Key facts
- The EU is revising its General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) for state aid rules.
- The updated draft allows national governments to subsidize small and medium-sized media outlets without seeking prior approval from the European Commission.
- The aim is to support media pluralism, cultural and linguistic diversity, and the digital transition of the press sector.
- Beneficiaries must meet criteria such as preserving media pluralism and supporting digital or print editions.
- The revised GBER also includes specific conditions for aid to regional airports, limiting it to those handling over 500,000 passengers annually.
The European Commission is preparing to update its state aid rulebook, the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), with a draft that aims to simplify and broaden exemptions for government subsidies. A key focus of the revised 200-page draft is to ease restrictions on funding for small and medium-sized media outlets, recognizing their role in preserving media pluralism and diversity, particularly at the local level. Under the proposed changes, EU member states would be able to provide financial support to these outlets without needing explicit approval from Brussels, provided they meet certain criteria related to media pluralism, digital transition, or the preservation of print editions.
This move comes as many European media organizations face financial challenges due to the digital transformation of the industry, including declining print readership and competition from online platforms. The Commission's draft highlights these structural issues and aims to provide a more flexible framework for supporting the sector.
Beyond the media sector, the GBER revision also addresses other areas, with a strong emphasis on SMEs, innovation, and social inclusion, including support for training programs and disadvantaged workers. However, legal experts suggest that while the revision aims for simplification, it might lead to more detailed and prescriptive rules, potentially causing countries to design measures that do not fully meet companies' needs to avoid notification procedures.
The draft also includes specific provisions for the aviation sector, with proposed aid exemptions for regional airports being restricted to those handling over 500,000 passengers annually, a move that has drawn criticism from industry bodies like ACI Europe. The overall state aid spending by EU countries was €168.2 billion in 2024, with GBER accounting for a significant portion of active exemption measures.