The non -governmental sector receives a word for state aid
The European Commission has given non -governmental organizations (NGOs) the opportunity to request review of state aid decisions by Member States in the environment.
Thus, the non -governmental sector will now be able to signal Brussels to determine whether state funding is contrary to EU legislation in ecology.
According to the new revision mechanism, any independent NGOs can appeal decisions for the granting of state aid to the European Commission. An exception is made only for social assistance provided to individual users, assistance in the elimination of damage caused by natural disasters or other extraordinary events and for aid to overcome serious difficulties in the country’s economy, the European Commission said on Monday.
In the complaints, NGOs will have to prove that the assisted activity or any of the aspects of the state aid measure approved by the Commission’s decision violate a specific rule or rules of EU legislation in the field of the environment. This can be done within an eight -week period after the aid approved, and the European Commission will have a time between 16 and 22 weeks.
Applicants may challenge the committee’s response to the EU Court of Justice.
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The requirements for NGOs that can appeal the decisions are to be independent, to have an environmental focus and at least two -year history.
With some exceptions, under the European Rules, the European Commission controls state aid granting, with national authorities obliged to inform it of all new assistance measures and to wait for it to check that such assistance is not for violating the rules of the common market before they can grant it.
Bulgaria has been a country to the 2004 Convention.
