The objective of the project was to train 1,000 people in EU state aid law and other state aid issues. In particular, with the imminent accession to the EU, certain groups were provided with specific knowledge and training in particular themes of state aid including:
- State aid relating to employment schemes;
- State aid provided to companies employing people with recognised disabilities;
- State aid to the coal industry; and
- State aid for environmental funds.
The project also provided in-depth technical assistance for staff at the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (OCCP) on the interpretation of state aid rules, using case history material from other Member States. The seven areas of expertise provided included:
- Rules of granting state aid in the transport sector;
- Rules of granting aid in agriculture;
- Rules of granting aid in the fisheries sector;
- Private investor principle;
- Service of general economic interest and state aid rules;
- Risk capital and state aid rules;
- State aid measures versus general measures.
A series of study tours was arranged to 7 different Member States for staff at the OCCP to examine the way similar institutions deal with areas of state aid.
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