  capital  and  provide 
guarantees for their liabilities (the banking package71). On 1 December 2011, the Commission 
prolonged  the  State  aid  crisis  measures  for  the  financial  sector,  clarifying  and  updating  the 
rules on pricing and other conditions72. Once the situations stabilises, a more permanent set of 
State aid rules for banks is envisaged. 

In  spring  2012,  increased  market  pressure  on  Spanish  sovereign  funding  led  the  Spanish 
government to call for the recapitalisation of Spanish banks, which produced further turmoil 
in  the  sovereign  bond  markets,  leading  to  a  significant  deterioration  in  the  GDP  growth 
forecast, with growth expected to stagnate in the EU during 201273. 

State aid measures for the financial sector 

3.1.2. 
In the period from 1 October 2008 to 1 October 201274, the Commission took more than 350 
decisions in the financial services sector based on Article 107(3)(b) TFEU, to remedy serious 
disturbances  in  the  economies  of  Member  States.  Those  decisions  authorised,  amended  or 
prolonged more than 50 schemes, and addressed the situation in over 90 financial institutions 
since  October  2008.  The  Commission  has  so  far  taken  only  one  prohibition  decision. 
Financial crisis measures have been introduced in all Member States, apart from Bulgaria, the 
Czech Republic, Estonia, Malta and Romania. 

Worsening  economic  conditions  in  the  second  half  of  2011  have  prevented  most  Member 
States from phasing out State aid support to the financial sector. On the contrary, the mutual 
reinforcing  effect  of  sovereign  tensions  and  the  banking  sector's  weaknesses  has  led  some 

71 
72 

73 

74 

See ECOFIN Council conclusion of 8 November 2011. 
Communication  from  the  Commission  on  the  application,  from  1  January  2012,  of  State  aid  rules  to 
support  measures  in  favour of banks  in  the context of  the financial  crisis,  OJ  C 356, 6.12.2011, p.  7; 
IP/11/1488. 
European Economic Forecast, Spring 2012, 
http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/european_economy/2012/pdf/ee-2012-1_en.pdf . 
While the 2012 Scoreboard generally updates State aid expenditure to 2011, the financial crisis chapter 
covers a longer period, i.e. it includes the most recent developments up to 1 October 2012. However, 
aid amounts used are taken from Member States’ annual reports and cover the period 2008-2011.  

EN 

28 

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Member States to extend or re-activate State aid measures, mainly in the form of guarantees 
and recapitalisation. 

In  the  period  from  1  October  2008  to  1  October  2012  the  Commission  approved  aid  to  the 
financial sector for an overall amount of €  5 058.9 billion (40.3 % of EU GDP). The bulk of 
the  aid  was  authorised  in  2008  when  €  3 394  billion  (27.7 %  of  EU  GDP)  was  approved, 
mainly  comprising  guarantees  for  banks’  bonds  and  deposits.  After  2008  the  aid  approved 
focused  more  on  the  recapitalisation  of  banks  and  impaired  asset  relief  rather  than  on 
guarantees,  while  more  recently  a  new  wave  of  guarantee  measures  have  been  approved 
mainly by those countries experiencing an increase in their sovereign spreads, such as Spain 
and  Italy.  Between  1  January  2012  and  1  October  2012  further  aid  totalling  €  429.5  billion 
was approved. 

Despite  a  marked  decrease  in  the  amount  of  aid  approved  in  the  years  2011  and  2012,  the 
need  for  state  support  differs  considerably  across  countries  and  segments  of  the  European 
banking  sector75.  The  largest  amount  of  aid  approved  in  the  last  two  years  is  concentrated 
either  in  countries  whose  banking  sector  is  experiencing  sovereign  distress  or  in  countries 
where particular segments of the banking sector or single banks are undergoing restructuring. 

The overall amount of aid used in the period from 1 October 2007 to 31 December 2011 was 
€  1615.9  billion  (12.8 %  of  EU  GDP 76).  The  largest  part  went  on  guarantees77,  which 
amounted to roughly € 1085 bill ion (8.6 % of GDP), followed by recapitalisation (about € 322 
billion  or  2.6 %  of  GDP),  impaired  assets  (about  €  119.9  billi on  or  0.9 %  of  GDP)  and 
liquidity measures (€ 89 b illion or 0.7 % of GDP). 

Box 1: The different State aid instruments for financial institutions and how to measure 
them 

Two  different  concepts  are  used  in  this  Report  to  describe  the  volumes  of  State  aid  to 
financial institutions: the pledged amount of aid and the used amount of aid.  

The pledged volume of aid (aid approved) represents the overall maximum amount of State 
aid  measures  (such  as  guarantees,  capital  injections  and  others)  adopted  by  Member  States 
and approved by the Commission. That figure corresponds to the upper maximum of support 
Member States are allowed to grant to financial institutions. However, it neither represents the 
amounts actually implemented nor the benefits obtained by individual financial institutions. 

The  used  amount  of  aid  (aid  used  or  aid  granted)  expresses  the  actual  volume  of  the  aid 
measure implemented by a Member State: 

– 

– 

75 

76 

77 

For  recapitalisation:  the  used  amount  of  aid  is  equal  to  the  nominal  value  of  the 
recapitalisation.  

For  impaired  asset  relief:  the  used  amount  of  aid  is  the  difference  between  the 
transfer value paid to the beneficiary and the market value of the asset. 

Banking  sector  support  is  also  provided  through  monetary  policy  instruments  by  the  ECB/ESCB.  As 
with State aid, some countries/sectors still rely strongly on central bank intervention.  
Data  in  terms  of  GDP  always  refers  to  EU  GDP when  they  involve  aggregate  volumes  of  aid  and  to 
national GDP when national aid volumes are given. 
The  comparison  among  the  different  instruments  is  not  straightforward  since  guarantees,  due  to  their 
particular nature, represent indirect aid: namely, governments will bear a cost only when the guarantee 
is  called  upon.  In  contrast,  recapitalisation  and  impaired  asset  relief  entail  a  direct  transfer  of  money 
from  the  national  budget  to  the  financial  institution  concerned.  Finally,  in  the  case  of  liquidity,  the 
transfer  of  money  is  not  always  envisaged;  it  depends  on  the  structure  of  the  individual  liquidity 
instrument.  

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29 

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– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

For guarantees: two different reporting methodologies are included:  

the outstanding volume of guarantee covered by the state in a given year, calculated 
as  the  average  of  outstanding  amounts  at  end  of  quarter  (31  March;  30  June; 
30 September; 30 December);  
the overall amount of new guarantee provided in 201178.  

For liquidity support: two different reporting methodologies are included:  

the outstanding volume  of liquidity  provided by the Member State in a given year, 
calculated  as  the  average  of  outstanding  amounts  at  end  of  quarter  (31  March; 
30 June; 30 September; 30 December);  

The overall amount of new liquidity provided in 2011. 

Asset support measures (recapitalisation and impaired asset relief) are recorded at the time of 
issuance.  For  liability  support  (liquidity  and  guarantees),  aid  is  recorded  until  the  liability 
matures. 

More details on the data coverage of the Scoreboard are provided in the Methodology Notes 
on page 53. 

The tables below show for each Member State and for the whole of the EU the overall amount 
of approved financial crisis aid to financial institutions, as well as the overall amount of aid 
used for the different instruments79. 

Figure  27:  Approved  amounts  of  aid  to  financial  institutions  per  instrument  and  per 
Member State, 1 October 2008 - 1 October 2012 

Member State 

Recapitalisation 
measures 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2011 
GDP 

Guarantees 

Asset relief 
interventions 

Liquidity measures 

Total for 2008 - 
2012 

In € 
billion 

As a % of 
2011 GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % of 
2011 GDP 

In € 
billion 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 
Czech 
Republic 

Denmark 

Germany 

Estonia 

Ireland 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Italy 

Cyprus 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

Luxembourg 

Hungary 

Malta 

20.40 

0.00 

0.00 

14.55 

114.61 

0.00 

90.61 

35.75 

5.5% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

6.1% 

4.5% 

0.0% 

310.00 

0.00 

0.00 

587.90 

455.85 

0.00 

84.2% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

245.7% 

17.7% 

0.0% 

57.9% 

386.00 

246.7% 

16.6% 

85.00 

209.32 

19.5% 

320.15 

26.65 

20.00 

1.80 

0.83 

0.58 

2.50 

1.07 

0.00 

1.3% 

1.3% 

10.1% 

4.1% 

1.9% 

5.8% 

1.1% 

0.0% 

339.80 

110.00 

3.00 

5.20 

0.29 

6.15 

5.35 

0.00 

39.5% 

29.8% 

17.0% 

7.0% 

16.9% 

25.9% 

0.9% 

14.4% 

5.3% 

0.0% 

28.22 

0.00 

0.00 

2.30 

66.10 

0.00 

54.00 

0.00 

13.93 

4.70 

0.00 

0.00 

0.54 

0.58 

0.00 

0.04 

0.00 

As a % 
of 2011 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2011 
GDP 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

3.3% 

0.4% 

0.0% 

358.62 

97.4% 

0.00 

0.0% 

0.00 

0.0% 

612.63 

256.1% 

646.06 

25.1% 

0.00 

0.0% 

7.7% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

1.0% 

2.6% 

0.0% 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

7.88 

9.50 

0.00 

34.5% 

40.73 

26.0% 

571.34 

365.2% 

0.0% 

1.3% 

0.2% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

2.7% 

1.9% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

8.00 

31.85 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

2.70 

0.00 

0.32 

3.87 

0.00 

3.7% 

3.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

13.5% 

0.0% 

0.7% 

3.9% 

0.0% 

128.75 

575.25 

371.15 

130.00 

4.80 

9.27 

1.45 

8.97 

10.33 

0.00 

59.9% 

53.6% 

18.6% 

8.2% 

27.0% 

46.2% 

4.7% 

20.9% 

10.3% 

0.0% 

78 

79 

The  concept  of  outstanding  amount  refers  to  the  overall  amount  of  financial  instruments  covered  by 
State  guarantees,  including  those  issued  in  previous  years,  which  have  not  yet  reached  their  date  of 
maturity. The overall amount of guarantees provided in 2011 gives information on the size of the new 
guarantees issued by the Member State in the last year. 
A break-down of the data per year is provided in the tables in the Annex. 

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30 

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6.3% 

5.3% 

9.2% 

15.4% 

0.0% 

1.8% 

1.0% 

2.1% 

1.3% 

200.00 

77.84 

33.89 

40.67 

0.00 

12.00 

2.80 

50.00 

156.00 

33.2% 

25.9% 

9.2% 

23.8% 

0.0% 

33.7% 

4.1% 

26.4% 

40.3% 

22.79 

0.50 

0.00 

4.00 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

3.8% 

0.2% 

0.0% 

2.3% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

52.90 

0.00 

0.00 

6.06 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

0.52 

8.8% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

3.5% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.1% 

313.33 

94.24 

67.78 

76.98 

0.00 

52.0% 

31.3% 

18.3% 

45.0% 

0.0% 

12.63 

35.4% 

3.46 

54.00 

161.56 

5.0% 

28.5% 

41.8% 

50.0% 

40.3% 

6.6% 

458.75 

26.3% 

248.05 

14.2% 

51.93 

3.0% 

873.34 

6.2% 

3646.64 

28.9% 

445.75 

3.5% 

216.27 

1.7% 

5085.95 

Figure  28:  Approved  amounts  of  aid  to  financial  institutions  per  instrument  and  per 
Member State, 2008-2011 

Guarantees 

Asset relief 
interventions 

Liquidity measures 

Total for 2008 - 
2011 

In € 
billion 

As a % of 
2011 GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % of 
2011 GDP 

In € 
billion 

5.5% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

5.9% 

4.4% 

0.0% 

303.95 

82.5% 

28.22 

0.00 

0.00 

580.00 

455.85 

0.00 

0.0% 

0.00 

0.0% 

242.4% 

0.00 

0.00 

17.7% 

65.40 

0.0% 

0.00 

7.7% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

2.5% 

0.0% 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

6.08 

9.50 

0.00 

As a % 
of 2011 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2011 
GDP 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

2.5% 

0.4% 

0.0% 

352.57 

95.7% 

0.00 

0.0% 

0.00 

0.0% 

600.11 

250.8% 

644.43 

25.1% 

0.00 

0.0% 

57.9% 

386.00 

246.7% 

54.00 

34.5% 

40.73 

26.0% 

571.34 

365.2% 

7.2% 

9.4% 

1.3% 

1.3% 

0.0% 

4.1% 

1.9% 

5.8% 

1.1% 

0.0% 

6.3% 

5.2% 

1.2% 

7.0% 

0.0% 

0.7% 

1.0% 

2.1% 

1.3% 

85.00 

201.15 

336.15 

80.00 

3.00 

5.15 

0.29 

5.80 

5.35 

0.00 

200.00 

75.20 

4.62 

35.45 

0.00 

12.00 

2.80 

50.00 

156.00 

39.5% 

18.7% 

16.8% 

5.1% 

16.9% 

25.7% 

0.9% 

13.5% 

5.3% 

0.0% 

33.2% 

25.0% 

1.2% 

20.7% 

0.0% 

33.7% 

4.1% 

26.4% 

40.3% 

0.00 

2.86 

4.70 

0.00 

0.00 

0.54 

0.58 

0.00 

0.04 

0.00 

22.79 

0.40 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

0.0% 

0.3% 

0.2% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

2.7% 

1.9% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

3.8% 

0.1% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

8.00 

31.85 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

2.26 

0.00 

0.32 

3.87 

0.00 

52.90 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

0.00 

0.52 

3.7% 

3.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

11.3% 

0.0% 

0.7% 

3.9% 

0.0% 

8.8% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.1% 

108.47 

336.96 

367.50 

100.00 

3.00 

8.78 

1.45 

8.62 

10.33 

0.00 

313.33 

91.25 

9.24 

47.45 

0.00 

12.25 

3.46 

54.00 

161.56 

6.6% 

435.71 

24.9% 

248.05 

14.2% 

51.93 

3.0% 

850.30 

4.8% 

3419.47 

27.1% 

427.58 

3.4% 

207.96 

1.6% 

4656.41 

50.4% 

31.4% 

18.4% 

6.3% 

16.9% 

43.8% 

4.7% 

20.1% 

10.3% 

0.0% 

52.0% 

30.3% 

2.5% 

27.8% 

0.0% 

34.4% 

5.0% 

28.5% 

41.8% 

48.7% 

36.9% 

Member State 

Recapitalisation 
measures 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2011 
GDP 

Netherlands 

Austria 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Slovenia 

Slovakia 

Finland 

Sweden 
United 
Kingdom 

EU-27 

37.64 

15.90 

33.89 

26.25 

0.00 

0.63 

0.66 

4.00 

5.03 

114.61 

777.30 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 
Czech 
Republic 

Denmark 

Germany 

Estonia 

Ireland 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Italy 

Cyprus 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

Luxembourg 

Hungary 

Malta 

Netherlands 

Austria 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Slovenia 

Slovakia 

Finland 

Sweden 
United 
Kingdom 

EU-27 

20.40 

0.00 

0.00 

14.03 

113.68 

0.00 

90.61 

15.47 

101.10 

26.65 

20.00 

0.00 

0.83 

0.58 

2.50 

1.07 

0.00 

37.64 

15.65 

4.62 

12.00 

0.00 

0.25 

0.66 

4.00 

5.03 

114.61 

601.39 

Figure 29: Used amounts of aid to financial institutions per instrument and per Member 
State, 1 October 2008 – 31 December 2011 

EN 

2008 - 2011 

31 

   EN 

 
Recapitalisation 
measures 

Guarantees 

Asset relief 
interventions 

Liquidity 
measures other 
than guarantees 

2008 - 2011 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2011 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % of 
2011 GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % of 
2011 GDP 

In € 
billion 

20.40 

5.54% 

44.23 

12.01% 

7.73 

2.10% 

0 

0 

10.77 

63.24 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

4.50% 

145.00 

60.61% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

2.46% 

135.03 

5.25% 

56.17 

2.19% 

0 

0% 

0 

0% 

0 

0% 

62.78 

40.13% 

284.25 

181.70% 

2.60 

1.66% 

6.30 

2.93% 

56.30 

26.17% 

0% 

As a % 
of 2011 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2011 
GDP 

0% 

0% 

0% 

72.36 

19.65% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0.82% 

157.75 

65.94% 

0.18% 

259.19 

10.08% 

0% 

0 

0% 

0.05% 

349.71 

223.54% 

3.21% 

69.49 

32.31% 

0 

0 

0 

1.97 

4.75 

0 

0.08 

6.90 

19.31 

22.46 

1.80% 

62.20 

1.12% 

92.73 

4.05 

0.26% 

10.90 

0 

0% 

0.51 

2.53% 

0 

2.60 

0.11 

0 

0% 

6.07% 

0.11% 

0% 

2.83 

0.54 

0 

1.65 

0.01 

0 

7.38 

2.45% 

19.33 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

8.54 

0 

5.79% 

4.64% 

0.69% 

15.91% 

0 

2.86 

1.20 

0 

0 

0% 

3.84% 

0.01% 

0% 

6.79% 

6.43% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

5.00 

0.40 

0 

0% 

0.27% 

19.31 

1.80% 

103.68 

9.66% 

0.06% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0.19 

2.13 

0 

0% 

0.44% 

2.12% 

0% 

116.39 

5.83% 

14.95 

0.95% 

2.83 

2.43 

0 

4.43 

2.24 

0 

15.91% 

12.12% 

0% 

10.35% 

2.23% 

0% 

0.83% 

30.40 

5.05% 

95.16 

15.80% 

0.13% 

0% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

27.11 

9.01% 

0 

0% 

5.00% 

3.10 

1.81% 

3.81 

2.23% 

15.45 

9.04% 

0.25 

0.70% 

2.15 

6.03% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0.12 

0.78 

0.20% 

19.92 

0% 

0.06% 

5.15% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0% 

2.40 

6.73% 

0 

0% 

0.12 

0.06% 

20.70 

5.35% 

2.69% 

0.41 

2.03% 

0.97 

4.86% 

Member 
States 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 
Czech 
Republic 

Denmark 

Germany 

Estonia 

Ireland 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Italy 

Cyprus 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

Luxembourg 

Hungary 

Malta 

Austria 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Slovenia 

Slovakia 

Finland 

Sweden 
United 
Kingdom 

Netherlands 

18.86 

3.13% 

40.90 

82.39 

4.72% 

158.22 

9.06% 

40.41 

2.31% 

18.55 

1.06% 

299.57 

17.15% 

Total EU-27 

322.18 

2.55%  1084.83 

8.59% 

119.88 

0.95% 

89.06 

0.70% 

1615.96 

12.79% 

The overall volume of aid used in 2011 for recapitalisation was € 31.7 bill ion (0.25 % of EU 
GDP); no further impaired asset measures were used in 2011. With respect to guarantees and 
liquidity measures, the average outstanding amount for the year 2011 stood at € 565.5 billion 
(4.5 %  of  GDP),  of  which  €  521.8  billion  (4.1 %  of  EU  GDP)  relates  to  guarantees  while 
€ 43.7 billion (0.35 % of EU GDP)  relates to liquidity measures. 

3.1.3. 

State aid per instrument 

3.1.3.1.  Guarantees for bank debt 

Guarantees have been the main category of instrument used by Member States to respond to 
the turmoil in the financial sector. Most guarantee schemes were approved at the onset of the 
crisis,  from  autumn  2008  to  mid-2009.  The  bulk  of  the  guarantees  were  granted  through 
schemes, since they targeted the whole financial system rather than the weaknesses of specific 
banks. Guarantees, in particular, have proved effective in tackling liquidity constraints arising 
from  the  systemic  loss  of  confidence  which  paralysed  the  interbank  market  and  caused  a 

EN 

32 

   EN 

 
  
  
  
  
sudden increase in the cost of wholesale funding. For that reason those countries hit hardest 
by the escalation of tensions in the euro bonds’  market in summer 2011 have recently used 
that instrument to address the loss in investors' confidence and minimise capital flight. 

From 1 October 2008 to 1 October 2012, € 3 646.6 b illion in guarantees (28.9 % of EU GDP) 
were  approved  by  the  Commission  for  a  large  number  of  countries.  Of  that  amount, 
€ 227.2 billion was approved between 1 January  2012 and the third quarter of 2012. The new 
guarantees were mostly approved under two schemes re-introduced in that period by Spain (€ 
119 billion) and Italy (€ 30 bil lion), which combine with the extension in duration and scale 
of  the  Greek  and  Portuguese  guarantee  schemes  earlier  in  2011.  The  United  Kingdom, 
Denmark and Latvia are the other countries that introduced guarantee schemes in that period, 
while two banks (Dexia and West LB) were the beneficiaries of guarantees approved on an ad 
hoc basis.  The  former received  joint  support  from  Belgium, France and  Luxembourg,  while 
the latter was to be restructured through, among other measures, a guarantee provided by the 
German government. 
In  terms  of  the  amounts  actually  used  in  the  EU  in  the  period  2008-2011,  a  maximum80  of 
€ 1 084.8  billion  (8.62 %  of  GDP)  was  granted.  The  countries  that  made  the  largest  use  of 
guarantees were Ireland81 (€ 284 billion) and the United Ki ngdom (€ 158.2 billion), followed 
by Denmark (€ 145 billion) and Germany (€ 
135.89 billion). By percentage of GDP, Ireland 
remains the largest user (181.7 %), followed by Denmark (60.6 %) and Greece (26 %). 

