Europe to simplify SME funding rules

The European Commission has adopted a new Notice on state aid in the form of guarantees, May 2008. The text sets out clear and transparent methodologies to calculate the aid element in a guarantee and provides simplified rules for SMEs, including predefined safe-harbour premiums and single premium rates for low-amount guarantees. The new Notice was foreseen in the State Aid Action Plan as part of the Commission's efforts to clarify and simplify the state aid rules.

European Commission: Press Release: IP/08/764: State aid: Commission updates rules on guarantees and provides simplified possibilities for SMEs http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/764&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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