Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market is also known as the general block exemption regulation (GBER). The GBER is a cornerstone of the Commission’s State aid modernisation reform, which aims to promote economic growth and to concentrate EU approval procedures on large-scale aid cases that could lead to unfair competition.

Its aim is to enable EU governments to give higher amounts of public money to a wider range of companies without having to request prior permission from the European Commission. As a general rule, except for very small amounts, State aid must be notified to and cleared by the Commission before it is granted. The regulation exempts EU countries from this notification obligation, as long as all the GBER criteria are fulfilled.

The exemption is designed to reduce administrative burdens on national and local authorities and to encourage EU governments to channel aid towards economic growth without giving recipients an unfair competitive advantage.

The regulation covers the following categories and types of aid measures:

• Regional aid.
• Aid for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including access to finance.
• Research, development, and training aid.
• Support for disadvantaged workers and workers with disabilities.
• Environmental protection aid and compensation for damage caused by certain natural disasters.
• Social transport aid for residents of remote regions.
• Aid for broadband infrastructure.
• Support for culture and heritage conservation.
• Aid for sports and multifunctional recreational infrastructure.
• Local infrastructure aid.

Further information:

• General block exemption regulation (GBER) — Frequently asked questions (European Commission)

• Block exemption regulations (European Commission)

Related regulations:

• Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market

• Communication COM 2020/1863 from the Commission Temporary Framework for State aid measures to support the economy in the current COVID-19 outbreak