Press Release: State aid: European Commission maintains higher regional aid ceilings for Hainaut (Belgium), Dytiki Makedonia and Kentriki Makedonia (Greece), and Basilicata (Italy)

The European Commission has decided, under EU state aid rules, to allow the regions of Hainaut in Belgium, Dytiki Makedonia and Kentriki Makedonia in northern Greece, and Basilicata in southern Italy, to continue to award regional aid at a basic intensity of 30% from 1 January 2011 onwards.

As from that date, the regional aid ceiling applicable in the 12 other regions that were allowed to maintain higher regional aid ceilings because their GDP per capita had been increased only artificially after the accession of ten Member States on 1 May 2004 (so-called statistical effect regions0, which are located Germany, Greece, Spain, Austria, Portugal and the UK, will be reduced from 30% to 20%. This decision is based on a review of statistical data on GDP provided by Eurostat.