EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 14.11.2013 C(2013)7900 final

PUBLIC VERSION

This document is made available for information purposes only.

Subject: State aid No SA.37521 (2013/N) – Prolongation of the Finnish regional aid map 2007-2013 until 30 June 2014

Sir,

1. PROCEDURE

(1) By its decision of 20 December 2006 the Commission approved the regional aid map for Finland for the period 2007-2013 (N 359/2006)1 until 31 December 2013. In accordance with paragraph 101 of the Guidelines on National Regional Aid 2007-20132 (hereinafter "RAG 2007-13"), the approved regional aid map was published in the Official Journal of the , and is considered an integral part of the RAG 2007-13.

(2) On 28 June 2013 the Commission adopted the Guidelines on regional State aid for 2014-20203 (hereinafter "RAG 2014-20"), in which it extended the period of application of the RAG 2007-13 until 30 June 2014 (paragraph 186) and invited Member States to notify the prolongation of their regional aid maps approved for 2007-13 for the period from 1 January 2014 to 30 June 2014 (paragraph 187).

(3) Finland notified by electronic notification, registered at the Commission on 18 October 2013, the prolongation of the Finnish regional aid map 2007-13.

1 OJ C 34, 16.02.2007, p.2

2 OJ C 54, 04.03.2006, p. 13.

3 OJ C 209, 23.07.2013, p.1

Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki TUOMIOJA PO Box 412 FIN - 00023

Commission européenne, B-1049 Bruxelles – Belgique Europese Commissie, B-1049 Brussel – België Telefon: 00 32 (0) 2 299.11.11

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE AMENDMENT

(4) The proposed amendment seeks to extend the period of application of the regional aid map 2007-13 for Finland until and including 30 June 2014. The Finnish authorities confirmed that all other conditions and commitments contained in the Commission Decision N 359/2006 approving the regional aid map for 2007-2013 remain unchanged.

3. ASSESSMENT

(5) The Commission assesses this prolongation on the basis of the RAG 2007-13 and of paragraphs 186 and 187 of the RAG 2014-20.

(6) The Commission notes that the notification concerns only the prolongation of the regional aid map until and including 30 June 2014 and that all other conditions and commitments contained in the Commission Decision N 359/2006 of 20 December 2006 approving the regional aid map for Finland on the basis of the RAG 2007-13 remain unchanged, and that the prolongation of the map until and including 30 June 2014 is in conformity with paragraph 187 of the RAG 2014-20.

(7) The Commission is therefore of the view that the prolongation of the regional aid map 2007-13 for Finland until and including 30 June 2014 meets the criteria for compatibility with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) as it fulfils the conditions laid down in the Guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013 and is in accordance with the extended period of application of these Guidelines as provided for in the Guidelines on Regional State Aid for 2014-2020. Therefore, the regional aid map for Finland for the period 2007-2013 shall be valid until and including 30 June 2014.

(8) The Commission recalls that the decisions by which the Commission adopts the regional aid maps for each Member State form an integral part of the Guidelines on regional aid. By adopting the present decision, the Commission therefore complements the RAG 2007-134.

4. CONCLUSION

(9) The Commission has accordingly decided to consider the prolongation of the regional aid map for Finland until and including 30 June 2014 to be compatible with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

(10) The Commission has decided to publish this decision in the Official Journal of the European Union. The full text of this letter in the authentic language will be published on the following Internet site: http://ec.europa.eu/competition/elojade/isef/index.cf

4 See in this respect Case C-242/00 Germany v Commission of 18 June 2002 and paragraph 101 of RAG 2007-13.

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Any request concerning this letter should be sent by registered letter or fax to: European Commission Directorate-General for Competition State Aid Registry B-1049 Brussels Fax No: +32 2 29 61242

Yours faithfully,

For the Commission

Joaquín ALMUNIA Vice-President

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