The European Commission has launched a consultation on the de minimis State aid rules.

The current Regulation, which has been in force since 1 January 2007 and expires on 31 December 2013, sets a ceiling of €200,000 per undertaking granted over any period of three fiscal years, which there is no requirement to notify to the European Commission.

The review of the de minimis Regulation is an important element of State aid modernisation initiative and the present consultation aims to collect the views of the Member States and stakeholders on the first draft text of the de minimis Regulation.

The draft Regulation - which can be viewed by clicking here - proposes the gradual introduction of a central register of all de minimis measures. Member States are allowed a generous transitional period for setting it up. The draft also retains the current ceiling for de minimis aid.

The consultation is open until 23 May 2013.