With respect to the aid actually used in 2011, the average outstanding volume of guarantees 
amounted  to  €  521.8  billion  (4.1 %  of  EU  GDP) .  There  was  a  significant  decrease  in  the 
average outstanding volume of guarantees compared to 2010. That fall is due to the fact that a 
large  amount  in  terms  of  financial  instruments  covered  by  state  guarantee  matured  in  the 
second half of 2011. Since in a number of countries there was no need to extend the guarantee 
schemes  in  place,  at  least  in  the  first  half  of  2011,  the  drop  in  the  outstanding  volume  of 
guarantees  was  widespread  across  EU  Member  States  (Belgium,  Germany,  France,  Ireland, 
Latvia,  Austria,  Slovenia,  Sweden  and  the  United  Kingdom).  The  country  experiencing  the 
largest decrease in outstanding guarantees was Ireland82. However, Ireland is the biggest user 
in the EU: in 2011 it recorded € 110.5 billion in  average outstanding guarantees (70.6 % of 
GDP),  while  the  United  Kingdom  had  the  second-largest  volume  of  guarantees  outstanding 
(€ 72.2 billion, 4.1 % of GDP). 

On the other hand, the average outstanding amount of guarantees increased in 2011 in those 
countries  mostly  affected  by  the  sovereign  debt  crisis  in  the  second  half  of  the  year.  In 
countries where sovereign debt is under pressure from the market, state-guaranteed bonds are 
not issued on the market but are mainly used as collateral for obtaining central bank funding. 
A  total  of  €  110.9  billion  in  new  guarantees  were  issued  in  2011 83.  Italy  accounted  for 
€ 43.7 billion, Greece for € 19.7 billion and Belg ium for € 13 billion. The latter amount was 
not issued under a framework scheme but represents the Belgian share of a larger guarantee 

80 

81 

82 

83 

Under the methodology used to calculate guarantees, which focuses on outstanding volumes, the overall 
amount of guarantees used over  the whole period  is  calculated  by  summing  the  maximum  amount of 
outstanding guarantees provided by each Member State.  
The information for 2008 had to be recalculated as a result of the change in method introduced since 
last year’s Scoreboard. 
In the case of Ireland, the huge decrease in outstanding guarantees is also explained by the fact that part 
of the increase in outstanding guarantees in 2010 was due to short-term guarantees.  
In order to give a full picture of the amount of guarantees provided in a single year, the Scoreboard also 
reports for this year the overall volume of guarantees issued in 2011. As reported in Box 1, that figure 
only  gives  the  volume  of  guarantees  provided  in  2011  without  taking  into  account  either  previous 
guarantee or end-of-quarter averages.  

EN 

33 

   EN 

 
                                                 
provided  together  with  France  and  Luxembourg  for  the  restructuring  of  Dexia.  In  terms  of 
GDP, Greece issued the largest volume of guarantees (9.1 % of GDP) followed by Portugal 
(6.3 %). 
Figure 30: Outstanding guarantees and new guarantees provided in 201184 

2008 - 2011 

Outstanding guarantees 

New guarantees 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2011 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

8.96 

2.60% 

44.23 

13.11% 

29.37 

8.32% 

17.35 

4.71% 

13.00 

3.53% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

145.00 

62.14% 

6.45 

2.89% 

22.29 

19.09 

0.75% 

135.03 

5.61% 

132.03 

0 

0% 

0 

0% 

0 

0% 

0% 

9.51% 

5.28% 

0% 

0 

0 

22.95 

35.33 

0 

0% 

0% 

9.59% 

1.37% 

0% 

180.25 

97.05% 

284.25 

173.81% 

196.25 

127.49% 

110.50 

70.64% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

11.59% 

56.30 

26.17% 

19.70 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

8.65 

0.44% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0.85 

2.43 

0 

0% 

0% 

0.14% 

0.86% 

0% 

1.50 

36.13 

92.73 

0 

0.56 

0.54 

0 

1.65 

0.00 

0 

36.00 

15.45 

0 

0.63% 

3.44% 

4.86% 

0% 

3.29% 

2.91% 

0% 

4.36% 

0.00% 

0% 

6.31% 

5.58% 

0% 

26.68 

55.83 

91.53 

0 

2.82 

0.23 

0 

1.42 

0.00 

0 

40.90 

19.33 

0 

5.25% 

4.74% 

0% 

16.13% 

1.28% 

0% 

3.41% 

0.00% 

0% 

6.91% 

6.80% 

0% 

62.20 

60.26 

10.90 

2.83 

0.08 

0 

1.19 

0.01 

0 

33.17 

12.45 

0 

5.79% 

3.02% 

0.69% 

15.91% 

0.38% 

0% 

2.78% 

0.01% 

0% 

5.51% 

4.14% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

9.16% 

0.76% 

0.39% 

2.77% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

8.19 

7.88 

43.72 

0 

0 

0 

0.65 

1.52% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

7.00 

2.33% 

0 

0% 

1.19 

0.71% 

5.24 

3.12% 

4.99 

2.89% 

8.54 

5.00% 

10.83 

6.33% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.12 

0.29 

0.06% 

0.09% 

0 

0% 

0 

0% 

0 

0% 

1.00 

2.87% 

2.15 

5.98% 

1.55 

4.36% 

0 

0.06 

14.26 

0% 

0.03% 

4.87% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

19.92 

5.75% 

14.02 

3.62% 

33.54 

1.85% 

158.22 

10.10% 

148.81 

8.77% 

72.20 

4.13% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

Member 
States 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 
Czech 
Republic 

Denmark 

Germany 

Estonia 

Ireland 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Italy 

Cyprus 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

Hungary 

Malta 

Netherlands 

Austria 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Slovenia 

Slovakia 

Finland 

Sweden 
United 
Kingdom 

Luxembourg 

0.44 

1.21% 

Total EU-27 

400.80 

3.20% 

833.29 

7.06% 

794.55 

6.48% 

521.82 

4.13% 

110.97 

0.88% 

3.1.3.2.  Recapitalisation measures 

As shown in Figure 27, the total volume of recapitalisation measures approved in the period 
from 1 October 2008 to 1 October 2012 was € 777.3  billion (6.2 % of EU GDP). In terms of 
GDP, Ireland was the country with the largest approved budget (57.9 % of GDP), followed by 
Spain (19.5 % of GDP) and Greece (16 % of GDP). Most of the other countries that pledged 
aid for recapitalisation had amounts of aid approved by the Commission in line with or below 
the  EU  average.  In  2012,  an  additional  amount  of  €  175.9  billion  (1.4 %  of  GDP)  for 
recapitalisation was approved by the Commission. 

The deterioration in sovereign market conditions for several EU countries starting in summer 
2011  was  transmitted  directly  to  the  European  banking  system,  which  was  still  undergoing 

84 

The information for 2008 includes the aid amount of € 0.41 billion granted by Germany in 2007.  

EN 

34 

   EN 

 
                                                 
substantial restructuring. Those banks holding Spanish and Italian government bonds in their 
trading  portfolio  experienced  substantial  market-to-market  losses  as  valuations  tumbled.  In 
addition, the public-sector involvement in and agreement on Greek public debt trigged higher 
write-downs on Greek sovereign bonds. As a result, the European Banking Authority (EBA)85 
conducted a capital exercise among 71 banks in autumn 2011 aimed at assessing their capital 
needs and restoring confidence in the markets. Following the assessment of capital needs, the 
EBA  issued  a  formal  recommendation  in  December  to  ensure  that  all  71  banks  build  a 
temporary capital buffer to reach a 9 % capital ratio by 30 June 2012. The exercise showed 
that a group of 27 banks had a capital shortfall of € 76 billion. Nevertheless, most banks have 
been  able  to  raise  capital  from  private  investors  without  the  need  to  rely  on  public  support. 
EBA  has  reported  that  a  government  backstop  has  so  far  been  used  for  three  Portuguese 
banks, one Slovenian bank and one Italian bank86. In addition, a plan for financial assistance 
from  the  European  Financial  Stability  Facility  (EFSF)  to  the  Spanish  government  was 
approved in summer 2012 in order to address the recapitalisation of several Spanish banking 
groups87.  That  recapitalisation  will  take  place  over  the  coming  months  on  the  basis  of  a 
thorough bottom-up asset review and a stress test conducted by an independent consultant. 

The total amount of recapitalisation approved by the Commission up to 1 October 2012 does 
not  cover  many  of  those  situations.  Among  the  banks  making  use  of  government  funding, 
only the Portuguese Caixa General de Depositos has had its recapitalisation approved, while 
the remainder will be examined by the Commission in the coming months if the banks are not 
able  to  address  the  capital  shortfalls  themselves  through  measures  such  as  a  private  capital 
increase,  divestments  or  optimisation  of  their  risk-weighted  assets  determining  the  capital 
shortfall.  The  new  amount  of  recapitalisation  approved  in  2012  mainly  includes  ad  hoc 
measures  for  several  Greek  banks.  However,  these  were  not  among  the  banking  groups 
covered  by  the  EBA  analysis,  since  the  evaluation  of  their  capital  needs  has  already  been 
addressed  in  the  Greek  programme.  The  same  is  true  for  those  banks  subject  to  a  full 
restructuring plan to be submitted by the Member States concerned. 

In  the  case  of  the  aid  amounts  used  in  2008-2011,  the  overall  amount  of  recapitalisation 
during  that  period  was  €  322.2  billion  (2.5 %  of  GDP)88.  The  countries  that  injected  most 
capital  into  their  banking  system  were  the  United  Kingdom  (€  82.4  billion),  Germany 
(€ 63.2 billion) and Ireland (€ 
62.8 billion), whereas in terms of GDP, Ireland had the largest 
capital injections, representing 40.1 % of GDP. Most of the Irish recapitalisations took place 
in  2010  and  2011.  In  relative  terms,  other  significant  volumes  of  recapitalisation  were 
observed in Luxembourg (6 % of GDP) and Belgium (5.5 % of GDP). 

Figure 31: Recapitalisation 

2008 - 2011 

Recapitalisation 

Member 
States 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 

16.90 

4.86% 

3.50 

1.04% 

0 

0% 

0 

0% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

85 
86 
87 
88 

http://www.eba.europa.eu/capitalexercise/2011/2011-EU-Capital-Exercise.aspx.  
Those figures will be reported in the next Scoreboard as State aid for 2012.  
The recapitalisation will take place through the Fund for Orderly Bank Restructuring (FROB).  
Recapitalisation aid is typically injected at the moment of the approval of the aid, or shortly afterwards, 
in  the  case  of  ad  hoc  aid  i.e.  directly  granted  to  the  bank.  The  difference  between  the  approved  aid 
amount and aid used is largely due to the fact that recapitalisation can also be provided through schemes 
over several years i.e. until their expiry.  

EN 

35 

   EN 

 
                                                 
Czech 
Republic 

Denmark 

Germany 

Estonia 

Ireland 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Italy 

Cyprus 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

0 

0.50 

20.00 

0% 

0.21% 

0.80% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

13.21 

0.68% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

Luxembourg 

2.50 

6.82% 

0 

8.04 

32.95 

0 

11.00 

3.77 

1.30 

9.25 

4.05 

0 

0% 

3.61% 

1.37% 

0% 

6.73% 

1.59% 

0.12% 

0.49% 

0.27% 

0% 

0 

0 

14.03 

0.90 

0% 

0% 

2.36% 

0.32% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

Hungary 

Malta 

Netherlands 

Austria 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Slovenia 

Slovakia 

Finland 

Sweden 
United 
Kingdom 

0.25 

0.08% 

0.53 

0.18% 

44.41 

2.39% 

6.62 

0.42% 

0 

1.94 

6.65 

0 

0% 

0.83% 

0.27% 

0% 

0 

0.29 

3.65 

0 

0% 

0.12% 

0.14% 

0% 

35.28 

22.91% 

16.51 

10.55% 

0 

0% 

9.50 

0.89% 

2.53 

8.51 

1.17% 

0.79% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.41 

2.20% 

0.10 

0.55% 

0 

0.10 

0.11 

0 

0 

0% 

0.26% 

0.11% 

0% 

0% 

5.89 

2.13% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

4.83 

0.58 

0.82% 

0.21% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

1.85% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

31.36 

90.23 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.25 

0.70% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

Total EU-27 

112.71 

0.87% 

87.52 

0.74% 

0.74% 

31.73 

0.25% 

In 2011, an overall amount of € 31.7 billion (0.25  % of GDP) was injected into the European 
banking  system.  However,  as  in  the  previous  year,  only  a  few  countries  were  involved. 
Ireland, Spain and Germany injected € 16.5 billi on, € 8.5 billion and € 3.6 billion into their 
respective  banking  systems.  In  terms  of  GDP,  the  aid  provided  by  Ireland  accounted  for 
10.5 % of GDP followed by Greece with € 2.5 billion  of recapitalisation representing 1.2 % of 
GDP. In the case of beneficiaries, the largest recapitalisation aid in 2011 was granted to Irish 
AIB/EBS for a total amount of € 12.6 billion. 

Box 2: Repayments 

Exiting  from  recapitalisation  aid  can  also  take  the  form  of  repayments  from  banks  to 
governments  in  order  to  return  the  capital received.  The  total  repayments  which  were  made 
during  the  whole  period  being  considered  (2008-2011)  amounted  to  €  34  billion.  Most  of 
them  were  made  by  French  banks;  they  amounted  to  €  16  billion 89.  That  figure  represents 
70 % of the total capital injected into the French banking system (€ 22  billion). In Belgium, 
repayments  made  by  Fortis  accounted  for  roughly  30 %  of  its  overall  recapitalisation.  In 
Hungary, the only bank that received capital injections (FHB) has fully repaid the aid to the 
government. 

Other banks that have started to repay capital injections include ING, which initially received 
5 billion in December 2011 and € 
€ 10 billion of capital. ING has  already repaid € 7 billion (€ 
2 billion in May 2011). Aegon repaid the full capital amount in June 2011. KBC has started 

89 

The aid amount to the French banks (excluding Dexia) was below 2% in terms of risk-weighted assets 
which  implied  under  the  guidelines  in  force  at  the  time,  that  those  banks  did  not  have  to  present  a 
restructuring plan. At the beginning of the crisis, aid was granted for precautionary reasons. 

EN 

36 

   EN 

 
                                                 
repaying capital as well; € 500 million was repa id in 2011 and a binding repayment schedule 
for  the  balance  of  the  capital  has  been  in  place  since  the  Commission  amended  that  bank's 
restructuring decision in 27 July 2011. In December 2008 and early 2009, Germany provided 
capital  to  Commerzbank  in  the  form  of  a  silent  participation  of  €  16.4  billion  (perpetual 
hybrid  tier-1  capital  instrument  under  German  law).  Commerzbank  has  been  able  to  reduce 
the size of the silent participation to € 1.6 billio n, by means of repayments and conversions 
into common equity. 

The  main  strategy  used  particularly  by  French  and  UK  banks,  to  repay  the  capital  received 
was  to  replace  it  by  capital  raised  in  the  market.  That  strategy  has  been  complemented  by 
retaining earnings, selling business units and deleveraging. 

3.1.3.3.  Impaired asset relief 

In 2011, no impaired asset relief was provided for the European financial system. 

In  comparison  with  the  previous  year,  the  number  of  write-downs  recorded  in  Europe  has 
decreased. In many cases, new injections of capital raised directly on the market have offset 
losses arising from the difference between the revised market value of assets and their book 
value. It should be recalled that impaired asset relief is appropriate when there is considerable 
uncertainty about the real value of certain assets, and where there is the chance of the market 
overestimating the real long-term risk as was the case at the beginning of the crisis for certain 
types of assets. In 2010 and 2011, there was less uncertainty about the real value of the some 
categories of assets, so the impairment amounts raised less concern. Recapitalisation is more 
appropriate  than  impaired  asset  relief  in  addressing  such  situations.  Nevertheless,  impaired 
asset relief continues to be provided. 

State aid in the form of impaired asset relief was provided in Europe in the second phase of 
the  crisis  when  the  problem  of  toxic  assets  became  significant.  Lessons  from  past  crises 
highlight the importance of cleaning banks' balance sheets, and the difficulties in pricing the 
toxic assets correctly. The overall amount of impaired asset relief approved in the period from 
1 October 2008 to 1 October 2012 was € 445.7 billion or 3.5 % of EU GDP. 

Impaired asset relief measures are concentrated in a few Member States. Such State aid has 
been approved in only 11 out of 27 countries. The vast majority of the amount approved in 
absolute  terms  (€  248  billion)  was  for 
interventions  in  the  United  Kingdom.  Ireland, 
Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands are the other countries with substantial impaired asset 
relief measures. In GDP terms, the largest volume of aid was approved in Ireland (34.5 % of 
GDP), followed by the United Kingdom (14.3 % of GDP). In 2012, the Commission approved 
impaired asset relief measures, totalling € 18.2 billion for a few Member States. 

Figure 32: Impaired assets per country by year 

2008 - 2011 

Impaired assets 

Member 
States 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 
Czech 
Republic 

Denmark 

Germany 

Estonia 

Ireland 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

7.73 

2.29% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

9.80 

0.39% 

23.07 

0.96% 

23.30 

0.93% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0% 

2.60 

1.69% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

EN 

37 

   EN 

 
0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0% 

2.86 

0.27% 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Italy 

Cyprus 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

Luxembourg 

Hungary 

Malta 

Netherlands 

Austria 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Slovenia 

Slovakia 

Finland 

Sweden 
United 
Kingdom 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

1.20 

0.06% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

5.00 

0.40 

0.88% 

0.14% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.41 

2.27% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

3.10 

1.80% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

Total EU-27 

9.80 

0.08% 

77.82 

0.66% 

32.27 

0.26% 

0% 

40.41 

2.58% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

The  overall  amount  of  aid  actually  used  for  impaired  assets  stood  at  €  119.9  billion  in  the 
period 1 October 2008 to 31 December 2011. That intervention was concentrated mainly in 
two  countries  (Germany  and  the  United  Kingdom),  which  used  €  56.2  billion  and 
€ 40.4billion respectively. In the United Kingdom,  however, the aid went mainly to a single 
beneficiary while in Germany a number of banks received asset relief. Aid for impaired assets 
in those two countries accounted for roughly 80 % per cent of overall impaired assets relief in 
Europe. In GDP terms, the United Kingdom (2.3 %), Latvia (2.2 %) and Germany (2 %) are 
the countries that made most use of that type of instrument90. 

The main banks to have benefited from impaired assets relief are the Royal Bank of Scotland 
(RBS),  which  received  €  40.4  billion  in  2009  a nd  the  German  banks  Hypo  Real  Estate 
(€ 20 billion), West LB (€ 11.6 billion), Nor dbank (€ 10 billion) and LLBW (€ 9.7 billion). 

More  than  90 %  of  asset  relief  measures  have  been  approved  under  ad  hoc  measures.  The 
only  country  that  used  a  scheme  for  asset  relief  was  Ireland,  where  a  general  plan  for  asset 
relief called NAMA was approved in 2010. 

3.1.3.4.  Liquidity measures other than guarantees 

The total volume of aid approved in the form of liquidity intervention other than guarantees 
amounts to € 216 billion (1.7 % of GDP). Four c ountries, the Netherland (€ 52.9 billion), the 
United Kingdom (€ 51.9 billion), Spain (€ 50.8 bill
ion) and Ireland (€ 40 billion), account for 
roughly 85 % of the total aid approved, whereas in terms of GDP the largest budget has been 
set aside by Ireland (26 % of GDP) and Latvia (13.5 % of GDP). In 2012, Portugal has been 
authorised to grant the largest volume of liquidity, amounting to € 6 billion. 

90 

Generally,  asset  relief  is  assessed  by  taking  the  transfer  value  and  subtracting  the  market  value. 
According to last year’s Scoreboard, Ireland provided € 7 billion in impaired asset relief measures under 
its NAMA scheme. That was the highest amount of impaired asset relief in the EU in terms of GDP. 
This year, the figure has been reviewed since it actually represented a rough estimate of the asset relief 
provided under the scheme. The scheme originally comprised seven tranches of which two have already 
been approved by the Commission. The five remaining original tranches will be assessed jointly. So far, 
€ 2.8 billion in asset relief has been provided under the first two tranches. 

EN 

38 

   EN 

 
                                                 
With respect to the aid used, the overall volume of liquidity provided in the period 2008-2011 
amounted to € 89 billion (0.7 % of GDP). In abso lute terms, the Netherlands (€ 30.4 billion), 
Spain  (€  19.3  billion)  and  the  United  Kingdom   (€  18.5  billion)  have  been  the  countries 
making  the  most  use  of  that  instrument.  In  relative  terms  the  largest  amount  of  support  is 
granted  by  the  Dutch  government  (5 %  of  GDP),  followed  by  Latvia  (4.9 %  of  GDP)  and 
Greece (3.2 % of GDP). 

In  2011,  the  average  volume  of  outstanding  liquidity  decreased  from  €  63.7  billion  to 
€ 43.7 billion. A significant drop in  the volume of outstanding liquidity was observed in Spain 
(-€ 5.4 billion), Germany (-€ 4.8 billion), the  Netherland (-€ 4.1 billi on) and United Kingdom 
(-€ 2.5 billion). In terms of GDP, the country  showing the largest drop was Latvia (-2.8 % of 
GDP). The United Kingdom (€ 16 billion) and Sp ain (€ 13.5 billion) had the largest amounts 
of average outstanding liquidity in 2010, while in GDP terms Greece (3.1 %), Latvia (2.2 %) 
and Portugal (1.5 %) topped the table. 

Despite Spain experiencing a drop in the outstanding amount of liquidity in 2011 due to the 
maturity  of  the  loan  provided  under  its  scheme  for  the  acquisition  of  financial  assets,  new 
liquidity has been granted on an  ad hoc basis to CAM (€ 3 billion)  and Banco de Valencia 
(€ 2  billion).  The  other  count ry  reporting  significant  new  amounts  of  liquidity  in  2011  was 
Portugal which provided a loan amounting to € 1 billion to the Banco Portugues de Negocios 
(BPN)91.  Small  amounts  of  liquidity  were  also  provided  in  2011  by  Latvia,  Austria  and 
Greece.  Overall,  the  amount  of  new  liquidity  provided  in  2011  was  €  6.5  billion  in  the  EU 
(0.05 % of GDP). 

