Debate: Cohesion dimension of EU state aid and de minimis rules
Date: THURSDAY, 20 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Nicolas Schmit
Language: EN

There is a broad agreement that cohesion policy remains an essential policy, precisely to give all the regions in the European Union good opportunities. Unfortunately, we are not from the same starting point. Many regions have handicaps for geographical or other reasons, and that’s why cohesion policy is the other side of the coin of the internal market. This was conceived when… under… I think it was mainly Jacques Delors who conceived the cohesion policy. This was the approach: there is the internal market, but there is also the corrective arm, and this is the cohesion policy. I’m very grateful that has been has been supported very clearly also in this debate, because this is also the glue which keeps us together in spite of all the differences – that’s the European solidarity. Now, the question is: what are the best tools? Here, I heard many messages, very important messages, and the point is there are some differences also. How can we do best for all regions, all European regions to have the best opportunities economically, socially, job opportunities? How can we keep people in these regions? Because this is very important also, I would say, for political, for demographic, but even in some way, for strategic reasons, to keep people in these outermost regions. Now, I’ve taken the case of the fishermen. Well, I’ve checked it. There is one case, but it is not depending on state aid. It is maybe… there is another issue about the fish policy or policy in this area. But we, I, will continue to look at this. I think it is a very important element and what you have said. Well, there are some divergences also, which I have heard, because the fact is that Member States are not equal when we are talking about state aid. There are those who can give a lot of state aid and those who have less capacity to give state aid, so that’s also an issue we cannot just put aside. Now, as I have already said, the de minimis regulation is under review, and I think your remarks, your contribution, should at least be taken on board during this review. Now, I want just to recall some basic elements which are, I think, very important. First, regional aid and especially linked to investment aid – regional aid rules allow Member States now to support investments in disadvantaged areas so the most disadvantaged areas can get support from state aid. The most disadvantaged areas are automatically qualified as ‘a’-areas depending on the objective criteria (low level of GDP compared to EU average), and outermost regions are automatically considered as ‘a’-areas. For instance, SMEs can receive aid in outermost regions that covers more than 75% of the investment cost specially linked to SMEs, and we all know that the economic structures in these areas are mainly based on SMEs. ‘C’—areas can be selected by each Member State and approved by the Commission on the basis of criteria listed in the regional aid guidelines. Regional aid rules also allow for operating aid, as I have seen, and here also outermost regions can have specific regimes on operating aid.