The Commission takes note of the preliminary ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union. In its judgment, the Court clarified the definition of undertaking and the concept of links through natural persons, within the meaning of Annex I to the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER).
In particular, the Court clarified that it is insufficient for a natural person to hold a controlling quantity of shares in an undertaking in order to conclude that such natural person is an undertaking. To this end, the natural person must exercise effective control, by participating directly or indirectly in the management of the company. In addition, the Court confirmed that Article 3(3), fourth paragraph, of Annex I to the GBER applies to natural persons which are not undertakings based on the application of the notion of “linked enterprises”.
State aid
Current State aid rules for banks in difficulty, last updated in 2013, enable State aid to banks in difficulty to ensure financial stability while minimising distortions of competition. The revision of the State aid rules for banks in difficulty is undertaken with the view to bring consistency with the EU resolution (Crisis Management and Deposit Insurance) framework legislation and to bring simplification by replacing the six existing Communications into a single one.
The European Commission adopted today the State aid Land and Multimodal Transport Guidelines (LMT Guidelines) and the State aid Transport Block Exemption Regulation (TBER). These instruments support more sustainable transport modes for both passengers and freight and update the EU State aid framework for land and multimodal transport. They will enter into force on 30 March 2026. The TBER will be in place until 31 December 2034. There is no end date for the LMT Guidelines.
See also COMP Flash | New State aid rules to boost more sustainable ways of transport.
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €260 million Belgian measure in favour of Air Liquide Large Industry NV ('Air Liquide') and BASF Antwerpen NV ('BASF') for a carbon capture and storage ('CCS') project, Kairos@C. The measure will contribute to Belgium's climate targets by decarbonising the industry through an integrated cross-border CCS value chain, in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal.
This Study supports the revision of the EU Guidelines on State Aid to Airports and Airlines in light of evolving market dynamics, the impact of COVID-19, and the challenges of the green transition for the European aviation sector. Evidence was collected through literature review, data analysis, stakeholder consultations, and six case studies. The findings show that profitability remains a structural challenge for regional airports (i.e. airports with annual passenger traffic volume of up to 3 million passengers per year): only about 54% of European regional airports that the Study has sampled were cost-covering in 2024 (figures reported by EU airport associations are even lower).
The European Commission has approved a €150 million (RON 764 million) Romanian scheme to support electricity storage, in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. This measure will contribute to the transition towards a net-zero economy. The scheme was approved under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) adopted by the Commission on 25 June 2025.
The European Commission has approved a €200 million Spanish State aid scheme to support strategic investments that add manufacturing capacity for the electric vehicle (EV) value chain, in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. This measure will contribute to the transition towards a net-zero economy. The scheme was approved under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) adopted by the Commission on 25 June 2025.
The Guarantee Notice of 2008 describes how the Commission assesses State guarantees, on loans to undertakings for example. The general aim of the Notice is to ensure a clear, predictable and easy-to-apply framework for Member States to establish guarantee premia that are in conformity with what market operators would charge (‘market-conform premia’) and to implement guarantee measures.
The Commission’s recent evaluation of the notice has revealed some areas in need of improvement. This call for evidence is open for feedback. Your input will be taken into account as we further develop and fine-tune this initiative.
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether Romania's proposed amendments to power company CE Oltenia's restructuring plan are in line with EU state aid rules.
The European Commission has approved a €1.1 billion French scheme to support strategic investments that add clean technology (cleantech) manufacturing capacity in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. This measure will contribute to the transition towards a net-zero economy. The scheme was approved under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) adopted by the Commission on 25 June 2025. This is the eighth cleantech manufacturing capacity scheme approved since the CISAF was adopted, unlocking over €10 billion in support for investments in such capacity.
The European Commission has today launched a public consultation on the draft of a simpler and more streamlined General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER). The new version will align the GBER with current social, market and technological conditions. The Commission invites Member States and all other interested parties to comment on the draft by 23 April 2026.
The Commission is seeking stakeholder views on the draft for a new General Block Exemption Regulation (“GBER”).
Following a broad public consultation and call for evidence in 2025, the Commission has reviewed the GBER with the aim to simplify it, bring it into line with social, market and technological developments and streamline it by addressing inconsistencies and improving readability. The draft for a revised GBER submitted for this public consultation reflects those objectives.
The European Commission has approved a €400 million Greek State aid scheme to support strategic investments that add clean technology (cleantech) manufacturing capacity in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. This measure will contribute to the transition towards a net-zero economy. The scheme was approved under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) adopted by the Commission on 25 June 2025.
Based on the Guidelines on regional State aid, EU countries can grant regional aid in assisted areas in the EU, as identified in a regional aid map and in line with the conditions laid down in those guidelines.
The current regional aid maps expire on 31 December 2027. This initiative aims to update the statistical data required for creating the new regional aid maps that will be used from 2028 to 2034.
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €1.04 billion (DKK 7.8 billion) Danish scheme to support landowners committing to voluntarily remove agricultural or forestry land from production to reduce agricultural emissions. The measure will contribute to achieving the objectives of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy by strengthening environmental protection and contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a rescue loan of up to €390 million to Acciaierie d'Italia ('AdI', formerly ILVA), Italy's main integrated steel producer. The measure aims to ensure that AdI can cover its operating costs until the business is transferred to a new operator that will be selected in tender procedure that is currently ongoing.
The European Commission has approved a €3 billion German State aid scheme to support strategic investments that add clean technology (cleantech) manufacturing capacity in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. This measure will contribute to the transition towards a net-zero economy. The scheme was approved under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) adopted by the Commission on 25 June 2025.
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €3.1 billion Spanish scheme to support the production of electricity from new or substantially refurbished highly efficient combined heat and power (‘CHP') plants. The measure will contribute to the implementation of Spain's National Energy and Climate Plan, the Clean Industrial Deal and the EU's energy efficiency targets.
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether an arbitration award, in which Bulgaria is ordered to pay compensation to ACF Renewable Energy Limited for changes to a renewable electricity support measure, is in line with EU State aid rules.
EU Member States spent 90% of their State aid in 2024 to support EU priorities, according to the European Commission's 2025 State aid Scoreboard, published today. While overall spending dropped to €168.23 billion in 2024 from €203.35 billion in 2023, Member States channeled more funds towards supporting key EU prorities, such as environmental protection, energy, research, development and innovation and regional development. At the same time, crisis aid measures related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and to the COVID-19 pandemic continued to phase out.