Figure 33: Liquidity per countries by year, new liquidity provided in 2011 

2008 - 2011 

Liquidity interventions 

New liquidity 

Member 
States 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 
Czech 
Republic 

Denmark 

Germany 

Estonia 

Ireland 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Italy 

Cyprus 

Latvia 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2011 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of GDP 

0 

0 

0 

0.59 

3.57 

0 

0 

0.47 

2.33 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.25% 

0.14% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

1.97 

0.88% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.19% 

0.21% 

4.26 

19.31 

1.79% 

1.84% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0.73 

4.75 

0 

0 

6.90 

18.96 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.31% 

0.19% 

0% 

0% 

3.00% 

1.78% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.08 

6.64 

13.49 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.05% 

3.09% 

1.26% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.32 

0.01 

5.00 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.20% 

0.00% 

0.47% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.96 

4.15% 

0.97 

5.26% 

0.89 

4.98% 

0.44 

2.20% 

0.14 

0.71% 

Lithuania 

Luxembourg 

Hungary 

Malta 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0.14 

2.13 

0 

0% 

0.36% 

2.29% 

0% 

0 

0.19 

1.05 

0 

0% 

0.45% 

1.07% 

0% 

0 

0.08 

0.71 

0 

0% 

0.18% 

0.71% 

0% 

Netherlands 

13.23 

2.22% 

30.40 

5.33% 

7.90 

1.34% 

3.75 

0.62% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

Austria 

Poland 

91 

EN 

Further liquidity amounts were provided in 2009 and 2010. They are included in the Scoreboard only 
from this year since the Commission approved the final decisions in 2012. 

39 

   EN 

 
                                                 
Portugal 

Romania 

Slovenia 

Slovakia 

Finland 

Sweden 
United 
Kingdom 

1.05 

0.63% 

3.73 

2.23% 

3.81 

2.21% 

2.48 

1.45% 

1.00 

0.59% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

6.90 

0.44% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

18.55 

63.72 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

1.09% 

16.03 

0.92% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.52% 

43.70 

0.35% 

6.47 

0.05% 

Total EU-27 

22.19 

0.18% 

69.82 

0.59% 

3.1.4.  Restructuring 

From  the  onset  of  the  crisis  the  Commission  has  applied  temporary  State  aid  rules  to  the 
financial  sector  in  order  to  use  competition  policy  also  as  an  instrument  to  contain  the 
negative effects of the turmoil in the financial sector and its disruptive impact on the economy 
as a whole. In the context of the Commission’s State aid rules, many restructuring plans have 
been  submitted  to  the  Commission.  The  broad  features  of  such  plans  are  set  out  in  the 
Commission’s ‘Restructuring Communication’92. 

By  1  October  2012,  the  Commission  had  adopted  more  than  30  decisions  approving  a 
restructuring plan for financial institutions, 17 approving liquidation plans and one negative 
decision requiring the recovery of the aid granted (Banco Privado Portugues). 

The  key  aim  of  restructuring  plans  is  to  restore  normal  market  conditions  in  the  banking 
sector  by  ensuring  that  banks  reform  their  business  model  to  ensure  long-term  viability 
without the need to depend on additional State aid. For that reason, when restoring viability is 
considered unfeasible and a bank is unable to remain on the market without state support, aid 
for resolution purposes is usually provided. Resolution can take different forms (liquidation, 
sale,  downsizing)  depending  on  factors  such  as  the  specific  context  in  which  the  bank 
operates, its reference market and its activities. The restructuring plan also has to comply with 
other requirements aimed at minimising distortions of competition, limiting moral hazard and 
ensuring that the aid is limited to the minimum. 

The Commission approved the State aid instruments in order to meet a three-fold objective: 
safeguarding  financial  stability,  preserving  the  internal  market  while  maintaining  a  level 
playing  field,  and  restructuring  aid  beneficiaries  for  long-term  viability.  State  aid  for  banks 
that are considered unviable following evaluation of the restructuring plan has to be assessed 
from each of these standpoints.  

In  the  context  of  the  financial  crisis,  all  the  Irish  banks  have  received  aid  and  are  therefore 
subject  to  restructuring.  For  instance,  Anglo  Irish  Bank  received  a  considerable  amount  of 
capital  from  the  government  in  2011,  in  addition  to  other  aid  received  in  previous  years.  A 
plan  submitted  by  the  Irish  authorities,  which  was  approved  by  the  Commission  in  2011, 
provides  for  a  joint  winding-down  of  the  bank  together  with  the  Irish  Nationwide  Building 
Society  over  a  period  of  ten  years.  The  amended  restructuring  plan  of  Bank  of  Ireland  was 
approved  by  the  Commission  during  2011.  Permanent  TSB  and  Allied  Irish  Bank  (which 
merged with Educational Building Society) have provided restructuring plans on 30 June and 
30 September of this year. They are currently being assessed by the Commission. 

A number, e.g. ING and ABN Amro, are also subject to restructuring obligations. 

In Greece, recapitalisation measures for a number of banks have been temporarily approved, 
which  will  trigger  the  need  for  restructuring.  The  bank  ATE  has  been  split  into  a  good 

92 

Communication on the return to viability and the assessment of restructuring measures in the financial 
sector in the current crisis under the State aid rules, OJ C 195, 19.8.2009, p. 1. 

EN 

40 

   EN 

 
                                                 
bank/bad  bank  structure.  The  Portuguese  banks  that  have  recently  been  recapitalised  within 
that  Member  State's  recapitalisation  scheme  (BCP  and  BPI),  as  well  as  outside  that  scheme 
(Caixa Geral Depositos, for which the Commission has temporarily approved the rescue aid), 
have to submit restructuring plans before 31 December 2012. 

Banks  that  have  relied  strongly  on  State  aid  have  been  allowed  to  stay  in  the  market  on 
condition  that  they  undertake  considerable  divestment  of  assets  that  do  not  have  realistic 
prospects of returning to viability. For instance, that approach was followed in the case of the 
restructuring plan approved for the German bank Hypo Real Estate, which will shrink to 15 % 
of  its  pre-crisis  balance  sheet  and  withdraw  from  a  number  of  business  fields.  The  same 
approach has been followed for other German banks receiving State aid in 2011. For instance, 
HSH Nordbank will reduce its size by 61 % compared to crisis levels. In-depth restructuring 
has  also  to  take  place  in  the  case  of  a  number  of  other  German  Landesbanken,  such  as 
BayernLB and LBBW, in view of the aid granted to them. Those approved restructuring plans 
centred on reorganising those banks to become regional or German players. The viability of 
WestLB  could  not  be  restored  and  the  bank  is  therefore  in  a  wind-down  process. 
Commission’s action on the Landesbanken cases was the driving force behind the de-risking 
and rationalisation of the banking sector in Germany, helping to reshaping it for the future. 

Under the restructuring strategy applied to Danish banks, EIK bank was split into a bad bank 
to be put into liquidation and viable activities that will be sold on the market. 

In the meantime, the Spanish banking sector has undergone stress tests to determe the capital 
needs of individual banks. Banks that are not able to address any capital shortfall on their own 
without  state  support  will  receive  aid  in  the  form  of  recapitalisation  and  impaired  asset 
measures. While the final complete list of banks in need of State aid has not yet been drawn 
up,  those  banks  which  are  already  state  owned  will  be  on  such  a  list  in  any  case.  They  are 
BFA/Bankia,  Caixa  Catalunya,  Nova  Caixa  Galicia  and  Banco  de  Valencia.  The  State  aid 
measures in their favour will be accompanied by in-depth restructuring. 

Figure 34: Closed restructuring and liquidation cases 

Member State 

Bank / Insurance 

Type of decision 

Austria 

BAWAG 

Belgium 

Kommunalkredit 

Volksbank 

KBC 

Ethias 

Restructuring 

Restructuring 

Restructuring 

Restructuring 

Restructuring 

Belgium 
/ 
Netherlands 

Luxembourg 

/ 

Fortis 
Luxembourg 

Bank 

Belgium 

and 

Restructuring 

Denmark 

Finland 

Germany 

Fionia 

Roskilde 

EIK 

Amagerbanken 

Max Bank  

Kaupthing Finland 

WestLB 

Sachsen LB 

IKB 

Liquidation 

Liquidation 

Liquidation 

Liquidation 

Liquidation 

Liquidation 

Liquidation 

Restructuring 

Restructuring 

EN 

41 

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LBBW 

HSH Nordbank 

Hypo Real Estate 

Sparkasse Köln-Bonn 

BayernLB 

NordLB 

Commerzbank 

T-Bank 

FHB 

Anglo Irish & INBS 

Bank of Ireland 

Quinn 

Parex 

Restructuring 

Restructuring 

Restructuring 

Restructuring 

Restructuring 

Restructuring 

Restructuring 

Liquidation 

Restructuring 

Liquidation 

Restructuring 

Restructuring 

Restructuring 

Kaupthing Luxembourg 

Liquidation 

ABN Amro/Fortis Nederlands 

Restructuring 

Aegon 

BPP 

BPN 

CCM 

Caja Sur 

UNNIM 

CAM 

Carnegie 

Restructuring 

Negative 

Restructuring 

Liquidation 

Liquidation 

Liquidation 

Liquidation 

Restructuring 

Liquidation 

Restructuring 

Greece 

Hungary 

Ireland 

Latvia 

Luxembourg 

Netherlands 

Portugal 

Spain 

Sweden 

United Kingdom 

Bradford & Bingley 

RBS 

Lloyds Banking Group 

Restructuring 

Northern Rock 

Dunfermline 

Restructuring 

Liquidation 

3.2. 

Aid granted under the temporary framework 

3.2.1.  Context and purpose of the temporary framework 

The  global  and  financial  crisis  caused  a  serious  downturn  in  the  real  economy,  affecting 
households, businesses and jobs. In response, the Commission adopted the ‘Temporary Union 
framework  for  State  aid  measures  to  support  access  to  finance  in  the  current  financial  and 
economic  crisis’  in  December  2009.  It  allowed  Member  States,  under  certain  conditions,  to 
introduce additional aid measures aimed at facilitating companies’ access to finance, while at 
the  same  time  encouraging  investments.  The  temporary  framework  was  originally  due  to 
expire on 31 December 2010. 

By  facilitating  companies’  access  to  finance,  the  temporary  framework  introduced  the 
possibility of a direct grant of up to € 500  000 per company, guarantees for loans at reduced 
premiums  or  subsidised  interest  rates  for  loans.  In  order  to  encourage  companies’  future 

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investments, such as in new technology projects, Member States could grant aid in the form of 
subsidised interest rate loans for the production of green products, and up to higher ceilings 
for venture capital investments. Furthermore, the rules on export credit were simplified. Since 
the  temporary  framework  was  designed  to  provide  for  a  possible  horizontal  effect  in  the 
economy, Member States were allowed to give support to any sector. 

In  the  light  of  the  highly  volatile  financial  markets  and  the  uncertainty  about  the  economic 
outlook,  the  Commission  decided  to  extend  certain  measures  set  out  in  the  temporary 
framework for one year i.e. until 31 December 201193. While the compatible limited amount 
of  €  500  000  per  company  was  phased  out,  the  ex tension  concerned  all  other  instruments, 
which included a tightening of the conditions under which Member States can grant aid under 
the  temporary  framework.  The  compatible  limited  amount  of  aid  (aid  up  to  €  500 000  per 
company) was limited to beneficiaries that had submitted a complete application no later than 
31 December 2010 under a national aid scheme approved by the Commission in accordance 
with the temporary framework and no later than 31 March 2011 for undertakings active in the 
primary production of agricultural products. 
Update on measures approved under the temporary framework94 

While  Member  States  implemented  in  2011  no  new  aid  measures  under  the  temporary 
framework, the Commission allowed 23 schemes to be extended: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

10 schemes for aid of up to € 500 000 per company, in the Czech Republic, Estonia, 
Greece, France, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and the UK; 

eight  guarantee  schemes  in  Greece,  Spain,  France,  Luxembourg,  Hungary  and 
Romania; 

three  schemes for subsidised interest  rate loans, in the Czech Republic, France  and 
Hungary; 

two schemes for subsidised interest rate loans to produce green products, in Germany 
and France. 

Cyprus has not notified any aid measure under the temporary framework. 

Finally,  three  new  aid  measures  were  granted  to  farmers  and  four  such  measures  were 
extended. 

3.2.2.  Aid granted in 2011 
Figure 35: Aid granted under the temporary framework95 

2011 

2010 + 2009 

In € billion 

As a % of EU GDP 

In € billion 

As a % of EU GDP 

Approved aid 
amount 

Aid amount used 

0 

4.8 

n/a 

0.037% 

82.9 

32.7 

0.69% 

0.26% 

93 

94 

95 

Communication  of  the  Commission  ‘Temporary  Union  framework  for  State  aid  measures  to  support 
access to finance in the current financial and economic crisis’, OJ C 6, 11.1.2011, p. 5. 
Figure 41 (annexed) provides a complete overview of aid measures reviewed by the Commission under 
the temporary framework. 
Source: DG Competition. 

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43 

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Given the fact that the temporary framework was extended in 2011 until 31 December 201196 
but only for some categories of aid measures, it is no surprise that Member States introduced 
no  new  aid  measures  but  requested  the  extension  of  some  previously  authorised  aid 
measures97.  

In  2011,  Member  States  granted  aid  under  the  temporary  framework  representing 
approximately € 4.8 billion in aid actually used,  which is less than half of the amount in 2010. 

In total, the amount used by Member States under the temporary framework represents a take-
up rate of 45 % in relation to total approved aid under the temporary framework. 

One  factor  which  can  explain  the  relatively  small  aid  volume  granted  under  the  temporary 
framework  is  on  the  one  hand  the  strict  discipline  applied  when  granting  aid  under  the 
temporary  framework  and  on  the  other  hand  of  on-going  budgetary  restrictions  in  Member 
States, which are likely to have contributed to that effect.  

Member  States  preferred  using  under  the  temporary  framework  the  tool  of  the  subsidised 
guarantee, followed by subsidised interest rate loans and the grant of a maximum aid amount 
of € 500 000 per undertaking. When  calculating the aid element for the aid amount used, the 
maximum  aid  amount  of  €  500 000  per  underta king  is  mostly  used,  followed  by  the 
subsidised  guarantee  and  risk  capital.  Subsidised  interest  rate  loans  represent  only  a  small 
fraction in terms of the aid volume98. 

TRENDS IN NON-CRISIS STATE AID EXPENDITURE BY TYPE OF AID MEASURES 

4. 
Figure 3699: Trend in types of aid measures by number of measures, EU-27 

96 
97 

98 
99 

OJ C 6, 11.1.2011, p. 5. 
See Figure 45, which provides an overview of aid measures authorised by the Commission under the 
temporary framework. 
See the methodology note for further details on the principles applied to calculate the aid element.  
Source:  DG  Competition.  Information  refers  to  measures  by  which  aid  is  granted  to  industry  and 
services.  Note:  individual  aid  comprises  ad  hoc  aid  and  notified  individual  applications  within  a 
scheme.  Block-exempted  aid  comprises  measures  notified  under  the  BERs  and  the  GBER.  More 
statistics  on 
registered  State  aid  cases  are  provided  on  DG  Competition’s  website: 
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/elojade/isef/dsp_reg_main_3.cfm.  

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44 

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In 2011, a further fall in newly introduced aid measures was seen across all types of measures. 
Although individual aid and ad hoc aid measures, which are under individual scrutiny by the 
Commission,  increased  slightly,  the  number  of  new  schemes  decreased.  Furthermore, 
Member  States  introduced  significantly  fewer  new  aid  measures  under  block  exemption, 
which represented approximately 62 % of all new aid measures. 

The overall decrease in the number of new aid measure can be explained by tougher national 
budgetary conditions in most Member States, which reduces the scope for creating new State 
aid measures.  

At this stage, the information provided in Figure 36 would suggest that the number of new aid 
measures reached a relatively low level in 2011, even when compared with years prior to the 
outbreak of the financial crisis. 
Figure 37100: Trend in types of aid measures by aid volume, EU-27 

100 

Source: DG Competition. Information refers to industry and services. Note: individual aid comprises ad 
hoc aid and notified individual applications within a scheme. Block-exempted aid comprises measures 
notified under the BERs and the GBER. 

EN 

45 

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Following  the  long-term  trend,  Member  States  continued  to  grant  more  aid  under  block 
exemption  and  2011  reached  another  peak  of  such  aid  in  both  absolute  and  relative  terms, 
with  € 17.2 billion,  or  32.5 %  of  all  aid  grante d  to  industry  and  services.  Aid  granted  under 
schemes  reached  a  volume  of  € 29.2  billion  or  55.1 %  of  total  aid  to  industry  and  services. 
The graph also shows that aid volumes granted under schemes either when notified or block-
exempted  decreased  whereas  a  shift  toward  more  block-exempted  aid  can  clearly  be 
identified. Aid granted individually remained almost stable and amounted to € 6.6 billion or 
12.5 % of total aid to industry and services. 

That positive trend allowed the Commission to focus on examining individual aid measures, 
either granted individually within a scheme or through ad hoc measures, which are most often 
cases that represent great potential to distort competition. 

5. 

ENFORCING THE STATE AID RULES 

5.1. 

Unlawful aid 

Article  108(3)  TFEU  requires  Member  States  not  only  to  notify  State  aid  measures  to  the 
Commission before their implementation, but also to await the outcome of the Commission's 
investigation  before  implementing  notified  measures.  If  either  of  those  obligations  is  not 
fulfilled,  the  State  aid  measure  is  considered  to  be  unlawful.  If,  following  a  formal 
investigation  procedure,  the  State  aid  measure  is  considered  incompatible  with  the  internal 
market,  the  Commission  will  require  the  Member  State  to  take  all  necessary  measures  to 
recover  the  aid  from  the  beneficiary  in  accordance  with  national  procedures  (negative 
decision with recovery). 

In the period from 1 January 2000 to 30 June 2012, the Commission took 986 decisions on 
unlawful  aid101.  In  23 %  of  unlawful  aid  cases  (224  cases)  the  Commission  took  a  negative 
decision finding the aid measure incompatible. Such negative decisions normally require the 
Member State concerned to recover the illegally awarded aid. In a further 3 % of unlawful aid 
cases (28 cases), the Commission took a conditional decision. 

101 

The Commission reports about recovery on a cumulative, mid-year basis. 

EN 

46 

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In addition, 265 unlawful aid cases are pending and thus under scrutiny by the Commission. 
Those cases are usually taken up by the Commission in reaction to a complaint or ex officio 
(at  the  Commission’s  own  initiative).  The  figures  also  include  cases  notified  by  a  Member 
State but where the measure was fully or partially implemented by the Member State before 
the  Commission’s  final  decision  (i.e.  cases  where  the  standstill  requirement  was  not 
breached). 

5.2. 

Recovery of unlawful aid 

The total number of pending recovery cases stood at 46 (compared to 41 cases at the end of 
2010). The amount of illegal and incompatible aid recovered since 2000 has further increased 
and  amounted  to  more  than  € 13.5  billion  by  30  June  2012  (compared  to  an  outstanding 
amount of € 2.3 billion to be still recovered). Th e percentage of illegal and incompatible aid 
still to be recovered has risen from 11.1 % in 2010 to around 14.4 % on 30 June 2012. 

Recent developments in Article 260(2) TFEU procedures 

On  17  November  2011,  the  Court  of  Justice  ruled  that,  by  failing  to  take  all  the  measures 
needed  to  comply  with  the  judgment  of  1  April  2004  in  Case  C-99/02  Commission  v  Italy 
concerning  the  recovery  of  unlawful  and  incompatible  aid  ordered  by  Decision  2000/128, 
Italy  had  failed  to  fulfil  its  obligations  under  that  decision  and  Article  260(2)  TFEU.  As  a 
consequence, the Court ordered Italy to pay the Commission a penalty payment corresponding 
to EUR 30 million, multiplied by the percentage of aid that had not yet been recovered, for 
every six months of delay in implementing recovery. 

Recovery in the transport sector 

No recovery decisions were adopted by the Commission in 2011. 

Recovery in the agriculture sector 

Five  negative  decisions  were  adopted  by  the  Commission  in  2011,  of  which  four  include 
recovery of the aid. In total, 17 recovery procedures are pending. 

Recovery in the fisheries and aquaculture sector 

No recovery decision was adopted by the Commission in 2011. 

5.3. 

Enforcement of State aid law: cooperation with national courts 

Cooperation with national courts 

As  a  follow-up  to  the  2009  Notice  on  the  enforcement  of  State  aid  law  by  national  courts, 
advocacy efforts have intensified: the Commission is actively involved in financing national 
judges' training  programmes  following an annual call for projects and  also  sends trainers to 
teach  at  such  workshops/conferences.  In  February  2012,  a  dedicated  one-day  workshop, 
covering  both  antitrust  and  State  aid  issues  relevant  for  national  courts,  was  held  by  the 
Commission in cooperation with the Association of European Competition Law Judges. 

Furthermore, through the dedicated contact point, ec-amicus-state-aid@ec.europa.eu, national 
judges sent several requests for information and requests for opinion. Since the beginning of 
2012,  Commission  staff  have  replied  to  six  requests  for  information  and  four  requests  for 
opinions. 

5.4. 

Ex post monitoring 

Over the years, the architecture of State aid control has evolved significantly. Today roughly 
88 % of aid is not individually examined by the Commission, but is granted on the basis of 
previously  approved  aid  schemes  or  block  exemption  regulations  (BERs  and  GBER).  The 
services  of  the  Competition  monitor  the  way  in  which  Member  States  apply  existing  aid 

EN 

47 

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schemes.  In  particular,  since  2006,  DG  Competition  performed  systematic,  sample-based 
ex post  control  (monitoring  exercises).  To  further  improve  the  effectiveness  of  that  control, 
DG Competition decided in 2011 to enlarge the scope of the 2011/2012 monitoring exercise 
to  cover  one-third  of  the  aid  measures  granted  under  approved  aid  schemes  or  block 
exemption regulations, by all Member States and for all main types of aid. 

