Answer given by Executive Vice-President Vestager on behalf of the European Commission
17.3.2023
1. Romania, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Denmark and Bulgaria have state aid schemes for afforestation in place. These ongoing state aid schemes have various durations with 2027 being the latest expiry date so far.
2. Member States were able to notify afforestation or any other state aid schemes under the 2014 State aid Guidelines[1]. Such notifications were assessed and approved by the Commission on the basis of those Guidelines until the end of the year 2022. However, such ongoing schemes have to be adapted to the new rules set out in the new state aid Guidelines[2], applicable since 1 January 2023, by 30 June 2023[3].
3. The state aid rules applicable to afforestation require the respect of minimum environmental requirements as set in point 504 of the new state aid Guidelines[4] The strategic environmental assessment (SEA) does not form part of the state aid rules as such but is essential for the assessment of the respect of the minimum environmental requirements which the Forestry programme 2023-2027 shall meet.
- [1] European Union Guidelines for state aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas 2014 to 2020, OJ C 204, 1.7.2014, p. 1.
- [2] Communication from the Commission — Guidelines for state aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas, OJ C 485, 21.12.2022, p. 1.
- [3] See point 659 of the new Guidelines (footnote 2).
- [4] See footnote 2.