Legal & Regulatory News

European Commission formally adopts new guidelines on state aid for climate, environmental protection and energy

On 27 January 2022, the European Commission (the Commission) made the announcement that it has formally adopted the new Guidelines on state aid for climate, environmental protection and energy (the Guidelines). The guidelines apply from 27 January 2022 and replace the 2014 predecessor following a Commission evaluation and consultation.

The guidelines reflect the EU objectives and targets as set out in the European green Deal, with the most significant changes in the following areas:

• expanding the categories of investments and technologies that member states can support to cover new areas and all technologies that can deliver the Green Deal;
• allowing aid amounts covering up 100% of the funding gap;
• increase flexibility and streamline the existing rules through the introduction of a simplified assessment of cross-cutting measures under a single section of the Guidelines;
• introducing a safeguard (i.e. a public consultation) above thresholds; and
• ensure coherence with the relevant EU legislation and polices.

Click here to access the guidelines.

Click here to view a list of the changes.