The 2011/2012 monitoring exercise is still being finalised. However, it can already be noted 
that Member States had difficulties in providing the information requested on time and they 
did not always have a system to effectively ensure compliance with the schemes. 

Although the investigation of a number of cases is still on-going, there seems to be overall an 
increase in the  number of problematic  cases. More  than one-third  of the cases monitored in 
2011/2012 gave rise to problems that varied in type and gravity. 

Some problems concern the national legal basis of the aid schemes. In order to make sure that 
the authorities only grant aid when all necessary conditions are met and to give companies a 
clear picture, the national legal basis should normally spell out all the conditions that must be 
met  for  aid  to  be  lawfully  granted.  However,  in  certain  cases,  some  of  the  applicable 
compatibility  conditions  are  missing  from  the  national  legal  basis  and  there  is  no  specific 
reference  to  the  relevant  Commission  approval  decision  or  the  BER/GBER  that  could  alert 
interested parties to the fact that additional conditions apply. Such situations are problematic 
because they lack transparency and full compliance with relevant EU rules cannot be ensured. 
In  other  cases,  the  conditions  imposed  by  the  BER/GBER  or  the  Commission’s  approval 
decisions  seem  to  be  wrongly  implemented  due  to  a  misunderstanding  of  the  rules  by  the 
Member State or failure to adapt the scheme to subsequently issued guidelines. 

DG Competition also reviews a sample of individual aid awarded on the basis of existing aid 
schemes,  and  there  again  problems  were  encountered  of  varying  type  and  gravity  (some 
irregularities do not affect the compatibility of the aid, other problems are more substantial: 
there  can  be  aid  financing  costs  that  are  not  eligible,  problems  with  the  incentive  effect 
condition, etc.). 

Keeping in mind the possible bias introduced by the limited number of cases monitored so far 
(compared  to  the  great  number  of  existing  aid  schemes),  the  compliance  rate  seems  to  vary 
across the Member States and the different types of aid. 

The Commission will systematically follow-up all irregularities detected in the context of the 
monitoring  exercise  and  it  will  use  all  means  at  its  disposal,  as  appropriate,  to  address  the 
competition  distortions  that  they  may  have  induced.  At  the  same  time,  it  is  essential  that 
Member  States  step  up  their  efforts  to  better  implement  State  aid  rules,  in  particular  by 
developing more effective control systems to enforce the conditions of the aid schemes. 

EN 

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EN 

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NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

102 

Scope of the Scoreboard 

The Scoreboard provides a summary of State aid expenditure in the Member States in 2011. 
The  information  published  in  the  Scoreboard  is  based  on  the  annual  reports  submitted  by 
Member  States  pursuant  to  Article  6  of  Regulation  794/2004103.  It  covers  State  aid 
expenditure authorised under Article 107 TFEU and also includes aid granted to the transport 
sector, which is governed by a specific set of rules104 that refer to Article 107 TFEU. For that 
reason,  subsidies  to  railways  are  excluded  from  the  total  State  aid  figure  in  the  Scoreboard 
since they are governed by Article 93 TFEU and corresponding regulations105. Furthermore, 
subsidies  that  Member  States  grant  as  general  measures  are  not  reported  in  the  Scoreboard 
since they are not falling under Article 107 TFEU.  

In their annual reports, Member States provide information on all existing aid measures that 
fall under the scope of Article 107(1) TFEU and have been authorised by the Commission or 
implemented  by  Member  States  in  the  case  of  aid  measures  falling  under  block  exemption. 
Cases under examination are excluded106. Annex III of Regulation 794/2004107 specifies the 
scope and format of the information to be reported. The annual report which Member States 
submitted  in  2012  covered  aid  granted  by  Member  States  between  1 January 2011  and 
31 December 2011  and  includes,  where  appropriate,  revised  versions  of  provisional 
information  that  Member  States  provided  in  previous  years.  While  Member  States  supply 
information  on  State  aid  expenditure  and  co-financing  in  their  annual  report,  all  other 
information on existing aid measures is provided by Member States in the notification forms 
or  summary  information  forms  for  block-exempted  aid  measures.  The  Commission  verifies 
such  details,  e.g.  the  primary  objective  of  the  aid,  the  aid  instruments  and  regional  and 
sectoral information, and Member States are asked to confirm those data. 

Aid  granted  under  the  primary  objective  SGEI  which  fulfils  the  conditions  for  an  SGEI 
measure  is  excluded  from  the  Scoreboard,  while  any  aid  amount  above  the  SGEI-covered 
compensation  is  included108.  All  expenditure  granted  through  EU  funds  and  other  EU 
instruments is also excluded, since such measures are not typically financed from the national 
budget of a Member State. 

In view of the fact that the scope of information collected from Member States is guided by 
different  annexes  of  Regulation  794/2004,  namely  Annex  A  for  aid  granted  to  industry  and 
services.  Annex  B  for  aid  granted  to  the  agricultural  sector  and  Annex  C  for  aid  granted  to 

102 

103 
104 
105 

106 

107 

108 

For further methodological remarks, see  
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/conceptual_remarks.html. 
Commission Regulation (EC) 794/2004, OJ L 140, 30.4.2004, p. 1. 
See the last page of this document. 
Regulation  (EC)  1370/2007  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  on  public  passenger 
transport  services  by  rail  and  by  road  and  repealing  Council  Regulations  (EEC)  Nos  1161/69  and 
1107/70,  OJ  L  315,  3.12.2007,  p.  1;  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  1192/69  on  common  rules  for  the 
normalisation of the accounts of railway undertakings, OJ L 156, 28.6.1969, p. 8.  
Financial crisis data include also cases where the aid has already been provided despite the fact that the 
Commission has not yet given its approval in the form of a final decision. 
Annex  IIIA  sets  out  the  reporting  format  covering  all  sectors  except  agriculture  and  fisheries  and 
aquaculture, for which Annexes IIIB and IIIC respectively provide the format.  
Usually, the part of the aid not covered by SGEIs as outlined in the decision authorising the measure. 

EN 

50 

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fisheries and aquaculture109, and hence differ significantly in detail, the Scoreboard focuses its 
observations and trend analysis solely on State aid to industry and services. 

Methodology for calculating non-crisis aid 

The  economic  advantage  passed  on  to  undertakings  through  State  aid  measures  can  be 
measured in different ways: for grants, the advantage passed on to the beneficiary normally 
corresponds  to  the  budgetary  expenditure.  For  other  aid  instruments,  the  advantage  to  the 
beneficiary and the cost to government may differ. In the case of guarantees, for example, the 
beneficiary avoids the risk associated with the guarantee, since it is carried by the State. Such 
risk-carrying by the State should normally be remunerated by an appropriate premium. Where 
the State forgoes all or part of such a premium, there is both a benefit for the undertaking and 
a  drain  on  the  resources  of  the  State.  Thus,  even  if  it  transpires  that  no  payments  are  ever 
made by the State under a guarantee, there may nevertheless be State aid within the meaning 
of Article 107(1) TFEU. The aid is granted at the time when the guarantee is given, not when 
the guarantee is called on nor when payments are made under the terms of the guarantee. 
Generally,  Member  States  are  required  to  report  State  aid  expenditure110  in  terms  of  actual 
expenditure expressed in the form of the aid element calculated for the aid measure111. Where 
such data were not available by the deadline for submitting the annual report (i.e. 30 June), 
Member States are requested to provide either the corresponding commitment information or 
an estimate of the aid component. In the absence of that information, Member States are asked 
either to confirm or to adjust the estimate calculated by the Commission staff, in line with the 
standard method applied and on the basis of information provided in previous years112. For the 
purpose of producing a meaningful Scoreboard, the absence of actual data makes it necessary 
to  include  an  estimate  in  order  to  provide  the  most  complete  picture  possible  of  State  aid 
expenditure in the Member States. 

Data  on  State  aid  expenditure  in  this  Scoreboard  may  differ  from  data  for  the  same  year 
published  previously.  First,  all  expenditure  information  is  provided  by  Member  States  at 
current prices (in million currency) but is then converted to constant prices referenced to the 
year  for  which  the  Scoreboard  gives  an  update,  taking  into  account  the  corresponding 
inflation and exchange rates applicable for the individual year and Member State. Secondly, 
Member States may have replaced provisional figures or estimates from the previous year(s) 
by final actual expenditure. In particular with respect to expenditure in tax schemes, which is 
particularly  difficult  to  quantify113,  if  expenditure  is  corrected  at  a  later  stage  it  may  also 
change previous data and, moreover, may also shift the distribution of horizontal and sectoral 
aid  in  particular.  Thirdly,  when  the  Commission  adopts  a  decision  on  a  non-notified  aid 
measure by which it deems the aid compatible, the aid amount in question is attributed to the 
year(s)  in  which  it  was  awarded.  Where  such  expenditure  has  been  made  for  a  number  of 
years, the total aid amount is generally allocated equally over the corresponding years. 

Generally, all figures when expressed as a percentage of GDP are measured by reference to 
the year to which the expenditure data relate and include the corresponding GDP value for the 

109 
110 

111 

112 
113 

For instance, more distinct primary objectives exist for the agricultural and fisheries sector. 
Article  21(1)  of  Regulation  659/1999  and  Article  5  of  Regulation  794/2004,  which  includes  the 
provisions set out in Annex III of that Regulation. 
For more details on the calculation of the aid element, see  
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/conceptual_remarks.html. 
For more detail, see http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/conceptual_remarks.html.  
For  instance,  the  aid  element  of  tax  exemptions  is  difficult  to  determine  since  the  exact  number  of 
beneficiaries or amounts may not be known and authorities in the Member States quite often work with 
estimates.  

EN 

51 

   EN 

 
                                                 
calculation.  Accordingly,  figures  expressed  as  a  percentage  of  GDP  in  this  Scoreboard 
normally relate to 2011 GDP, unless otherwise indicated. 

With respect to the presentation of data in the tables, the following symbols apply: 
n.a. 
0 

not available 
zero or rounded when less than half the unit used 

Scheme 
Individual 
Individual aid granted ad hoc. 

S 
IA 
AH 
Methodology for calculating crisis aid granted to the financial sector114 

granted 

within 

aid 

a 

scheme 

By way of derogation from the general concept, whereby State aid expenditure is expressed in 
terms of the aid element of the corresponding aid measure, crisis aid to the financial sector is 
reported  simply  by  the  approved  aid  volume115  and  the  amount  actually  used116.  Thus,  such 
aid is excluded from the observations on aid granted to industry and services and presented in 
a separate chapter117. Aid granted to the financial sector is reported in current prices, even for 
previous  years,  in  order  to  present  familiar  information  from  previous  Scoreboards  with 
respect to past approved budgets. That methodology was already applied in the 2010 update 
of the Scoreboard. When figures are expressed in relation to GDP, the overall amount of aid 
in terms of GDP for the entire reference period is calculated on the basis of 2011 GDP. 

To adequately capture the amounts actually used, Commission staff have further refined the 
methodology as regards guarantees and liquidity measures other than guarantees118: 

• 

• 

• 

114 

115 

116 
117 
118 

guarantees 

liabilities: 
For 
the  overall  volume  of  outstanding  guarantees  in  2011  calculated  as  the  average  of 
end-of-quarter  (31  March,  30  June,  30  September,  30  December)  outstanding 
amounts;  in  addition,  Member  States  reported  the  nominal  amount  of  all  newly 
granted guarantees on liabilities during 2011, which have not been rolled over;  

on 

other 

measures 

Liquidity 
liabilities: 
than 
the overall volume of outstanding liquidity measures (other than guarantees) in 2011 
calculated  as  the  average  of  end-of-quarter  (31  March,  30  June,  30  September, 
30 December) outstanding amounts; in addition, Member States reported on the new 
aid  granted  in  order  to  enable  State  aid  expenditure  on  liquidity  measures  to  be 
rounded up; 

guarantees 

on 

For 
the overall amount of the recapitalisation for 2011; 

recapitalisation 

measures: 

Given  that  publicly  available  information  on  State  support  to  the  banking  sector  gives  details  which 
may  differ  from  the  information  in  the  Scoreboard,  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  Scoreboard 
reports  on  State  aid  pursuant  to  Article  107(3)  TFEU,  whereas  other  publications  may  have  a  more 
limited scope or different source and so may not have included some of the aid measures or certain aid 
instruments. Cut-off dates for the information to be included can also be different. Finally, publications 
other than the Scoreboard may aim to provide information for a particular focus or audience rather than 
regular updates.  
The overall maximum amount of State aid measures set up by the Member State and approved by the 
Commission. 
The actual volume of aid measures which Member States implemented. 
For more detail, see chapter 3. 
The Scoreboard includes all guarantees, including bonds newly issued by beneficiary banks and 
guarantee aid for short-term liabilities. The precise scope of the information to be reported and further 
guidance is outlined in Annex D of the instructions to Member States; see 
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/studies_reports/conceptual_remarks.html#instructions.  

EN 

52 

   EN 

 
                                                 
• 

• 

For 
assets: 
the  nominal  amount  implemented  in  2011  calculated  as  the  transfer  value  of  the 
assets  minus  their  market  value,  in  accordance  with  the  Impaired  Assets 
Communication; 

impaired 

aid:  
restructuring 
For 
Only  the  nominal  amount  implemented  in  2011  (and  in  the  previous  years)  is 
required. 

Moreover,  the  information  from  the  Member  States’  annual  reports  on  aid  granted  to  the 
financial sector is checked against the information reported for the individual aid measure that 
Member  States  provide  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  set  out  in  the  decision  on  the 
individual case (either ad hoc or scheme cases) and with other available tools such as ECFIN 
data or Bloomberg data. 

For estimates made with respect to financial crisis aid, Commission staff provided estimates 
for  guarantees  and  liquidity  measures  when  the  Member  States’  authorities  were  unable  to 
provide data in accordance with the methodology established for those instruments. 

Data  on  financial  crisis  aid  may  differ  from  data  for  the  same  year  published  previously. 
Member States may have replaced provisional figures or estimates from the previous year(s) 
by final actual expenditure, in particular with respect to expenditure in the form of guarantees 
or liquidity measures which are particularly difficult to quantify. 

Specific provisions with respect to aid granted under the temporary framework 

State aid granted under the temporary framework is considered to be crisis aid. While aid to 
the financial sector typically involved the use of special aid instruments targeted at banks and 
financial services, the temporary framework made use of the classical instruments, e.g. direct 
grants, guarantees or loans. However, aid granted under the temporary framework is presented 
in a separate chapter119 and is excluded from aid to industry and services in order to obtain an 
undistorted  picture  of  Member  States’  efforts  in  granting  aid  earmarked  for  objectives  of 
common interest. Alongside the crisis aid to the financial sector, the Commission also decided 
to simplify the reporting and for aid granted under the temporary framework to report only the 
approved volume120 and the amount actually used121. 

Member  States  were  asked  to  report  on  aid  granted  under  the  temporary  framework  by 
following a general method. 

• 

• 

119 
120 

121 

In  instances  where  a  temporary  framework  measure  is  (i)  a  new  ad  hoc  measure, 
(ii) a  new  scheme  or  (iii)  a  new  framework  scheme  under  which  a  number  of  new 
schemes  may  be  implemented,  the  Member  State  simply  reports  expenditure  under 
that temporary framework measure; 

In  instances  where  (i)  a  temporary  framework  measure  modifies  an  existing  aid 
measure  or  (ii)  the  Member  State  uses  one  or  more  existing  aid  measures  for  its 
implementation, and hence aid is granted under temporary framework conditions, the 
Member  State  reports  the  aid  amounts  (including  the  aid  element)  under  the 
corresponding  temporary  framework  measure. By  contrast,  all  aid  that  falls  outside 
conditions (i) and (ii) above must be reported under the case number of the initially 
authorised non-temporary framework measure. 

See chapter 3.2. 
The overall maximum amount of State aid measures set up by the Member State and approved by the 
Commission. 
The actual volume of the aid measure which Member States implemented. 

EN 

53 

   EN 

 
                                                 
KEY FIGURES ON STATE AID EXPENDITURE IN THE EU AND MEMBER STATES 
Figure 41: Total non-crisis aid to industry and services122 

In € 
billion 
(2011) 

As a % of 
GDP  

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of 
GDP) 

Trend 
2009-2011 

(in % of 
GDP) 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous trend 
(2006-2008)  

EU-27 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Italy 
Cyprus 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

Norway 
Iceland 
Liechtenstein 

52.96 
1.24 
0.02 
1.17 
0.83 
12.46 
0.02 
0.67 
2.17 
3.71 
10.48 
2.92 
0.10 
0.06 
0.12 
0.08 
0.86 
0.09 
1.78 
1.51 
2.13 
1.75 
0.28 
0.33 
0.16 
1.06 
2.79 
4.18 

2.56 
0.05 
0.001 

0.42% 
0.34% 
0.05% 
0.76% 
0.35% 
0.48% 
0.11% 
0.43% 
1.01% 
0.35% 
0.52% 
0.18%
0.54% 
0.29% 
0.40% 
0.19% 
0.86% 
1.43% 
0.30% 
0.50% 
0.58% 
1.02% 
0.21% 
0.91% 
0.23% 
0.56% 
0.72% 
0.24% 

0.73% 
0.50% 
0.04% 

-0.06% 
-0.21% 
0.01% 
0.12% 
0.03% 
-0.08% 
0.01% 
-0.18% 
0.24% 
-0.05% 
-0.12% 
-0.01% 
0.02% 
-0.12% 
0.10% 
0.00% 
-0.89% 
0.29% 
-0.02% 
-0.12% 
-0.17% 
0.16% 
0.05% 
0.13% 
-0.13% 
0.12% 
-0.03% 
-0.04% 

n.a 
n.a 
n.a 

0.48% 
0.46% 
0.07% 
0.64% 
0.51% 
0.56% 
0.11% 
0.51% 
0.86% 
0.40% 
0.60% 
0.24% 
0.49% 
0.27% 
0.37% 
0.22% 
1.33% 
2.17% 
0.30% 
0.58% 
0.73% 
1.64% 
0.17% 
0.89% 
0.33% 
0.49% 
0.76% 
0.26% 

n.a 
n.a 
n.a 

0.02% 
0.13% 
-0.02% 
-0.01% 
-0.15% 
-0.07% 
0.02% 
0.06% 
0.49% 
-0.01% 
0.14% 
-0.09% 
0.04% 
-0.33% 
0.20% 
0.07% 
-0.01% 
-0.78% 
0.05% 
0.05% 
0.19% 
-0.25% 
-0.27% 
0.47% 
-0.12% 
0.11% 
-0.08% 
0.05% 

n.a 
n.a 
n.a 

122 

Source: DG Competition. 

EN 

54 

   EN 

 
  
 
                                                 
Figure 42: Aid to agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and transport123 

In € 
billion 
(2011) 

As a % of 
GDP  

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of 
GDP) 

Trend 
2009-2011 

(in % of 
GDP) 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous trend 
(2006-2008)  

EU-27 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Italy 
Cyprus 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

11.05 
0.35 
0.02 
0.25 
0.26 
1.16 
0.03 
0.39 
0.42 
0.82 
1.77 
0.86 
0.04 
0.13 
0.09 
0.02 
0.26 
0.01 
0.79 
0.20 
0.69 
0.01 
0.26 
0.07 
0.01 
1.28 
0.23 
0.63 

0.09% 
0.10% 
0.05% 
0.16% 
0.11% 
0.05% 
0.21% 
0.25% 
0.20% 
0.08% 
0.09% 
0.05%
0.25% 
0.63% 
0.29% 
0.05% 
0.26% 
0.17% 
0.13% 
0.06% 
0.19% 
0.01% 
0.19% 
0.20% 
0.02% 
0.67% 
0.06% 
0.04% 

-0.53% 
0.30% 
0.02% 
-0.87% 
-0.12% 
0.47% 
1.36% 
-20.70% 
10.25% 
1.03% 
-1.65% 
-1.80% 
8.67% 
5.06% 
0.97% 
0.12% 
3.39% 
-7.76% 
-1.22% 
0.15% 
-0.63% 
-0.42% 
11.51% 
-4.58% 
-7.93% 
-4.43% 
-0.96% 
-0.68% 

0.08% 
0.11% 
0.18% 
0.22% 
0.06% 
0.04% 
0.21% 
0.42% 
0.14% 
0.08% 
0.10% 
0.10% 
0.70% 
0.21% 
0.29% 
0.08% 
0.30% 
0.18% 
0.24% 
0.08% 
0.19% 
0.01% 
0.28% 
0.22% 
0.13% 
0.72% 
0.04% 
0.05% 

-0.01% 
0.002% 
-0.19% 
0.01% 
-0.03% 
-0.01% 
0.04% 
-0.05% 
0.02% 
-0.42% 
-0.01% 
-0.01% 
0.08% 
-0.14% 
-0.05% 
-0.06% 
-0.02% 
-0.17% 
0.12% 
0.0004% 
-0.06% 
-0.04% 
-0.16% 
-0.04% 
0.01% 
-0.09% 
-0.02% 
-0.07% 

123 

Source:  DG  Competition,  DG  Agriculture  and  Rural  Development  and  DG  Maritime  Affairs  and 
Fisheries. 

