State aid in the management of the ESIF
Commission supports Member States in implementing State aid schemes under ESI Funds
The European Commission supports national and regional authorities managing EU funds in strengthen their State aid competencies. The correct application of State aid rules can be challenging but is essential for the functioning of the Single Market, for avoiding irregularities and financial corrections and, ultimately, for quality investments.
The European Commission modernised the State aid rules by making them less bureaucratic and more transparent. However, the changes placed greater responsibility on Member States for designing and implementing aid measures. This requires a particular attention and a continuous effort in increasing awareness.
We offer support in the following areas: administrative capacity building, identification and dissemination of good practices, country-specific seminars and trainings.
Trainings on State aid in the management of the ESI Funds take place 3-6 times per year. Training material and video podcasts of the courses are available online for those who are not able to attend.
The package also includes thematic seminars covering specific sectors such as Transport, Regional Aid and SMEs, Energy , Broadband and Research, Development and Innovation (RDI). Each of them is accompanied by downloadable presentations and video material.
We also offer assistance through TAIEX REGIO PEER 2 PEER, roundtable for good practices and a dedicated pool of thematic experts.
The initiatives are all part of the updated State Aid Action Plan and contribute to Commissioner Creţu's priority to improve the way EU funds are invested and managed.
Actions
- Identification and dissemination of good practice
The objective is to develop an inventory of effective tools existing in various Member States in the area of application of state aid rules linked to the management of the ESI Funds, and to identify good practices as well as general recommendations.
- Country specific seminars
The first seminars have been organised (in 2015) in Member States (Croatia, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria) which do not fulfil the ex-ante conditionalities in the area of State Aid defined by the European Commission as a prerequisite for the implementation of the operational programmes in the 2014-2020 period.
- Thematic (sector) seminars
The seminars are dedicated to different areas and sectors where application of state aid is particularly relevant and challenging. The objective of these seminars is to disseminate knowledge to sector specialists dealing also with the issues of state aid.
- Training on Cohesion Policy - Module 4 State aid