Erhvervsudvalget 2018-19 (2. samling)
ERU Alm.del Bilag 56
Offentligt
NOTAT
25. september 2019
19/04669-13
The Danish Government’s response to the consultation on
the targeted
revision of the GBER
–
InvestEU, ETC and Horizon
The Danish government welcomes the opportunity to comment on the pro-
posal to revise the General Block Exemption Regulation ("GBER") to accom-
pany the next Multiannual Financial Framework ("MFF").
Generally, we welcome the Commission’s initiative to strengthen
the interplay
between state aid policy and cohesion policy. We can support the proposal to
simplify the rules for granting state aid combined with financial support from
the EU-funds. Please find below the Danish comments to the three areas in
which the Commission proposes to extend the GBER:
National funding involved in financial products supported by the Inves-
tEU Fund;
Research and Development and Innovation (“R&D&I”) projects having
received a Seal of Excellence under H2020 or Horizon Europe
European Territorial Cooperation projects ("ETC")
The Danish government acknowledges that the proposed compatibility condi-
tions for exemption of state aid combined with financial support from the EU-
funds are complimentary to the relevant conditions and scrutiny in the EU-
programs. Hence, a level of safeguard against distortions of competition is al-
ready included in the programs and by the involvement of the Commission in
the management of the programs.
However, for any new category of aid in the GBER it must be ensured that
public funding does not replace private investment, that the aid address a mar-
ket failure, that it serves general policy objectives and does not go beyond the
amounts needed to meet these objectives. It is also important that the Commis-
sion in cooperation with the Member States continue its work to ensure state
aid discipline in individual Member States when applying the GBER.
Furthermore, the GBER must provide sufficient safeguards against state aid
being granted or linked to relocation of jobs or activities between Member
States. We are aware that the Commission attaches great importance to this
issue, which it also stated under the latest revision of the enabling regulation.
InvestEU
The proposed thresholds for granting state aid in combination with the Inves-
tEU-program take into account that this type of aid will not be direct grants