EN 

55 

   EN 

 
  
 
                                                 
Figure 43: Non-crisis State aid earmarked for horizontal objectives of common interest and sectoral aid as a percentage of total non-crisis aid 

to industry and services124 

Total for 
horizontal 
objectives 

Environment 
and energy 
saving 

Regional 
development 

R&D&I 

Risk 
capital 

SMEs 

Training 

Employment 
aid 

Compensa
tion for 
damage 
caused by 
natural 
disasters 

Culture 

Heritage 
conservation 

Social 
support to 
individual 
consumers 

Promotio
n of 
exports 
and 
internatio
nalisation 

Other 

Total 
sectoral 
aid 

Coal 

Other 
sectoral 
aid 

EU-27 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 

Czech Republic 

Denmark 

Germany 

Estonia 

Ireland 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Italy 

Cyprus 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

Luxembourg 

Hungary 

Malta 

Netherlands 

Austria 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

89.67% 
100% 
100% 
95.67% 
93.39% 

88.07% 
99.64% 
91.62% 
99.91% 
75.94% 
98.17% 
94.39% 
96.00% 
99.99% 
100% 
100% 
70.55% 
44.82% 
99.66% 
99.59% 
71.49% 
30.76% 

99.70% 

23.40% 
26.45% 
12.63% 
5.40% 
40.20% 

29.13% 
19.66% 
9.29% 
0.06% 
22.22% 
2.61% 
4.15% 
5.38% 
62.94% 
5.83% 
38.57% 
1.58% 
0% 
54.71% 
62.20% 
6.74% 
0.14% 

48.35% 

26.39% 
8.96% 
77.81% 
63.19% 
0.09% 

28.70% 
46.07% 
34.69% 
97.06% 
21.68% 
31.08% 
34.74% 
6.81% 
23.81% 
72.08% 
6.71% 
28.94% 
25.87% 
0.80% 
8.13% 
25.22% 
12.12% 

48.24% 

18.93% 
29.68% 
8.52% 
24.14% 
28.03% 

24.59% 
0.61% 
19.06% 
0.09% 
25.11% 
18.60% 
16.83% 
0.65% 
1.48% 
6.54% 
33.38% 
3.77% 
2.28% 
37.49% 
17.53% 
1.29% 
10.08% 

1.11% 
0.83% 
0% 
0% 
0% 

0.17% 
0.80% 
2.35% 
0.48% 
0.004% 
0.15% 
0.01% 
0% 
5.42% 
2.83% 
0% 
0.11% 
0% 
0.19% 
0.63% 
0.34% 
0.20% 

4.62% 
14.96% 
0.46% 
0.75% 
0.38% 

2.58% 
4.43% 
3.81% 
1.59% 
2.18% 
6.83% 
16.68% 
3.73% 
0.97% 
4.18% 
9.94% 
1.04% 
0.10% 
1.72% 
7.33% 
0.10% 
3.46% 

1.46% 
4.00% 
0.32% 
0.52% 
1.37% 

0.76% 
0% 
4.71% 
0.00% 
1.43% 
0.90% 
5.25% 
18.84% 
0% 
0.02% 
0% 
0.17% 
4.08% 
0.13% 
1.89% 
4.85% 
0.56% 

1.58% 

0% 

1.00% 

0.19% 

124 

Source: DG Competition. 

EN 

2.74% 
10.15% 
0.26% 
0.00% 
18.71% 

0.08% 
0.13% 
1.83% 
0.00% 
0.70% 
0.05% 
3.22% 
0.33% 
3.27% 
7.51% 
0% 
18.99% 
7.39% 
0% 
0% 
31.46% 
4.13% 

0.02% 

56 

0.17% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 

0.03% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0.00% 
0.01% 
2.33% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0.27% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0.31% 
0% 

0% 

3.47% 
4.19% 
0% 
1.66% 
4.61% 

1.81% 
27.94% 
15.88% 
0.07% 
2.59% 
5.49% 
1.81% 
59.01% 
2.11% 
1.04% 
9.18% 
15.70% 
5.11% 
3.10% 
1.82% 
0.01% 
0.03% 

0.32% 

0.12% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 

0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
1.25% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
1.20% 
0.06% 
1.06% 
0% 

0% 

0.59% 
0.78% 
0% 
0% 
0% 

0.01% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
9.03% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
2.23% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0.04% 

0% 

6.43% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 

0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0.01% 
32.44% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0.32% 
0% 
0.01% 
0% 

0.24% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 

0.21% 
0% 
0% 
0.55% 
0% 
0% 
0.34% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0.09% 
0% 

10.33% 
0% 
0% 
4.33% 
6.61% 

11.93% 
0.36% 
8.38% 
0.09% 
24.06% 
1.83% 
5.61% 
4.00% 
0.01% 
0% 
0% 
29.45% 
55.18% 
0.34% 
0.41% 
28.51% 
69.24% 

4.50% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 

11.80% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
21.63% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
4.65% 
0% 

5.83% 
0% 
0% 
4.33% 
6.61% 

0.13% 
0.36% 
8.38% 
0.09% 
2.43% 
1.83% 
5.61% 
4.00% 
0.01% 
0% 
0% 
29.45% 
55.18% 
0.34% 
0.41% 
23.87% 
69.24% 

0% 

0% 

0.30% 

0% 

0.30% 

EN 

 
  
  
                                                 
Slovenia 

Slovakia 

Finland 

Sweden 
United 
Kingdom 

95.88% 

96.04% 

99.59% 

99.56% 

21.20% 

13.97% 

46.88% 

88.70% 

41.17% 

70.65% 

5.47% 

3.24% 

22.57% 

0.63% 

8.97% 

0% 

26.06% 

1.84% 

3.93% 

0% 

0.31% 

0.49% 

3.12% 

0.08% 

0% 

1.31% 

2.71% 

0.78% 

90.43% 

33.46% 

7.35% 

21.34% 

11.02% 

7.48% 

1.36% 

4.13% 

0.09% 

7.24% 

0.05% 

0.19% 

1.85% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

4.02% 

0.46% 

2.79% 

2.78% 

6.05% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.41% 

0% 

0% 

3.49% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.11% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

4.12% 

3.34% 

3.96% 

0.00% 

0.41% 

0.44% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.78% 

3.96% 

0.41% 

0.44% 

9.57% 

1.78% 

9.57% 

EN 

57 

EN 

 
  
 
FIGURES 44: FINANCIAL CRISIS AID – APPROVED AMOUNT PER YEAR AND INSTRUMENT 

Figure 44 a: Guarantees: approved budget 

Member State 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 
2008 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a 
% of 
2009 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a 
% of 
2010 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a 
% of 
2011 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a 
% of 
2011 
GDP 

Belgium/Belgique/België 

275.75 

80.1% 

1.00 

0.3% 

Bulgaria/България 
Czech Republic/Česká 
republika 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

Denmark/Danmark 

580.00  248.6% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

Germany/Deutschland 

447.75 

18.0% 

2.50 

0.1% 

Estonia/Eesti 

Ireland/Éire 

Greece/Ελλάδα 

Spain/España 

France 

Italy/Italia 

Cyprus/Κύπρος/Kıbrıs 

Latvia/Latvija 

Lithuania/Lietuva 

Luxembourg 

Hungary/Magyarország 

Malta 

0 

0% 

376.00  202.5% 

15.00 

6.2% 

200.00 

18.3% 

319.75 

16.4% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

5.05 

21.9% 

0 

0% 

4.50 

12.3% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

Netherlands/Nederland 

200.00 

33.6% 

Austria/Österreich 

Poland/Polska 

Portugal 

Romania/România 

Slovenia/Slovenija 

Slovakia/Slovensko 

Finland/Suomi 

Sweden/Sverige 

United Kingdom 

EU-27 

75.00 

26.6% 

0 

0% 

16.00 

9.6% 

0 

0% 

12.00 

32.3% 

0 

0% 

2.80 

4.4% 

50.00 

26.9% 

156.00 

47.5% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

3.00 

17.7% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

5.35 

5.7% 

0 

0 

0 

4.62 

0.45 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

1.5% 

0.3% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

10.00 

6.5% 

27.20 

7.4% 

6.05 

1.6% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

7.90 

3.3% 

5.60 

0.2% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

40.00 

17.4% 

30.00 

13.9% 

1.15 

0.1% 

0 

0% 

119.00 

11.1% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.10 

0.29 

0.6% 

1.1% 

16.40 

80.00 

0.8% 

5.1% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

3.65 

30.00 

0 

0.2% 

1.9% 

0% 

0.05 

0.2% 

0 

0% 

1.30 

3.0% 

0.35 

0.8% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0.20 

0.1% 

2.64 

0 

0% 

29.27 

19.00 

11.1% 

5.22 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.9% 

7.9% 

3.1% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

364.53 

20.1% 

67.91 

4.3% 

3.27 

0.2% 

23.04 

1.3% 

3097.34 

24.8% 

87.63 

0.7% 

54.81 

0.4% 

179.70 

1.4% 

227.17 

1.8% 

EN 

58 

   EN 

 
 
Figure 44 b: Recapitalisation: approved budget 

Member State 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

In € 
billion 

As a 
% of 
2008 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a 
% of 
2009 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2010 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2011 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2011 
GDP 

Belgium/Belgique/België 

12.90 

3.7% 

5.00 

1.5% 

2.50 

0.7% 

Bulgaria/България 
Czech Republic/Česká 
republika 

0 

0 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0 

0 

Denmark/Danmark 

0.50 

0.2% 

13.53 

Germany/Deutschland 

99.33 

4.0% 

11.00 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

6.1% 

0.5% 

0% 

0 

0.65 

0.0% 

2.70 

0 

0% 

0 

12.50 

7.6% 

52.06 

33.8% 

26.05 

16.7% 

0 

0 

0% 

10.00 

0%  101.10 

0.47 

0.2% 

20.28 

9.4% 

0%  108.22 

10.1% 

23.45 

1.2% 

0.50 

0.0% 

2.70 

Cyprus/Κύπρος/Kıbrıs 

0 

0% 

0.27 

1.2% 

0.10 

0.6% 

Estonia/Eesti 

Ireland/Éire 

Greece/Ελλάδα 

Spain/España 

France 

Italy/Italia 

Latvia/Latvija 

Lithuania/Lietuva 

Luxembourg 

Hungary/Magyarország 

Malta 

Poland/Polska 

Portugal 

Romania/România 

Slovenia/Slovenija 

Slovakia/Slovensko 

Finland/Suomi 

Sweden/Sverige 

United Kingdom 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

5.00 

2.1% 

0 

0% 

20.00 

1.3% 

0 

0% 

2.40 

6.5% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.33 

0.1% 

4.3% 

9.5% 

0.1% 

0% 

0% 

2.5% 

2.1% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0.45 

0.58 

0 

0 

0 

11.09 

1.9% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0 

0.10 

1.07 

0 

0 

0.65 

4.62 

4.00 

0 

0 

0.66 

4.00 

4.71 

0% 

0.3% 

1.1% 

0% 

0% 

0.2% 

1.5% 

2.4% 

0% 

0% 

1.0% 

2.3% 

1.6% 

Netherlands/Nederland 

26.55 

4.5% 

Austria/Österreich 

15.00 

5.3% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

8.00 

0 

0.25 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.1% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0.52 

0.93 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.2% 

0.0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

1.80 

10.1% 

0 

0% 

0.00 

0.0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.25 

29.27 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.1% 

7.9% 

8.3% 

0% 

4.7% 

14.25 

0% 

0 

0.7% 

0.38 

1.1% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

64.15 

3.5% 

47.59 

3.0% 

2.88 

0.2% 

EU-27 

269.87 

2.2%  110.04 

0.9%  184.01 

1.5% 

37.47 

0.3%  175.90 

1.4% 

EN 

59 

   EN 

 
 
Figure 44 c: Impaired Assets: approved budget 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

Member State 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2008 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2009 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2010 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2011 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2011 
GDP 

Belgium/Belgique/België 

Bulgaria/България 
Czech Republic/Česká 
republika 

Denmark/Danmark 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

28.22 

8.4% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Germany/Deutschland 

4.80 

0.2% 

34.30 

1.4% 

20.00 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.8% 

0% 

0 

54.00 

35.1% 

0 

2.86 

0 

0 

0 

0.54 

0.58 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0.3% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

3.0% 

2.1% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

6.30 

0.2% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

2.30 

0.70 

0 

0 

0 

0%

0%

0%

1.0%

0.0%

0%

0%

0%

11.07 

1.0%

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.10 

0 

4.00 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0.0%

0%

2.3%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

4.70 

0.2% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.04 

0 

22.79 

0.40 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.0% 

0% 

4.0% 

0.1% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0%  248.05 

15.8% 

4.80 

0.04%  338.50 

2.9% 

77.98 

0.6% 

6.30 

0.05% 

18.17 

0.1%

Estonia/Eesti 

Ireland/Éire 

Greece/Ελλάδα 

Spain/España 

France 

Italy/Italia 

Cyprus/Κύπρος/Kıbrıs 

Latvia/Latvija 

Lithuania/Lietuva 

Luxembourg 

Hungary/Magyarország 

Malta 

Netherlands/Nederland 

Austria/Österreich 

Poland/Polska 

Portugal 

Romania/România 

Slovenia/Slovenija 

Slovakia/Slovensko 

Finland/Suomi 

Sweden/Sverige 

United Kingdom 

EU-27 

EN 

60 

   EN 

 
 
Figure 44 d: Liquidity measures: approved budget 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

Member State 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2008 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2009 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

Belgium/Belgique/België 

Bulgaria/България 
Czech Republic/Česká 
republika 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

As a 
% of 
2010 
GDP 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

Denmark/Danmark 

4.94 

2.1% 

0.68 

0.3% 

0.46 

0.2% 

In € 
billion 

As a % 
of 2011 
GDP 

In € 
billion 

As a 
% of 
2011 
GDP 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

1.8 

0.8% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.44 

2.2% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

6.06 

3.5% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

9.5 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.4% 

0% 

40.73 

26.0% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

66.75 

0.5% 

50.23 

0.4% 

8.31 

0.1% 

Germany/Deutschland 

Estonia/Eesti 

Ireland/Éire 

Greece/Ελλάδα 

Spain/España 

France 

Italy/Italia 

Cyprus/Κύπρος/Kıbrıs 

Latvia/Latvija 

Lithuania/Lietuva 

Luxembourg 

Hungary/Magyarország 

Malta 

Netherlands/Nederland 

Austria/Österreich 

Poland/Polska 

Portugal 

Romania/România 

Slovenia/Slovenija 

Slovakia/Slovensko 

Finland/Suomi 

Sweden/Sverige 

United Kingdom 

EU-27 

0 

0 

0 

8 

30 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

3.3% 

2.7% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

2.13 

9.2% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.52 

39.89 

85.48 

0.2% 

2.2% 

0.7% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.32 

0.8% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

4.49 

5.49 

0.3% 

0.05% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

1.85 

0.2% 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.126 

0.7% 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

3.87 

3.9% 

0 

0% 

52.9 

8.9% 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

7.55 

0.4% 

EN 

61 

   EN 

 
 
Figure  45:  Overview  of  measures  adopted  under  the  temporary  framework  (until 

31 December 2011) 

Member State 

€ 500 000 per under-
taking 

Guarantee 

Reduced -
interest rate 
loans 

Reduced -
interest rate 
loans for green 
products 

Risk capital 
aid 

Simplification of 
requirements of the 
Export Credit 
Communication 

Belgium 

N117/2009, 20/03/2009 

N68/2009 

N532/2009, 06/11/2009 

03/06/2009 

SA.32159125, 30/05/2011  

N237/2009, 
06/05/2009 

SA.32665127, 
06/04/2011 

N198/2009, 06/05/2009 

N554/2009128,29/10/2009 

SA.32047129, 21/12/2010 

SA.32513130, 01/03/2011 

N384/2009, 05/08/2009 

N91/2010138, 31/05/2010 

N39/2009 

SA.32033139, 21/12/2010 

3/02/2009 

N27/2009, 27/02/2009 

SA.32032135, 
17/12/2010 

N661/2008 

30/12/2008 

N38/2009 

19/02/2009 

SA.32030136 

17/12/2010 

N426/2009 

04/08/2009 

SA.32029137, 
03/10/2011 

Bulgaria 

N 333/2010, 10/09/2010 

Czech Republic 

N236/2009, 07/05/2009 

SA.32664126, 06/04/2011 

Denmark 

N668/2008, 30/12/2008  

N299/2009131, 04/06/2009 

Germany 

N411/2009132, 17/07/2009 

N255/2010133, 31/10/2010 

SA.32031134, 17/12/2010 

N387/2009, 13/07/2009 

SA.32104140, 13/01/2011 

N186/2009, 15/04/2009 

N473/2009141, 15/12/2009 

Estonia 

Ireland 

125 
126 
127 
128 
129 
130 
131 
132 
133 
134 
135 
136 
137 
138 
139 
140 
141 

Extension of N532/2009. 
Extension of N 236/2009. 
Extension of N 237/2009. 
Amendment to N198/2009. 
Extension of N198/2009 and amendment to N554/2009. 
Amendment to SA.32047. 
Amendment to N668/2008. 
Second amendment to N668/2008. 
Third amendment to N668/2008. 
Extension of N668/2008. 
Extension of N27/2009. 
Extension of N38/2009. 
Extension of N 426/2009. 
Amendment to N384/2009. 
Extension of N384/2009. 
Extension of N387/2009. 
Amendment to N186/2009. 

EN 

62 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Member State 

€ 500 000 per under-
taking 

Guarantee 

Reduced -
interest rate 
loans 

Reduced -
interest rate 
loans for green 
products 

Risk capital 
aid 

Simplification of 
requirements of the 
Export Credit 
Communication 

Greece 

N304/2009, 15/07/2009 

SA.32512142, 28/02/2011 

Spain 

N307/2009, 08/06/2009 

N7/2009, 19/01/2009 

N188/2009147, 17/04/2009 

N278/2009148, 08/06/2009 

SA.32140149, 24/01/2011 

France 

Italy 

N308/2009, 03/06/2009 

SA.33204143, 
27/07/2011 

SA.34044144, 
20/12/2011 

N68/2010, 30/03/2010 

N 
157/2010145,24/06/2010 

SA.32986146,31/05/2011 

N23/2009, 27/02/2009 

SA.32183150, 
24/01/2011 

N309/2009  

03/06/2009 

N140/2009 

30/03/2009 

N683/2009 

02/02/2010 

N11/2009 

03/02/2009 

SA.32206152, 
12/10/2011 

N15/2009 

04/02/2009 

SA.32182151 

28/01/2011 

N268/2009 

N119/2009 

N449/2009, 05/10/2009 

16/03/2009 

SA.32090153, 30/03/2011 

N36/2009  

30/06/2009 

N248/2009, 28/052009 

SA.32036154, 20/12/2010 

N266/2009, 28/05/2009 

SA.32035155, 
17/12/2010 

29/052009 

N542/2009 

N279/2009 

SA.32039156 

26/10/2009 

20/05/2009 

20/12/2010 

N84/2010, 10/06/2010 

N659/2009, 21/12/2009 

N139/2009, 22/04/2009 

N670/2009, 15/12/2009 

N124/2009, 19/03/2009 

Latvia 

N506/2009157, 22/12/2009 

SA.32051158, 23/05/2011 

N272/2009, 08/06/2009 

N523/2009159, 13/11/2009 

N46/2010160, 10/03/2010 

SA.32575161, 23/02/2011 

Lithuania 

142 
143 
144 
145 
146 
147 
148 
149 
150 
151 
152 
153 
154 
155 
156 
157 
158 
159 
160 
161 

Extension of N304/2009. 
Linked to N308/2009. 
Extension of SA.33204. 
Amendment to N68/2010. 
Extension of N68/2010 as amended by N157/2010. 
Amendment to N7/2009. 
Amendment to N7/2009. 
Extension of N7/2009. 
Extension of N23/2009. 
Extension of N15/2009. 
Extension of N 11/2009. 
Extension of N449/2009. 
Extension of N248/2009 and N706/2009. 
Extension of N266/2009. 
Extension of N268/2009. 
Changes to N124/2007. 
Amendment to N506/2009. 
Amendment to N272/2009. 
Amendment to N272/2009. 
Extension of N 272/2009. 

EN 

63 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Member State 

€ 500 000 per under-
taking 

Guarantee 

Reduced -
interest rate 
loans 

Reduced -
interest rate 
loans for green 
products 

Risk capital 
aid 

Simplification of 
requirements of the 
Export Credit 
Communication 

N128/2009, 11/03/2009 

SA.33287162, 
01/08/2011 

N114/2009, 10/03/2009 

N203/2009, 24/04/2009 

N341/2009, 01/07/2009 

N78/2009 

N 56/2010165, 
06/05/2010 

SA.32306166, 
22/02/2011 

SA.32216167, 
27/01/2011 

24/02/2009 

SA.32215168 

24/01/2011 

N50/2009, 20/04/2009 

SA.32846163, 27/05/2011 

N187/2010, 06/07/2010 

N409/2009, 02/10/2009 

N14/2010170, 05/02/2010 

N434/2009, 17/12/2009 

N47d/2009 

26/03/2009 

Luxembourg 

N99/2009, 27/02/2009 

Hungary 

N77/2009, 24/02/2009 

SA.32040164, 20/12/2010 

Malta 

N118/2009, 18/05/2009 

Netherland 

N156/2009, 01/04/2009 

SA.32506169, 18/02/2011 

N47a/2009, 20/03/2009 

Austria 

N317/2009171, 18/06/2009 

SA.32171172, 30/03/2011 

N408/2009, 17/08/2009 

N 22/2010173, 16/07/2010 

N 50/2010174, 16/07/2010 

N 86/2010175, 16/07/2010 

N13/2009, 19/01/2009 

SA.32122176, 07/01/2011 

Poland 

Portugal 

162 
163 
164 
165 
166 
167 
168 
169 
170 
171 
172 
173 
174 
175 
176 

Extension of N 128/2009. 
Extension of N50/2009. 
Extension of N77/2009. 
Amendment to N341/2009. 
Extension of N341/2009 amended by N56/2010. 
Extension of N203/2009. 
Extension of N78/2009. 
Extension of N156/2009.  
Amendment to N406/2009. 
Amendment to N47a/2009. 
Extension of N47a/2009. 
Amendment to N408/2009. 
Second amendment to N408/2009. 
Third amendment to N408/2009. 
Extension of N13/2009. 

