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State aid: Commission approves €500 million Italian scheme to improve environmental performance of vessels
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €500 million Italian scheme to help companies in the maritime transport sector to acquire clean and zero-emission vessels, as well as to retrofit more polluting vessels. The measure contributes to the achievement of the objectives of the Commission's European Green Deal and ‘Fit for 55' package.
The Italian scheme
The scheme notified by Italy, with a budget of €500 million, will be funded through its Complementary Fund set up with national resources to supplement Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan as part of a broader strategy to modernise the country's economy.
The scheme is aimed at encouraging shipping companies to replace existing vessels with low environmental performance, and to reduce the use of fossil-based fuels in the maritime transport sector. The scheme will support projects increasing the environmental performance and energy efficiency of vessels operating long, medium and short sea services for passenger, freight and combined transport, as well as of other vessels operating in Italian ports.
In particular, the aid will support the acquisition of clean and zero-emission vessels, including vessels powered by electricity and hydrogen, and the retrofitting of vessels. The retrofitting will allow vessels to: (i) use or increase the use of biofuels and synthetic fuels (e.g. renewable liquid, gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin) in addition or as an alternative to fossil fuels; and (ii) use wind propulsion as an alternative to other propulsion systems. The measure supports a broad range of technologies spanning from the installation of batteries and fuel cells to wind propulsion systems.
The scheme will be open to shipping companies registered in Italy that provide maritime transport connections between an Italian port and European and/or Mediterranean ports, or operate within Italian ports. The beneficiaries will be selected in an open, non-discriminatory and transparent procedure.
The aid will take the form of direct grants. The maximum aid amount per beneficiary is 40% of the eligible costs, which may be increased up to 60% for small and medium-sized enterprises and to 45% for projects concerning zero-emission vessels.
The Commission's assessment
The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU'), which enables Member States to support the development of certain economic activities subject to certain conditions, and the Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy 2022 (‘CEEAG').
The Commission found that the scheme:
- is necessary and appropriate to support the reduction of harmful emissions in the maritime transport sector;
- has an “incentive effect” as the beneficiaries would not carry out the investments without the public support; and
- has a limited impact on competition and trade within the EU. In particular, the aid is necessary and appropriate for Italy to contribute to the EU's environmental targets. In addition, it is proportionate and any negative effects on competition and trade in the EU will be limited, as the scheme is applicable to all companies operating in the sector concerned and to a variety of technologies delivering the environmental benefit pursued by the measure, ensuring that the amount of aid is kept to the minimum.
On this basis, the Commission approved the Italian measure under EU State aid rules.
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