The Commission concluded that the scheme would further EU energy and environmental objectives without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market. The Czech scheme was originally approved by the Commission in 2008. Today's decision approves a prolongation for the period from 1 July 2015 until 31 December 2020. The scheme provides for excise duty reductions or refunds in favour of pure or highly-concentrated biofuel placed on the Czech market, provided that it meets the required sustainability criteria.
The Commission found that the measure would contribute to reaching the Czech Republic's 2020 targets for renewable energy and for biofuels in transport, while limiting potential distortions of competition. In particular, the Commission verified that aid is limited to sustainable biofuels, provides an incentive to use more environmentally friendly fuel and is limited to the minimum necessary to compensate for the additional costs of biofuels. The non-confidential version of the decision will be published in the State aid register on the competition website under case number SA.39654 once eventual confidentiality issues have been resolved.
The State Aid Weekly e-News lists new publications of state aid decisions on the internet and in the EU Official Journal.