EN 

64 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Member State 

€ 500 000 per under-
taking 

Guarantee 

Reduced -
interest rate 
loans 

Reduced -
interest rate 
loans for green 
products 

Risk capital 
aid 

Simplification of 
requirements of the 
Export Credit 
Communication 

Romania 

N547/2009, 03/12/2009 

N286/2009, 05/06/2009 

N478/2009177, 
13/11/2009 

N680/2009178, 
17/12/2009 

N 173/2010179, 
30/07/2010 

SA.32551180, 
29/03/2011 

NN34/2009, 12/06/2009 

Slovenia 

N228/2009, 12/06/2009 

N105/2010181,  

16/04/2010 

Slovakia 

N222/2009, 30/04/2009 

N711/2009183, 02/02/2010 

Finland 

N224/2009, 03/06/2009 

N82b/2009, 09/06/2009 

Sweden 

N80/2009, 05/06/2009 

N541/2009, 08/02/2010 

N520/2010185, 

16/12/2010 

United Kingdom 

N43/2009, 04/02/2009 

SA.32110186, 10/01/2011 

N71/2009, 27/02/2009 

N257/2009 

15/05/2009 

N72/2009 

N460/2009187 

27/02/2009 

14/08/2009 

N713/2009, 16/03/2010 

SA.32066182, 20/01/2011 

N258/2009, 22/062009 

SA.32075184, 21/12/2010 

N605/2009, 25/11/2009 

177 
178 
179 
180 
181 
182 
183 
184 
185 
186 
187 

Linked to N27/2009.  
Amendment to N478/2009. 
Amendment to N286/2009. 
Extension of N 173/2010 and N 286/2009. 
Amendment to NN34/2009. 
Extension of N713/2009.  
Amendment to N222/2009. 
Extension of N258/2009. 
Amendment to N80/2009. 
Amendment to N 43/2009. 
Amendment to N257/2009. 

EN 

65 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Figures 46: Aid expenditure by Member State 

KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

1.59 

1.24 

0.09 

0 

0.27 

As a % of 
GDP188 

0.43% 

0.34% 

0.02% 

0% 

0.07% 

Belgium 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

-0.21% 

-0.21% 

-0.01% 

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.57% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.46% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.03% 

-0.00001% 

0.00005% 

0.01% 

0.08% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend189 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

€ million 

1238.69 

367.63 

327.62 

111.03 

175.28 

195.56 

61.57 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

0.34% 

0.10% 

0.09% 

0.03% 

0.05% 

0.05% 

0.01% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

100% 

29.68% 

26.45% 

8.96% 

14.15% 

15.79% 

4.97% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

168.93 

150.49 

81.73 

51.10 

84.67 

536.92 

86.38% 

85.86% 

73.61% 

15.60% 

23.03% 

43.35% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

358.62 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

25.86 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

55.46 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

29.37 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

17.35 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

19.65% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

8.06 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.17 

As a % of GDP 

0.05% 

188 
189 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

66 

   EN 

 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

0.04 

0.02 

0.02 

0 

0.00 

As a % of 
GDP190 

0.10% 

0.05% 

0.05% 

0% 

0% 

Bulgaria 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

0.01% 

0.01% 

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.24% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.07% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.0002% 

0.17% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend191 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

€ million 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

17.70 

1.51 

2.23 

13.77 

0.10 

0.08 

0.00 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.05% 

0.004% 

0.01% 

0.04% 

0.0003% 

0.0002% 

0.00% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

100% 

8.52% 

12.63% 

77.81% 

0.58% 

0.46% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

0.08 

0.10 

6.01 

0 

0 

6.20 

100% 

100% 

43.67% 

0% 

0% 

35.02% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

0.00 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

0% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.00 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0 

As a % of GDP 

0 % 

190 
191 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

67 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

Czech Republic 

EU-27 

€ bn 

1.42 

1.17 

0.22 

0 

0.01 

As a % of 
GDP192 

0.92% 

0.76% 

0.14% 

0.02% 

0.005% 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

0.11% 

0.12% 

-0.006% 

0.00% 

-0.004% 

Trend  

€ bn 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.81% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.64% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.14% 

0.02% 

0.01% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend193 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

€ million 

1120.97 

282.90 

63.27 

740.40 

6.17 

8.79 

19.45 

50.76 

0 

5.37 

0 

45.39 

0 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

0.72% 

0.18% 

0.04% 

0.48% 

0.00% 

0.006% 

0.01% 

0.03% 

0% 

0.003% 

0% 

0.03% 

0% 

95.67% 

24.14% 

5.40% 

63.19% 

0.53% 

0.75% 

1.66% 

4.33% 

0% 

0.46% 

0% 

3.87% 

0% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

8.79 

6.17 

672.97 

18.09 

55.67 

761.69 

100% 

100% 

90.89% 

28.59% 

19.68% 

67.95% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

0.00 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

0% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

1.12 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.09 

As a % of GDP 

0.06% 

192 
193 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

68 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

1.09 

0.83 

0.09 

0 

0.17 

As a % of 
GDP194 

0.46% 

0.35% 

0.04% 

0.0004% 

0.07% 

Denmark 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.03% 

0.03% 

-0.0008% 

-0.0001% 

-0.0004% 

0.62% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.51% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.04% 

0.003% 

0.06% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend195 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

€ million 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

776.30 

233.02 

334.12 

0.78 

166.92 

3.15 

38.31 

54.92 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.32% 

0.10% 

0.14% 

0.0003% 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

0.02% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

Other services 

54.92 

0.02% 

93.39% 

28.03% 

40.20% 

0.09% 

20.08% 

0.38% 

4.61% 

6.61% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

6.61% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

3.15 

162.38 

0.78 

10.07 

106.88 

283.26 

100% 

97.28% 

100% 

3.01% 

45.87% 

36.49% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

612.63 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

146.09 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

16.46 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

24.96 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

23.24 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

65.94% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.00 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0 

As a % of GDP 

0% 

194 
195 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

69 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

€ bn 

As a % of 
GDP196 

Germany 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

13.62 

0.53% 

-0.08% 

0.60% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

industry  and 

12.46 

0.48% 

0.56% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

-0.08% 

0.004% 

0.89 

0 

0.27 

0.03% 

0.03% 

0.00008% 

-0.00003% 

0.0001% 

0.01% 

0.0005% 

0.01% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

Trend197 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

€ million 

10969.86 

3062.88 

3627.84 

3574.22 

105.50 

341.81 

257.61 

1485.60 

1470.00 

0 

15.60 

0 

0 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

0.43% 

0.12% 

0.14% 

0.14% 

0.00% 

0.01% 

0.01% 

0.06% 

0.06% 

0% 

0.001% 

0% 

0% 

88.07% 

24.59% 

29.13% 

28.70% 

0.85% 

2.74% 

2.07% 

11.93% 

11.80% 

0% 

0.13% 

0% 

0% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

275.24 

105.50 

3491.77 

2953.16 

1145.90 

7971.57 

80.52% 

100% 

97.69% 

81.40% 

37.41% 

72.67% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

646.06 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

52.45 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

191.05 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

166.73 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

38.98 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

10.08% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

29.60 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.65 

As a % of GDP 

0.0025% 

196 
197 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

70 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

0.05 

0.02 

0.03 

0 

0.00 

As a % of 
GDP198 

0.32% 

0.11% 

0.21% 

0% 

0.001% 

Estonia 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

EU-27 

Trend  

€ bn 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

Trend199 

0.03% 

0.01% 

0.01% 

-0.0006% 

-0.00004% 

0.32% 

64.3 

0.5% 

0.11% 

52.96 

0.42% 

0.2% 

0.0007% 

0.00% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.06% 

-0.06% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

€ million 

17.40 

0.11 

3.43 

8.05 

0.02 

0.91 

4.88 

0.06 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.11% 

0.0007% 

0.02% 

0.05% 

0.00% 

0.01% 

0.03% 

0.0004% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

99.64% 

0.61% 

19.66% 

46.07% 

0.13% 

5.23% 

27.94% 

0.36% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.36% 

Other services 

0.06 

0.0004% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

0.77 

0.02 

4.82 

0.69 

0.10 

6.41 

84.78% 

100% 

59.95% 

20.21% 

92.52% 

36.85% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

0.00 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

0.00% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.20 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0 

As a % of GDP 

0% 

198 
199 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

71 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

€ bn 

As a % of 
GDP200 

Ireland 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

1.06 

0.67 

0.38 

0.004 

0.01 

0.68% 

0.43% 

0.24% 

0.003% 

0.01% 

-0.38% 

0.91% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

-0.18% 

-0.21% 

0.001% 

0.004% 

0.51% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.39% 

0.003% 

0.004% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend201 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

€ million 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

612.45 

127.44 

62.10 

231.91 

43.71 

41.17 

106.12 

56.01 

0 

0 

53.17 

0 

2.84 

0.39% 

0.08% 

0.04% 

0.15% 

0.04% 

0.03% 

0.52% 

0.04% 

0% 

0% 

0.03% 

0% 

0.002% 

0.00 

19.06% 

0% 

19.06% 

6.54% 

0% 

15.88% 

8.38% 

0% 

7.95% 

7.95% 

0% 

0.43% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

25.37 

28.96 

17.91 

14.66 

2.09 

88.99 

61.62% 

23.61% 

7.72% 

23.61% 

1.64% 

14.53% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

571.34 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

180.25 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

295.25 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

234.12 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

127.09 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

223.54% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.35 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.01 

As a % of GDP 

0.004% 

200 
201 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

72 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

2.59 

2.17 

0.09 

1.21 

0.01 

As a % of 
GDP202 

1.21% 

1.01% 

0.02% 

0.001% 

0.00% 

Greece 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

EU-27 

Trend  

€ bn 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

Trend203 

0.34% 

0.24% 

-0.01% 

0.0001% 

0.001% 

1.01% 

64.3 

0.5% 

0.86% 

52.96 

0.42% 

0.03% 

0.001% 

0.03% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.06% 

-0.06% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

€ million 

2170.51 

1.97 

1.40 

Regional aid 

2108.67 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Coal 

Financial services 

0.02 

45.03 

13.43 

2.05 

0 

0 

Sectoral aid 

Manufacturing sectors 

2.05 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

0 

0 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

1.01% 

0.001% 

0.001% 

0.98% 

0.00001% 

0.02% 

0.01% 

0.001% 

0% 

0% 

0.001% 

0% 

0% 

99.91% 

0.09% 

0.06% 

97.06% 

0.00% 

2.07% 

0.62% 

0.09% 

0% 

0% 

0.09% 

0% 

0% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

34.53 

0.02 

352.33 

0 

1.97 

388.84 

76.68% 

100% 

16.71% 

0% 

100% 

17.91% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

128.75 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0.47 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

9.53 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

33.58 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

65.46 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

32.31% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

4.00 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.09 

As a % of GDP 

0.04% 

202 
203 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

73 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

4.53 

3.71 

0.69 

4.61 

0.13 

As a % of 
GDP204 

0.42% 

0.35% 

0.06% 

0.0004% 

0.01% 

Spain 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

-0.04% 

-0.05% 

0.01% 

-0.0009% 

-0.003% 

0.47% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.40% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.06% 

0.002% 

0.01% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend205 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

€ million 

2819.07 

932.13 

824.92 

804.82 

79.32 

81.22 

96.65 

893.03 

802.83 

0 

85.29 

0 

4.91 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

0.26% 

0.09% 

0.08% 

0.07% 

0.01% 

0.01% 

0.01% 

0.08% 

0.07% 

0% 

0.008% 

0% 

0.0005% 

75.94% 

25.11% 

22.22% 

21.68% 

2.14% 

2.19% 

2.60% 

24.06% 

21.63% 

0% 

2.30% 

0% 

0.13% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

78.78 

56.98 

389.63 

65.36 

118.74 

709.49 

96.99% 

71.84% 

48.41% 

7.92% 

12.74% 

25.17% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

575.25 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

2.33 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

56.74 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

87.15 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

84.20 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

9.66% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

2.54 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.44 

As a % of GDP 

0.04% 

204 
205 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

74 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

€ bn 

As a % of 
GDP206 

France 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

12.36 

0.62% 

10.48 

1.33 

55.16 

0.38 

0.52% 

0.07% 

0.003% 

0.02% 

-0.13% 

-0.12% 

-0.02% 

-0.001% 

0.004% 

0.71% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.60% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.08% 

0.004% 

0.02% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

Trend207 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

€ million 

10289.05 

1949.16 

273.87 

3257.74 

99.97 

731.53 

3976.78 

191.60 

0 

0 

66.27 

0 

125.33 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

0.52% 

0.10% 

0.014% 

0.16% 

0.005% 

0.04% 

0.2% 

0.010% 

0% 

0% 

0.003% 

0% 

0.01% 

98.17% 

18.60% 

2.61% 

31.08% 

0.95% 

6.98% 

37.94% 

1.83% 

0% 

0% 

0.63% 

0% 

1.20% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

130.09 

24.57 

194.14 

21.96 

38.74 

409.50 

17.78% 

24.58% 

5.96% 

8.02% 

1.99% 

3.98% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

371.15 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

21.86 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

103.18 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

91.53 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

60.26 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

5.83% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.55 

Amount used 
(2011) 

1.61 

As a % of GDP 

0.08% 

206 
207 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

75 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

3.81 

2.92 

0.81 

2.37 

0.05 

As a % of 
GDP208 

0.24% 

0.18% 

0.05% 

0.0002% 

0.00% 

Italy 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

-0.03% 

-0.01% 

0.00% 

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.31% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.24% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.05% 

0.00004% 

0.0001% 

-0.019% 

0.02% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend209 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

€ million 

2756.01 

491.35 

121.23 

Regional aid 

1014.25 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

247.14 

487.24 

394.81 

163.92 

0 

0 

33.00 

0 

130.92 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

0.17% 

0.03% 

0.01% 

0.06% 

0.02% 

0.03% 

0.01% 

0.01% 

0% 

0% 

0.002% 

0% 

0.008% 

94.39% 

16.83% 

4.15% 

34.74% 

8.46% 

16.69% 

13.52% 

5.61% 

0% 

0% 

1.13% 

0% 

4.48% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

293.05 

239.46 

401.81 

28.30 

171.25 

1133.87 

60.15% 

96.89% 

39.62% 

23.35% 

34.85% 

41.14% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

130.00 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

4.05 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

10.90 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

0.95% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.35 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.66 

As a % of GDP 

0.04% 

208 
209 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

76 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

0.14 

0.10 

0.02 

0 

0.02 

As a % of 
GDP210 

0.79% 

0.54% 

0.13% 

0% 

0.13% 

Cyprus 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.11% 

0.02% 

-0.03% 

0% 

0.11% 

0.84% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.49% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.30% 

0% 

0.05% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend211 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

€ million 

92.09 

0.62 

5.17 

6.54 

18.39 

3.58 

57.81 

3.84 

0 

0 

0 

0.02 

3.82 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

0.52% 

0.00% 

0.03% 

0.04% 

0.10% 

0.02% 

0.33% 

0.02% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.0001% 

0.02% 

96.00% 

0.65% 

5.38% 

6.81% 

19.17% 

3.73% 

60.26% 

4.00% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.02% 

3.98% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

3.58 

18.39 

6.54 

0 

0.50 

29.00 

100% 

100% 

100% 

0% 

80.77% 

31.49% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

4.80 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

0.56 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

2.82 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

2.83 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

15.91% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.00 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0 

As a % of GDP 

0% 

210 
211 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

77 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

0.18 

0.06 

0.05 

0 

0.07 

As a % of 
GDP212 

0.92% 

0.29% 

0.26% 

0% 

0.37% 

Latvia 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

-0.06% 

-0.12% 

0.10% 

0% 

-0.05% 

0.88% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.27% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.20% 

0% 

0.4% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend213 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

€ million 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Coal 

Financial services 

Sectoral aid 

57.71 

0.85 

36.33 

13.74 

1.89 

3.69 

1.22 

0.00 

0 

0 

0.29% 

0.004% 

0.18% 

0.07% 

0.01% 

0.02% 

0.01% 

0.00002% 

0% 

0% 

Manufacturing sectors 

0.00 

0.00002% 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

99.99% 

1.48% 

62.94% 

23.81% 

3.27% 

6.39% 

2.11% 

0.01% 

0% 

0% 

0.01% 

0% 

0% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

3.69 

1.89 

8.66 

6.71 

0.85 

21.80 

100% 

100% 

63.05% 

18.47% 

100% 

37.77% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

9.27 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0.96 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

1.92 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

1.63 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

0.52 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

12.12% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.57 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0 

As a % of GDP 

0% 

212 
213 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

78 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

0.21 

0.12 

0.09 

0 

0.00 

As a % of 
GDP214 

0.68% 

0.40% 

0.28% 

0% 

0.01% 

Lithuania 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.11% 

0.10% 

0.01% 

-0.001% 

0.004% 

0.67% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.37% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.29% 

0.001% 

0.007% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend215 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

€ million 

121.31 

7.93 

7.07 

87.44 

9.12 

8.49 

1.26 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

0.40% 

0.026% 

0.02% 

0.28% 

0.03% 

0.03% 

0.00% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

100% 

6.54% 

5.83% 

72.08% 

7.52% 

7.00% 

1.04% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

8.49 

9.12 

51.22 

0 

7.52 

76.36 

100% 

100% 

58.58% 

0% 

94.85% 

62.95% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

1.45 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

0.00 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

0.00% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.10 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.0006 

As a % of GDP 

0.002% 

214 
215 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

79 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

€ bn 

0.10 

0.08 

0.02 

0 

As a % of 
GDP216 

0.24% 

0.19% 

0.05% 

0% 

Luxembourg 

EU-27 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.00% 

0.27% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

-0.003% 

0.22% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.001% 

0% 

0.05% 

0% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend217 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Transport 

0.0002 

0.0005% 

-0.0001% 

0.0004% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

€ million 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

80.46 

26.86 

31.03 

5.40 

0.00 

7.99 

9.18 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.19% 

0.06% 

0.07% 

0.01% 

0.00% 

0.02% 

0.02% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

100% 

33.38% 

38.57% 

6.71% 

0% 

9.94% 

11.40% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

7.77 

0.00 

5.40 

24.68 

26.68 

64.53 

97.20% 

0% 

100% 

79.53% 

99.33% 

80.20% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

8.97 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

2.94 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

1.88 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

1.61 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

1.27 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

10.35% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.52 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0 

As a % of GDP 

0% 

216 
217 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

80 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

1.12 

0.86 

0.24 

0 

0.02 

As a % of 
GDP218 

1.11% 

0.86% 

0.24% 

0% 

0.02% 

Hungary 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

-0.86% 

-0.89% 

0.04% 

0% 

-0.002% 

1.58% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

1.33% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.22% 

0.000% 

0.024% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend219 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Coal 

Financial services 

Sectoral aid 

€ million 

606.40 

32.38 

13.54 

248.70 

164.69 

9.86 

137.24 

253.10 

0 

0 

Manufacturing sectors 

253.10 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

0 

0 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

0.60% 

0.03% 

0.01% 

0.25% 

0.16% 

0.01% 

0.13% 

0.25% 

0% 

0% 

0.25% 

0% 

0% 

70.55% 

3.77% 

1.58% 

28.94% 

19.16% 

1.15% 

15.97% 

29.45% 

0% 

0% 

29.45% 

0% 

0% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

8.87 

164.69 

162.19 

0 

1.58 

337.32 

89.93% 

100% 

65.21% 

0% 

4.87% 

55.63% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

10.33 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

2.24 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

1.05 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

0.72 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

2.23% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

9.72 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.006 

As a % of GDP 

0.006% 

218 
219 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

81 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

0.10 

0.09 

0.00 

0 

0.01 

As a % of 
GDP220 

1.60% 

1.43% 

0.07% 

0% 

0.09% 

Malta 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.21% 

0.29% 

-0.10% 

0% 

0.03% 

2.40% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

2.17% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.16% 

0.0004% 

0.07% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend221 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

€ million 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

41.24 

2.10 

0 

23.80 

10.55 

0.09 

4.70 

50.77 

0 

0 

48.05 

0 

2.72 

0.64% 

0.03% 

0% 

0.37% 

0.16% 

0.001% 

0.07% 

0.79% 

0% 

0% 

0.75% 

0% 

0.04% 

44.82% 

2.28% 

0% 

25.87% 

11.47% 

0.10% 

5.11% 

55.18% 

0% 

0% 

52.22% 

0% 

2.96% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

0.09 

10.55 

23.70 

0 

0.50 

34.84 

100% 

100% 

99.58% 

0.00 

23.81% 

84.48% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

0 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

0 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

0 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

0 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

0% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.04 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0 

As a % of GDP 

0% 

220 
221 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

82 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

Netherlands 

EU-27 

€ bn 

2.67 

1.78 

0.59 

4.33 

0.19 

As a % of 
GDP222 

0.44% 

0.30% 

0.10% 

0.001% 

0.03% 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

-0.02% 

-0.02% 

-0.01% 

-0.0002% 

-0.0004% 

Trend  

€ bn 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.46% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.30% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.11% 

0.001% 

0.03% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend223 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

€ million 

1777.19 

668.45 

975.53 

14.27 

2.37 

34.07 

82.49 

6.00 

0 

6.00 

0 

0 

0 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

0.30% 

0.11% 

0.16% 

0.002% 

0.0004% 

0.01% 

0.01% 

0.001% 

0% 

0.001% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

99.66% 

37.49% 

54.71% 

0.80% 

0.13% 

1.91% 

4.63% 

0.34% 

0% 

0.34% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

30.74 

2.37 

14.27 

10.24 

50.74 

108.36 

90.21% 

100% 

100% 

1.05% 

7.59% 

6.10% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

313.33 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

28.11 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

71.40 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

53.63 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

36.92 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

15.80% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.00 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.015 

