The Centre

A lecture by EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes. What is the European Commission doing to help small and medium-sized businesses cope with the coming economic downturn? What role can EU state aid policy play in helping SMEs and to encourage the R&D that is vital to ensure the long-term success, sustainability and competitiveness of the European economy? Commissioner Kroes outlines in particular how the Commission’s moves to make it easier for member states to give state aid targeted on improving competitiveness through such measures as the General Block Exemption Regulation, Risk Capital Guidelines, the Framework for Research, Development and Innovation aid and Environmental Aid Guidelines of the Commission.