Regional Aid and UK Assisted Areas
State Aid, provided as Regional Aid, can be used to promote the economic development of certain disadvantaged areas within the European Union.
On the basis of Article 87(3)a and Article 87(3)c of the Treaty, State Aid granted to promote the economic development of certain disadvantaged areas within the European Union is considered compatible with the common market by the European Commission. This kind of State Aid is referred to as Regional Aid.
Regional aid for business consists of aid for investment, or in certain limited circumstances operating aid, targeted on specific regions to redress regional disparities. Increased levels of regional investment aid may be granted to SMEs located within the disadvantaged areas.
Current Assisted Areas Map
Assisted Areas are those locations where regional aid may be granted under EU legislation. The current Assisted Areas Map (PDF, 1.4 Mb) came into effect on 13 February 2007, and remains in force until 31 December 2013. The map was reviewed in response to the European Commission's revised Regional Aid Guidelines. The review concluded with the publication of the current map in October 2006.