As a % of GDP 

0.0025% 

222 
223 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

83 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

1.71 

1.51 

0.19 

0 

0.01 

As a % of 
GDP224 

0.57% 

0.50% 

0.06% 

0% 

0.002% 

Austria 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

-0.12% 

-0.12% 

0.0007% 

0% 

0.0008% 

0.76% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.58% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.06% 

0% 

0.12% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend225 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

€ million 

1505.56 

265.02 

940.35 

122.85 

28.65 

120.29 

28.42 

6.15 

0 

0 

4.78 

0 

1.36 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

0.50% 

0.09% 

0.31% 

0.04% 

0.01% 

0.04% 

0.01% 

0.002% 

0% 

0% 

0.002% 

0% 

0.0005% 

99.59% 

17.53% 

62.20% 

8.13% 

1.89% 

7.96% 

1.88% 

0.41% 

0% 

0% 

0.32% 

0% 

0.09% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

116.16 

28.65 

114.33 

509.48 

8.27 

776.88 

96.57% 

100% 

93.06% 

54.18% 

3.12% 

51.60% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

94.24 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

3.33 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

21.74 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

19.92 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

12.45 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

9.01% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

10.18 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.004 

As a % of GDP 

0.001% 

224 
225 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

84 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

2.82 

2.13 

0.68 

0 

0.01 

As a % of 
GDP226 

0.76% 

0.58% 

0.18% 

0% 

0.004% 

Poland 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

-0.17% 

-0.17% 

-0.01% 

0% 

0.0003% 

0.93% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.73% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.19% 

0% 

0.01% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend227 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

€ million 

1521.79 

27.41 

143.42 

536.91 

773.06 

9.30 

31.68 

607.02 

98.93 

0 

13.74 

458.95 

35.40 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

0.41% 

0.01% 

0.04% 

0.15% 

0.21% 

0.003% 

0.01% 

0.16% 

0.03% 

0% 

0.004% 

0.12% 

0.01% 

71.49% 

1.29% 

6.74% 

25.22% 

36.31% 

0.44% 

1.49% 

28.51% 

4.65% 

0% 

0.65% 

21.56% 

1.66% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

2.15 

773.06 

207.83 

2.90 

27.41 

1013.36 

23.11% 

100% 

38.71% 

2.02% 

100% 

66.59% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

67.78 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

0.00 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

0% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.25 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0 

As a % of GDP 

0% 

226 
227 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

85 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

1.77 

1.75 

0.00 

3.87 

0.01 

As a % of 
GDP228 

1.03% 

1.02% 

0.001% 

0.002% 

0.005% 

Portugal 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.15% 

0.16% 

-0.004% 

0.0002% 

-0.001% 

1.66% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

1.64% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.01% 

0.002% 

0.01% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend229 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

€ million 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

538.11 

176.34 

2.44 

211.97 

82.02 

64.10 

1.24 

1211.00 

Coal 

0 

Financial services 

1210.40 

Manufacturing sectors 

0.60 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

0 

0 

0.31% 

0.10% 

0.00% 

0.12% 

0.05% 

0.04% 

0.0003% 

0.71% 

0% 

0.71% 

0.0004% 

0% 

0% 

30.76% 

10.08% 

0.14% 

12.12% 

4.69% 

3.66% 

0.07% 

69.24% 

0% 

69.20% 

0.03% 

0% 

0% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

63.98 

12.08 

77.72 

2.44 

175.83 

332.05 

99.81% 

14.73% 

36.67% 

100% 

99.71% 

61.71% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

76.98 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

2.24 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

8.97 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

11.90 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

11.02 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

9.04% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.75 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.16 

As a % of GDP 

0.09% 

228 
229 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

86 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

€ bn 

0.55 

0.28 

0.26 

0 

As a % of 
GDP230 

0.40% 

0.21% 

0.19% 

0% 

Romania 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

0.17% 

0.05% 

0.12% 

0% 

Transport 

0.003 

0.002% 

-0.0004% 

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.43% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.17% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.26% 

0% 

0.01% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend231 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

€ million 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Coal 

Financial services 

Sectoral aid 

282.13 

4.46 

136.81 

136.52 

0.59 

2.83 

0.92 

0.84 

0 

0 

0.21% 

0.003% 

0.10% 

0.10% 

0.0004% 

0.002% 

0.0007% 

0.001% 

0% 

0% 

Manufacturing sectors 

0.84 

0.0006% 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

0 

0 

0% 

0% 

99.70% 

1.58% 

48.35% 

48.24% 

0.21% 

1.00% 

0.32% 

0.30% 

0% 

0% 

0.30% 

0% 

0% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

2.83 

0.59 

108.06 

0 

0.87 

112.36 

100% 

100% 

79.15% 

0% 

19.61% 

39.83% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

0.00 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

0% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.42 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0 

As a % of GDP 

0% 

230 
231 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

87 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

0.40 

0.33 

0.07 

0 

0.00 

As a % of 
GDP232 

1.11% 

0.91% 

0.19% 

0% 

0.007% 

Slovenia 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.08% 

0.13% 

-0.02% 

0% 

-0.03% 

1.12% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.89% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.20% 

0% 

0.03% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend233 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

€ million 

312.12 

73.47 

69.02 

134.02 

13.45 

3.06 

19.11 

13.42 

10.89 

0 

2.53 

0 

0 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

0.88% 

0.21% 

0.19% 

0.38% 

0.04% 

0.01% 

0.06% 

0.04% 

0.03% 

0% 

0.007% 

0% 

0% 

95.88% 

22.57% 

21.20% 

41.17% 

4.13% 

0.94% 

5.87% 

4.12% 

3.34% 

0% 

0.78% 

0% 

0% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

3.04 

13.45 

127.12 

0.08 

10.19 

153.87 

99.41% 

100% 

94.85% 

0.12% 

13.87% 

49.30% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

12.63 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

1.00 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

2.15 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

1.80 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

6.73% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

1.32 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.2 

As a % of GDP 

0.55% 

232 
233 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

88 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

0.17 

0.16 

0.01 

0 

0.00 

As a % of 
GDP234 

0.25% 

0.23% 

0.01% 

0.0001% 

0.001% 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

€ million 

153.91 

14.38 

22.39 

113.22 

2.24 

0.78 

0.90 

6.35 

0.00 

0 

0 

0 

Slovakia 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

-0.21% 

-0.13% 

-0.07% 

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.42% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.33% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.07% 

0.00004% 

0.00009% 

-0.01% 

0.01% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

Trend235 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

0.22% 

0.02% 

0.03% 

0.16% 

0.00% 

0.001% 

0.00% 

0.01% 

0.000004% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

96.04% 

8.97% 

13.97% 

70.65% 

1.40% 

0.49% 

0.56% 

3.96% 

0.00% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

3.96% 

Other services 

6.35 

0.009% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

0.78 

1.31 

36.07 

0 

9.11 

47.27 

100% 

58.52% 

31.86% 

0% 

63.35% 

30.71% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

3.46 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

0.00 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

0.00% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.40 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.005 

As a % of GDP 

0.007% 

234 
235 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

89 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

2.34 

1.06 

1.19 

1.52 

0.09 

As a % of 
GDP236 

1.24% 

0.56% 

0.63% 

0.001% 

0.05% 

Finland 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.08% 

0.12% 

-0.05% 

0.0001% 

0.002% 

1.22% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.49% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.67% 

0.001% 

0.06% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend237 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

€ million 

1056.27 

276.39 

497.16 

57.99 

105.49 

52.65 

66.59 

4.30 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.56% 

0.15% 

0.26% 

0.03% 

0.06% 

0.03% 

0.02% 

0.002% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

99.59% 

26.06% 

46.88% 

5.47% 

9.95% 

4.96% 

6.28% 

0.41% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.41% 

Other services 

4.30 

0.002% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

33.11 

69.58 

52.89 

0.71 

2.29 

158.58 

62.89% 

65.96% 

91.21% 

0.14% 

0.83% 

15.01% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

54.00 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0.12 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

0.06 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

0.00 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

0.00 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

0.06% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

0.49 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.027 

As a % of GDP 

0.014% 

236 
237 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

90 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

Transport 

€ bn 

3.02 

2.79 

0.04 

3.06 

0.19 

As a % of 
GDP238 

0.78% 

0.72% 

0.01% 

0.001% 

0.05% 

Sweden 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

Trend  

€ bn 

EU-27 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

-0.04% 

-0.03% 

-0.004% 

0.0001% 

-0.006% 

0.83% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.76% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.02% 

0.001% 

0.05% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend239 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

€ million 

2777.41 

109.60 

2474.52 

90.48 

23.19 

2.10 

77.52 

12.29 

0 

0 

0 

12.29 

0 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

0.72% 

0.03% 

0.64% 

0.02% 

0.01% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

0.003% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.003% 

0% 

99.56% 

3.93% 

88.70% 

3.24% 

0.83% 

0.08% 

2.78% 

0.44% 

0% 

0% 

0% 

0.44% 

0% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

2.10 

22.92 

46.29 

567.68 

3.39 

642.38 

100% 

98.85% 

51.16% 

22.94% 

3.09% 

23.13% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

161.56 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

0.54 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

14.79 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

19.92 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

14.02 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

5.35% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

1.28 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.66 

As a % of GDP 

0.17% 

238 
239 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

91 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
United Kingdom 

EU-27 

KEY STATE AID DATA (2010) 

Total non-crisis aid 

Non-crisis  aid  to 
services 

Agriculture 

industry  and 

Fisheries and aquaculture 

As a % of 
GDP240 

0.27% 

0.24% 

0.02% 

Difference 
when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP)  

-0.05% 

-0.04% 

-0.01% 

0.00008% 

-0.00001% 

€ bn 

4.80 

4.18 

0.30 

1.45 

Transport 

0.307 

0.018% 

-0.0001% 

Trend  

€ bn 

As a % 
of EU 
GDP 

Difference when 
compared to 
previous year 
(in % of GDP) 

0.31% 

64.3 

0.5% 

-0.06% 

0.26% 

52.96 

0.42% 

-0.06% 

0.02% 

0.000% 

0.02% 

8.72 

0.11 

2.22 

0.07% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

-0.003% 

-0.0002% 

-0.002% 

Trend241 

0.58% 

0.48% 

0.08% 

0.001% 

0.02% 

Non-crisis aid to industry and services 

Horizontal aid 

Research, development and innovation 

Environmental aid 

Regional aid 

Employment & training 

SMEs 

Other horizontal objectives 

Sectoral aid 

Coal 

Financial services 

Manufacturing sectors 

Other non-manufacturing sectors 

Other services 

€ million 

3779.20 

891.83 

1398.19 

307.16 

64.64 

772.94 

344.44 

399.92 

0 

0 

0.52 

275.04 

124.36 

As a % of GDP 

As a % of aid to industry and services 

0.22% 

0.05% 

0.08% 

0.02% 

0.004% 

0.04% 

0.02% 

0.023% 

0% 

0% 

0.00003% 

0.016% 

0.007% 

90.43% 

21.34% 

33.46% 

7.35% 

1.55% 

18.50% 

8.24% 

9.57% 

0% 

0% 

0.01% 

6.58% 

2.98% 

Block-exempted aid 

in € million 

As % of aid to industry and services earmarked for the same horizontal objective 

SMEs 

Employment & training 

Regional aid 

Environmental aid  

Other 

Total 

163.80 

63.72 

301.76 

305.12 

132.72 

967.12 

21.19% 

98.57% 

98.24% 

21.82% 

14.88% 

25.59% 

State aid for the financial sector 

Total volume of aid approved 
 (2008 to 01.10.2012; all figures in 
 € billion) 

873.34 

Amount 
used 
(2008) 

77.96 

Amount 
used 
(2009) 

212.15 

Amount 
used 
(2010) 

198.72 

Amount 
used 
(2012) 

88.23 

Overall amount used in the 
years 2009-2012 (as a % of 
2011 GDP) 

17.15% 

AID GRANTED UNDER THE TEMPORARY UNION FRAMEWORK 

Total volume of aid approved 
(2009-2011; all figures in € billion) 

10.10 

Amount used 
(2011) 

0.0005 

As a % of GDP 

0.00003% 

240 
241 

GDP of the Member State. 
Average level of aid as a % of GDP during the period 2008-2010. 

EN 

92 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
Figure 47: Legislation and communications adopted since the last report 

Legislative act 

Validity 

Title and OJ Reference 

Temporary rules in 
response to crisis 

From 01.01.2012 

Communication from the Commission on the application, from 1 
January 2012, of State aid rules to support measures in favour of 
banks in the context of the financial crisis. Official Journal C 356, 
6.12.2011, p. 7 

Shipbuilding 

01.01.2012- 
31.12.2013 

Framework  on  State  aid  for  shipbuilding.  Official  Journal  C364, 
14.12.2011, p. 9 

Services of general 
economic interest 

From 31.01.2012 

Services of general 
economic interest 

From 31.01.2012 

Services of general 
economic interest 

From 31.01.2012 

Services of general 
economic interest 

29.04.2012- 
31.12.2018 

Temporary rules in 
response to crisis 

From 01.01.2012 

Communication  from  the  Commission  on  the  application  of  the 
European  Union  State  aid  rules  to  compensation  granted  for  the 
provision of services of general economic interest. Official Journal 
C8, 11.01.2012, p. 4 

Commission  Decision  of  20  December  on  the  application  of 
Article  106(2)  of  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European 
Union  to  State  aid  in  the  form  of  public  service  compensation 
granted  to  certain  undertakings  entrusted  with  the  operation  of 
services  of  general  economic  interest.  Official  Journal  L7, 
11.01.2012, p. 3 

Communication 
framework  for  State  aid 
compensation (2011). Official Journal C8, 11.01.2012, p. 15 

the  Commission,  European  Union 
the  form  of  public  service 

from 

in 

Commission Regulation on the application of Articles 107 and 108 
of  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union  to  de 
minimis aid granted to undertakings providing services of general 
economic interest. Official Journal L 114, 26.4.2012, p. 8 

Communication from the Commission on the application, from 1 
January 2012, of State aid rules to support measures in favour of 
banks in the context of the financial crisis. Official Journal C 356, 
6.12.2011, p. 7 

* No end of validity is specified in the text. 

EN 

93 

   EN 

 
FIGURES 48: RECOVERY 

Figure  48  a:  Trend  in  the  number  of  recovery  decisions  (aid  to  industry  and  services) 

and amounts to be recovered242 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

Total 

No. of 
decisions 
adopted 

No. of 
decisions 
closed 

Total aid 
known to be 
recovered 
(€ million) - 
(A) 

Amounts 
recovered 
(without 
interests) 
(€ million) - 
(B) - of 
which: 

(a) Principal 
reimbursed/or 
in blocked 
account 

(b) Aid lost in 
bankrupcty 

Amount 
oustanding (A-
B) 

% still 
pending to 
be recovered 

Aid and 
interests 
registered in 
bankruptcy 

Recovery 
interests 

15 

19 

26 

10 

24 

13 

8 

10 

13 

7 

6 

12 

9 

172 

15 

13 

25 

9 

22 

12 

6 

7 

9 

3 

3 

3 

1 

128 

358 

1602 

2120 

1131 

4983 

429 

256 

167 

2610 

76 

149 

198 

1717 

15796 

352 

1352 

2068 

997 

4976 

400 

245 

56 

2057 

51 

120 

0 

847 

13520 

137 

1263 

2000 

954 

4105 

400 

200 

54 

1075 

51 

120 

0 

847 

11205 

215 

88 

68 

43 

871 

0 

45 

2 

982 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2315 

6 

251 

52 

134 

7 

29 

11 

111 

553 

25 

29 

198 

870 

2276 

1.7%  15.6% 

2.5%  11.8% 

0.1% 

6.8%  4.3%  66.5%  21.2%  32.9%  19.5%  100.0%  50.7% 

14.4% 

0 

11 

3 

5 

0 

8 

0 

216 

415 

20 

29 

85 

237 

1028 

9 

218 

364 

357 

1446 

95 

51 

17 

331 

7 

28 

0 

102 

3024 

242 

Source: DG Competition; 2000-2012; State of play: 30 June 2012. 

EN 

94 

   EN 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
                                                 
Figure 48 b: Pending recovery decisions243 

Case 
number 

Procedure 

Working title 

Member 
State 

Decision 
date 

Number of 
the decision 

OJ 

SA.30584  2012/CR 

State aid to Malév 

Hungary 

09.01.2012 

SA.17653  2012/CR 

Deutsche Post 

Germany 

25.01.2012 

SA.28809  2012/CR 

Municipality of 
Vänersborg 

Sweden 

08.02.2012 

SA.27420  C12/2009 

Osuuskunta Karjaportti  Finland 

12.06.2012 

SA.12522  2012/CR 

Sernam S.A. 

France 

09.03.2012 

SA.25051  2012/CR 

Zweckverband 
Tierkörperbeseitigung 

Germany 

25.04.2012 

SA.22668  2012/CR 

Ciudad de la Luz 
Studios 

Spain 

08.05.2012 

SA.26534  2011/CR 

United Textiles S.A. 

Greece 

21.02.2012 

SA.21654  2011/CR 

Public commercial 
property Aland 
Industrihus 

SA.26117  2011/CR 

Alleged aid to 
Aluminium of Greece 

SA.28903  2011/CR 

SA.32600  2011/CR 

SA.27386  2011/CR 

SA.28973  2011/CR 

Deferral and 
rescheduling of 
liabilities of Ruse 
Industry 

Restructuring aid to 
SeaFrance SA 

Short-term export 
credit 

Aid to certain Greek 
casinos 

Finland 

13.07.2011 

Greece 

13.07.2011 

2012/340/EU  OJ L 166 , 

Bulgaria 

13.07.2011 

France 

24.10.2011 

Portugal 

24.11.2011 

27.06.2012, 
p. 83 

Not yet 
published 

OJ L 195, 
21.07.2012, 
p. 1 

Not yet 
published 

Greece 

24.05.2011 

2011/717/EU  OJ L 285, 

SA.23011  2011/CR 

Restructuring aid for 
Legler 

Italy 

23.03.2011 

2012/52/EU 

Not yet 
published 

Not yet 
published 

OJ L 10, 
09.06.2012, 
p.78 

Not yet 
published 

OJ L 195, 
21.07.2012, p. 
19 

OJ L 236, 
01.09.2012, 
p. 1 

Not yet 
published 

OJ L 279, 
12.10. 2012, 
p. 30 

OJ L 125, 
12.05.2012, 
p. 33 

01.11.2011, 
p. 25 

OJ L 27, 
31.01.2012, 
p. 12 

243 

Source: DG Competition. 

