EU to raise state aid threshold but not for road transport
Sat 28 October 2006
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European Commission proposals to relax EU rules exempting low value government subsidies from state aid restrictions specifically exclude grants or subsidies designed to encourage the purchase of cleaner vehicles.
The Commission’s plans for "de minimis" state aid would raise the minimum level at which state subsidies would require Commission approval to 200,000Euros. The revised rules would apply to parts of the transport sector, but not to the purchase of vehicles used for road transport.
Thr road transport trade body, the International Road Union (IRTU) criticised the EU's plans saying that, if implemented, they will hamper the introduction of cleaner freight vehicles.
The IRU says that the new aid rules should be used as an incentive to accelerate the replacement of the EU’s heavy goods vehicle fleet with cleaner vehicles.
The Commission’s plan was tabled in September and will be discussed with EU member states in November.
Related Links
EU press release
IRU Position Paper
ENDS Daily story link
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