Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 (repealed)Show full title

Article 20 Aid for early adaptation to future Community standards for SMEs

1. Aid allowing SMEs to comply with new Community standards which increase the level of environmental protection and are not yet in force shall be compatible with the common market within the meaning of Article 87(3) of the Treaty and shall be exempt from the notification requirement of Article 88(3) of the Treaty, provided that the conditions laid down in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of this Article are fulfilled.

2. The Community standards shall have been adopted and the investment shall be implemented and finalised at least one year before the date of entry into force of the standard concerned.

3. The aid intensity shall not exceed 15 % of the eligible costs for small enterprises and 10 % of the eligible costs for medium-sized enterprises if the implementation and finalisation take place more than three years before the date of entry into force of the standard and 10 % for small enterprises if the implementation and finalisation take place between one and three years before the date of entry into force of the standard.

4. The eligible costs shall be the extra investment costs necessary to achieve the level of environmental protection required by the Community standard compared to the existing level of environmental protection required prior to the entry into force of this standard.

The eligible costs shall be calculated as set out in Article 18(6) and (7) and without taking account of operating benefits and operating costs.