Draft Regional Aid Guidelines 2014-20: Revised data and insights from the EP debate

Following over two years of preparatory work, on 14 January 2013 the Commission issued Draft Regional Aid Guidelines (RAG) for public consultation. The Draft RAG imply significantchanges to regional aid in the EU, particularly regarding the spatial coverage of policy and thetargeting of aid to large firms. This EPRC Policy Briefing assesses the implications of theDraft RAG particularly in the light of GDP data published in March 2013, unemployment rate data published in April 2013 and the contribution of Commissioner Almunia to the European Parliament debate on 16 April 2013.