EN 

95 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Case 
number 

Procedure 

Working title 

Member 
State 

Decision 
date 

Number of 
the decision 

OJ 

SA.23602  CR 48/2008 

SA.20168  CR 13/2006 

SA.29150  CR 7/2010 

SA.22309  CR 46/2011 

Alleged aid to mining 
company Ellenikos 
Xrysos 

Preferential electricity 
tariffs for energy 
intensive industry in 
Sardinia  

Easing of carry-
forward of losses for 
tax purposes 
(Sanierungklausel) 

Amortisation of 
financial goodwill for 
acquisitions of foreign 
targets II 

Greece 

23.02.2011 

2011/452/EU  OJ L 193, 

23.07.2011, 
p. 27 

Italy 

23.02.2011 

2011/747/EU  OJ L 309, 

24.11.2011, 
p. 1 

Germany 

26.01.2011 

2011/526/EU  OJ L 235, 

10.09.2011, 
p. 1 

Spain  

12.01.2011 

2011/282/EU  OJ L 135, 

21.05.2011, 
p. 1 

SA.4360  CR 38/2010 

Centre d'exportation du 
livre français (CELF)  

France 

14.12.2010 

2011/179/EU  OJ L 78, 

24.03.2011, 
p. 37 

SA.28787  CR 33/2009 

Restructuring of BPP 

Portugal 

20.07.2010 

2011/349/EU  OJ L 235, 

04.09.2010, 
p. 26 

SA.10842  CR 4/2003 

Export aid to WAM 

Italy 

24.03.2010 

2010/473/EU  OJ L 235, 

SA.20850  CR 36/2010 

SA.22309  CR 45/2007 

Preferential electricity 
tariff in favour of 
Alcoa 

Amortisation of 
financial goodwill for 
acquisitions of foreign 
targets  

Italy 

19.11.2009 

2010/460/EC  OJ L 227, 

04.09.2010, 
p. 26 

Spain 

28.10.2009 

2011/5/EC 

28.08.2010, 
p. 62 

OJ L 7, 
11.01.2011 
p. 48 

SA.20616  CR 59/2007 

Rescue aid to Ixfin 

Italy 

28.10.2009 

2010/359/EC  OJ L 167, 

01.07.2010, 
p. 39 

SA.22046  CR 19/2008 

Rescue aid for 
Sandretto 

Italy 

30.09.2009 

2010/215/EC  OJ L 92, 

13.04.2010, 
p. 19 

SA.21034  CR 55/2007 

BT Group plc 

UK 

11.02.2009 

2009/703/EC  OJ L 242, 

SA.17543  CR 17/2005 

Restructuring aid for 
Gdynia shipyard 

Poland 

06.11.2008 

2010/47/EC 

EN 

96 

15.09.2009, 
p. 21 

OJ L 33, 
04.02.2010, 
p. 1 

   EN 

 
Case 
number 

Procedure 

Working title 

Member 
State 

Decision 
date 

Number of 
the decision 

OJ 

SA.24639  2011/CR 

Olympic Airways/ 
Olympic Airlines 

Greece 

17.09.2008 

2010/7777/EC  OJ L 222, 

24.08.2010, 
p. 62 

SA.14895  CR 1/2004 

Regional Law No 9/98 

Italy 

02.07.2008 

2008/854/EC  OJ L 302, 

13.11.2008, 
p. 9 

SA.15526  CR 16/2004 

Hellenic Shipyards 

Greece 

02.07.2008 

2009/610/EC  OJ L 225, 

27.08.2009, 
p. 104 

SA.20727  CR 56/2006 

Bank Burgenland 

Austria 

30.04.2008 

2008/719/EC  OJ L 239, 

06.09.2008, 
p. 32 

SA.20618  CR 13/2007 

Rescue aid to New 
Interline 

Italy 

16.04.2008 

2008/697/EC  OJ L 235, 

02.09.2008, 
p. 12 

SA.20056  CR 38/2007 

Alleged aid to Arbel 
Fauvet Rail SA 

France 

02.04.2008 

2008/716/EC  OJ L 238, 

05.09.2008, 
p. 27 

SA.20949  CR 23/2006 

Technologie Buczek 

Poland 

24.10.2007 

2008/344/EC  OJ L 116, 

SA.17066  CR 37/2005 

SA.31614  CR 3/2010 

Tax-exempt reserve 
fund for certain 
companies 

Sardinia Ferries 
(Tourship Group) 

Greece 

18.07.2007 

2008/723/EC  OJ L 244, 

30.04.2008, 
p. 26 

Italy  

10.07.2007 

2008/92/EC 

12.09.2008, 
p. 11 

OJ L 29, 
02.02.2008, 
p. 24 

SA.20203  CR 16/2006 

Restructuring aid to 
Nuova Mineraria Silius 

Italy 

21.02.2007 

2007/499/EC  OJ L 185, 

17.07.2007, 
p. 18 

SA.11981  CR 79/2001 

SA.12186  CR 80/2001 

Exemption from excise 
duty for the production 
of alumina in Gardanne 

Exemption from excise 
duty for the production 
of alumina in Sardinia 

France 

07.02.2007 

2007/375/EC  OJ L 147, 

08.06.2007, 
p. 29 

Italy 

07.02.2007 

2007/375/EC  OJ L 147, 

SA.16212  CR 38/2005 

Biria Gruppe 

Germany 

24.01.2007 

2007/492/EC 

14.12.2010 

2011/471/EU 

08.06.2007, 
p. 29 

OJ L 183, 
13.07.2007, 
p. 27 

OJ L 195, 
27.07.2011, 
p. 55 

EN 

97 

   EN 

 
Case 
number 

Procedure 

Working title 

Member 
State 

Decision 
date 

Number of 
the decision 

OJ 

SA.17075  CR 30/2005 

Restructuring aid to 
Kliq NV 

Netherlands 

19.07.2006 

2006/939/EC  OJ L 366, 

21.12.2006, 
p. 40 

SA.13972  CR 2/2004 

Ad hoc financing of 
Dutch public 
broadcasters 

Netherlands 

22.06.2006 

2008/136/EC  OJ L 49, 

22.272008, 
p. 1 

SA.18211  CR 25/2005  Measures in favour of 

Slovakia 

07.06.2006 

2007/254/EC  OJ L 112, 

Frucona Kosice 

SA.15395  2011/CR 

Olympic Airways - 
privatisation 

Greece 

14.09.2005 

2011/97/EC 

30.04.2007, 
p. 14 

OJ L 45, 
18.02.2011, 
p. 1 

SA.15316  CR 12/2004 

Tax incentives for 
outward FDI 

Italy 

14.12.2004 

2005/919/EC  OJ L 335, 

21.12.2005, 
p. 39 

SA.14911  CR 57/2003 

Tremonti bis 

Italy 

20.10.2004 

2005/315/EC  OJ L 100, 

20.04.2005, 
p. 46 

SA.1365  CR 57/2002 

Article 44 septies CGI 

France 

16.12.2003 

2004/343/EC  OJ L 108, 

16.04.2004, 
p. 38 

SA.12312  CR 39/2001 

Aid to Minas Rio Tinto 
SAL 

Spain 

27.05.2003 

2004/300/EC  OJ L 098, 

02.04.2004, 
p. 49 

SA.9885  CR 94/2001 

Export aid scheme 
Mecklenburg-
Vorpommern 

SA.12402  CR 70/2001 

Aid to Hilados y 
Tejidos Puigneró S.A. 

Germany 

05.03.2003 

2003/595/EC  OJ L 202, 

09.08.2003, 
p. 15 

Spain 

19.02.2003 

2003/876/EC  OJ L 337, 

23.12.2003, 
p. 14 

SA.10375  CR 35/2002 

Tax aid scheme – 
Azores 

Portugal 

11.12.2002 

2003/442/EC  OJ L 150, 

18.06.2003, 
p. 52 

SA.9950  CR 27/1999 

Aid to public 
municipalities 

Italy 

05.06.2002 

2003/193/EC  OJ L 077, 

24.03.2003, 
p. 21 

SA.10562  CR 53/1999 

Tax aid - Province of 
Guipuzcoa (II) 

Spain 

11.07.2001 

2002/894/EC  OJ L 314, 

SA.10679  CR 54/1999 

Tax aid - Province of 
Vizcaya (II) 

Spain 

11.07.2001 

2003/27/EC 

EN 

98 

18.11.2002, 
p. 26 

OJ L 017, 
22.01.2003, 
p. 1 

   EN 

 
Case 
number 

Procedure 

Working title 

Member 
State 

Decision 
date 

Number of 
the decision 

OJ 

SA.10563  CR 52/1999 

Tax aid - Province of 
Vizcaya (I) 

Spain 

11.07.2001 

2002/806/EC  OJ L 279, 

17.10.2002, 
p. 35 

SA.10565  CR 50/1999 

Tax aid - Province of 
Guipuzcoa (I) 

Spain 

11.07.2001 

2002/540/EC  OJ L 174, 

04.07.2002, 
p. 31 

SA.10264  CR 48/1999 

Tax aid - Province of 
Alava (I) 

Spain 

11.07.2001 

2002/820/EC  OJ L 296, 

30.10.2002, 
p. 1 

SA.10564  CR 49/1999 

Tax aid - Province of 
Alava (II) 

Spain 

11.07.2001 

2002/892/EC  OJ L 314, 

18.11.2002, 
p. 1 

SA.6281  CR 41/1999 

SA.813 

CR 38/1998 

SA.9440  CR 81/1997 

SA.9398  CR 49/1998 

Aid to Lintra 
beteiligungsholding 
GmbH 

Aid for Kimberly 
Clark/Scott Group 

Social security 
reductions - Venice 
and Chioggia 

Employment aid 
measures  
(Law No 196/97) 

Germany 

28.03.2001 

2001/673/EC  OJ L 236, 

France 

12.07.2000 

2002/14/EC 

05.09.2001, 
p. 3 

OJ L 012, 
15.01.2002, 
p. 1 

Italy 

25.11.1999 

2000/394/EC  OJ L 150, 

23.06.2000, 
p. 50 

Italy 

11.05.1999 

2000/128/EC  OJ L 042, 

15.02.2000, 
p. 1 

SA.8989  CR 44/1997 

Aid to Magefesa 

Spain 

14.10.1998 

1999/509/EC  OJ L 198, 

30.07.1999, 
p. 15 

EN 

99 

   EN 

 
 
Figure 48 c: Pending recovery cases in which the Commission has decided to bring the 
matter before the Court of Justice and in which the illegal and incompatible aid 
has not yet been recovered (30 June 2012)244 

Case 
number 

Procedure 

Working title 

Member 
State 

Court case 

State of play and recent 
developments 

SA.813 

CR 38/1998   Aid  for  Kimberly  Clark/Scott 

France 

C-232/05 

Group 

SA.1365 

CR 57/2002 

Exonérations fiscales en faveur 
de  la  reprise  d'entreprises  en 
difficulté  -  Article  44  septies 
CGI 

France 

 C-214/07 

SA.20056  CR 38/2007  Alleged  aid  to  Arbel  Fauvet 

France 

Rail SA 

05/10/06:  CoJ  finds  against 
France  for  failing  to  comply 
with Commission decision 

24/10/06: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 108(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
France  

Press release: IP/06/1471 

13/11/08:  CoJ  finds  against 
France  for  failing  to  comply 
with Commission decision 

05/05/10: Commission sends 
letter  of  formal  notice  to 
France  under  Art.  260(2) 
TFEU: IP/10/529 

Commission 
30/09/2011: 
sends a complementary letter 
of  formal  notice  to  France 
under Art. 260(2) TFEU 

28/10/09: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 108(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
France  

Press release: IP/09/1627 

23/06/2010: 
Commission 
adopts new negative decision 

19/10/11: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 108(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
France  

Press release: IP/11/1209 

244 

Source: DG Competition. 

EN 

100 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
                                                 
Case 
number 

Procedure 

Working title 

Member 
State 

Court case 

State of play and recent 
developments 

SA.17066  CR 37/2005 

Tax-exempt reserve fund 

Greece 

C-354/10 

SA.15526  CR 16/2004  Hellenic Shipyards 

Greece 

C-485/10 

SA.20850  CR 36/2010 

Preferential  electricity  tariff  – 
Alcoa 

Italy 

SA.9398 

CR 49/1998   Employment 

aid  measures 

Italy 

C-99/02 

(Law No 196/97) 

24/02/10: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 108(2) 
TFEU  proceeding  against 
Greece  

Press release: IP/10/183 

1/03/12:  CoJ  finds  against 
Greece  for  failing  to  comply 
with Commission decision 

14/04/10: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 108(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
Greece  

Press release: IP/10/428 

1/12/2010: 
Commission 
adopts  decision  taking  into 
account  Greece's  reliance  on 
Article 346 

Press release: IP/10/1637 

28/06/12:  CoJ  finds  against 
Greece  for  failing  to  comply 
with Commission decision 

23/03/11: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 108(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
Italy 

Press release: IP/11/352 

01/04/04:  CoJ  finds  against 
Italy  for  failing  to  comply 
with Commission decision 

19/07/07: Commission sends 
letter  of  formal  notice  to 
Italy 

21/01/08:Commission 
decides 
opinion to Italy 

to  send  reasoned 

25/06/2009: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 260(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
Italy 

Press release: IP/11/1028 

17/11/11:  CoJ  finds  against 
Italy  for  failing  to  comply 
with Commission decision 

EN 

101 

   EN 

 
 
 
Case 
number 

Procedure 

Working title 

Member 
State 

Court case 

State of play and recent 
developments 

SA.9950 

CR 27/1999   Aid to public utilities 

Italy 

C-207/05 

01/06/06:  CoJ  finds  against 
Italy  for  failing  to  comply 
with Commission decision 

19/07/07: Commission sends 
letter  of  formal  notice  to 
Italy 

21/01/08: 
decides 
opinion to Italy 

Commission 
to  send  reasoned 

to 

Commission 
05/05/10: 
send 
decides 
complementary 
of 
formal  notice  under  Art. 
206(2) TFEU 

letter 

SA.14911  CR 57/2003 

Tremonti bis 

Italy 

C-303/09 

SA.9440 

CR 81/1997 

Social security reductions – 
Venice and Chioggia 

Italy 

C-302/09 

28/10/10: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 260(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
Italy 

Press release: IP/10/1401 

Commission 
25/01/06: 
decides to initiate Art. 108(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
Italy  

Press release: IP/06/77 

11/03/08: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 108(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
Italy 

14/07/11:  CoJ  finds  against 
Italy  for  failing  to  comply 
with Commission decision 

10/05/07: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 108(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
Italy  

Press release: IP/07/648 

11/03/08: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 108(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
Italy 

6/10/11:  CoJ  finds  against 
Italy  for  failing  to  comply 
with Commission decision 

EN 

102 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
Case 
number 

Procedure 

Working title 

Member 
State 

Court case 

State of play and recent 
developments 

SA.15316  CR 12/2004 

Tax incentives for outward FDI 

Italy 

C-305/09 

SA.20618  CR 13/2007 

Rescue  aid  to  New  Interline 
SPA 

Italy 

C-454/09 

SA.14895  CR 1/2004 

Regional Law No 9/98 – 
misuse of aid 

Italy 

C-243/10 

SA.18211  CR 25/2005 

Measures in favour of Frucona 
Kosice 

Slovakia  C-507/08 

11/03/08: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 108(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
Italy 

Press release: IP/08/435  

05/05/11:  CoJ  finds  against 
Italy  for  failing  to  comply 
with Commission decision 

25/11/09: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 108(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
Italy 

Press release: IP/09/1140 

13/11/11:  CoJ  finds  against 
Italy  for  failing  to  comply 
with Commission decision 

27/01/10: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 108(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
Italy 

Press release: IP/10/103 

29/03/12:  CoJ  finds  against 
Italy  for  failing  to  comply 
with Commission decision 

17/06/08: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 108(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
Slovakia 

Press release: IP/08/952 

22/12/10:  CoJ  finds  against 
Slovakia 
to 
comply  with  Commission 
decision 

failing 

for 

EN 

103 

   EN 

 
 
Case 
number 

Procedure 

Working title 

Member 
State 

Court case 

State of play and recent 
developments 

SA.8989 

CR 44/1997  Aid to Magefesa 

Spain 

C-499/99 

C-610/10 

02/07/02:  CoJ  finds  against 
Spain  for  failing  to  comply 
with  part  of  Commission 
decision 

17/06/09: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 108(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
Spain 

Press release: IP/09/960 

19/11/09: Commission sends 
letter  of  formal  notice  to 
Spain 

Press release: IP/09/1789 

to 

Commission 
18/03/10: 
send 
decides 
complementary 
of 
formal  notice  under  Art. 
206(2) TFEU 

letter 

SA.10264. 

CR 48/1999 

Tax aid – Province of Alava (I) 

Spain 

C-485/03. 

SA.10564. 

CR 49/1999 

Tax aid - Province of Alava (II) 

SA.10565. 

CR 50/1999 

SA.10563. 

CR 52/1999 

SA.10562. 

CR 53/1999 

SA.10679 

CR 54/1999 

Tax aid – Province of 
Guipuzcoa (I) 

Tax aid – Province of Vizcaya 
(I) 

Tax aid - Province of 
Guipuzcoa (II) 

Tax aid - Province of Vizcaya 
(II)  

(Basque tax aid schemes) 

SA.31614  CR 3/2010  

Sardinian shipping sector 

IT 

C-486/03. 

C 487/03. 

C-488/03. 

C-489/03. 

C-490/03. 

C-184/11 

SA.23602  CR/2012 

Ellenikos Xrysos 

EL 

30/09/10: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 260(2) 
proceedings against Spain 

Press release: IP/10/1214 

14/12/06:  CoJ  finds  against 
Spain  for  failing  to  comply 
with Commission decisions 

26/06/08: 
decides 
opinion to Spain 

Commission 
to  send  reasoned 

24/11/10: 
Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 260(2) 
TFEU  proceedings  against 
Spain 

Press release: IP/10/1544 

19/10/11: Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 
108(2) TFEU proceedings 
Italy 

Press release: IP/11/1210 

23/11/11: Commission 
decides to initiate Art. 
108(2) TFEU proceedings 
against Greece 

EN 

104 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EN 

105 

   EN 

 
Summary of rules in the transport sector 

Land transport (road, rail and inland waterways) 

– 

– 

– 

Article  93  TFEU  contains  rules  for  the  compatibility  of  State  aid  in  the  area  of  coordination  of 
transport and public service obligations in transport. The Commission has consistently taken the view 
that  Article  93  constitutes  a  lex  specialis  with  respect  to  Article  107(2)  TFEU  and  Article  107(3) 
FTEU,  as  it  contains  special  rules  for  the  compatibility  of  State  aid.  In  addition,  Article  93  TFEU 
constitutes  a  lex  specialis  also  with  respect  to  Article  106(2)  TFEU,  so  that  Article  106(2)  TFEU 
cannot be applied in the area of coordination of transport and public service obligations in the inland 
transport sector245; 

Until  2  December  2009,  Article  93  was  in  practice  implemented  by  means  of  three  Council 
Regulations:  (1)  Council  Regulation  1191/69246,  (2)  Council  Regulation  1107/70247  and  (3)  Council 
Regulation  1192/69248.  As  from  3  December  2009,  Regulation  1370/07249  has  replaced  Regulations 
1191/69  and  1107/70,  Regulation  1191/69  remains  applicable  for  a  three-year  transitional  period  to 
inland freight transport; Regulation 1192/69 remains applicable; 
Community guidelines on State aid for railway undertakings, adopted on 30 April 2008250. 

Aviation 

– 

– 

Communication on the application of Articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty and Article 61 of the EEA 
agreement to State aid in the aviation sector251; 

Community  guidelines  on  financing  of  airports  and  start-up  aid  to  airlines  departing  from  regional 
airports252. 

Maritime transport 

– 

– 

– 

245 

246 

247 

248 

249 

250 
251 
252 
253 
254 
255 

Community guidelines on State aid to maritime transport253; 

Communication from the Commission providing guidance on State aid complementary to Community 
funding for the launching of the motorways of the sea254; 

Communication  from  the  Commission  providing  guidance  on  State  aid  to  ship  management 
companies.255 

See recital 17 of the Commission Decision of 28 November 2005 on the application of Article 86(2) of 
the EC Treaty to State aid in the form of public service compensation granted to certain undertakings 
entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest (OJ L 312, 29.11.2005, p. 67). 
Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 of the Council of 26 June 1969 on action by Member States concerning 
the obligations inherent in the concept of a public service in transport by rail, road and inland waterway, 
as amended. 
Regulation (EEC) No 1107/70 of the Council of 4 June 1970 on the granting of aid for transport by rail, 
road and inland waterway, as amended. 
Regulation  (EEC)  No  1192/69  on  common  rules  for  the  normalisation  of  accounts  of  railway 
undertakings,  as  amended,  is  particularly  important  from  a  State  aid  monitoring  perspective  as  it 
exempts from the notification procedure a number of different forms of compensation granted by public 
authorities to railway undertakings. 
Regulation (EC) No. 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on 
public passenger transport services by rail and by road and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) Nos. 
1191/69 and 1107/70 (OJ L 315, 3.12.2007, p. 1). 
OJ C 184, 22.7.2008, p. 13. 
OJ C 350, 10.12.1994, p. 5. 
OJ C 312, 9.12.2005, p. 1. 
OJ C 13, 17.1.2004, p. 3. 
OJ C 317, 12.12.2008, p. 10. 
OJ C 132, 11.6.2009, p. 6. 

EN 

106 

   EN 

 
                                                 
Status of reporting by Member States 

To provide Member States with a more efficient tool for transmitting annual reports on State 
aid  expenditure,  DG  Competition  together  with  DG  Agriculture  and  Rural  Development 
rolled  out  in  early  2012  a  web-based  application  (called  State  Aid  Reporting  Interactive,  or 
SARI) in which granting authorities directly encode information on state expenditure for all 
existing aid measures. Member States made use of SARI by submitting to the Commission all 
or part of their annual reports well before the 30 June deadline (see Figure 49 below)256. In 
turn, verification of reports was completed earlier, so SARI allowed Member States' granting 
authorities to also reduce their reporting burden by spending less time on individual reports. A 
shorter verification period also offers the benefit of allowing Commission staff to invest more 
time  in  analysing  the  aggregated  information  from  all  annual  reports  at  both  Member  State 
and  EU  level.  In  that  regard,  the  Commission  expects  and  encourages  Member  States  to 
exploit  the  efficiency  gains  in  future  reporting,  given  that  Member  States’  users  are  now 
familiar with SARI. 
Figure 49: Status of reporting by the 30 June deadline257 

256 

257 

In previous years, many Member States provided annual reports after the deadline since information on 
all  existing  aid  measures  had  to  be  complete  in  the  Member  State  spreadsheet,  which  did  not  allow 
partial submission of expenditure information.  
Source:  DG  Competition.  As  far  as  the  annual  reports  on  agricultural  aid  are  concerned,  20  Member 
States provided complete annual reports by the deadline. Two Member States submitted 90% of their 
cases  within  the  deadline  and  the  remainder  in  the  course  of  July  and  August.  Five  Member  States 
submitted their annual reports in July. 

EN 

107 

   EN 

 
 
                                                 
Figure 50: Status of reporting by 10 September 2012258 

The  new  tool  enabled  Member  States  to  encode  and  validate  information  on  State  aid 
expenditure  early  in  the  collection  process,  and  Figure  50  demonstrates  that  most  of  the 
Member States completed most of their annual reports by, or even ahead of, the deadline259. 
Effective communication between Commission staff and Member States’ granting authorities, 
which is organised through the new tool, helped to clarify annual reports more quickly and by 
early September most annual reports were finally validated by most Member States, as shown 
by Figure 50.  

A positive side-effect of SARI is the possibility for Member States, but also for Commission 
staff,  to  keep  a  better  record  of  remarks  and  comments  on  individual  aid  measures  and  to 
explain  the  underlying  reasons  why  an  individual  annual  report  may  show  significant 
fluctuations of expenditure between years. In that light and given the opportunity offered by 
the migration of information from spreadsheet collection towards SARI, some Member States 
carried  out  a  review  of  previous  annual  reports  and  amended  expenditure  information 
accordingly.  Thus,  total  aid  to  industry  and  services  published  in  previous  Scoreboards  for 

258 
259 

Source: DG Competition.  
Information on aid granted through tax measures, for instance, is typically provided by tax authorities at 
a  late  stage  due  to  the  fact  that  enterprises  have  long  deadlines  for  submitting  their  tax  declarations. 
Estimates of such aid also require time, another reason why the annual report may have been sent after 
the  30  June  deadline.  A  further  aspect  of  the  late  submission  of  annual  reports  is  the  fact  that  many 
users in all the Member States' granting authorities had to learn to use SARI for the first time.  

EN 

108 

   EN 

 
 
                                                 
some Member States could differ from this year’s Scoreboard more substantially than solely 
as a result of updated exchange rates or inflation.  

EN 

109 

   EN