Government approves clearer state aid rules for businesses
The state is altering its approach to financing public enterprises and strategic investments. The government has approved a draft law that will provide state aid under clearer, more predictable, and more easily verifiable rules to prevent the waste of public funds.
One of the main innovations is the introduction of the “pre-notification” stage, which will enable analysis and adjustment of support measures for businesses before funds are allocated. To prevent bureaucratic delays, support will be implicitly authorized in situations clearly defined by law.
These procedures aim to provide greater clarity to fund administrators and ensure more responsible management of the public budget.
To maintain strict oversight of every leu allocated, a Central Registry of Small Value Aid will be established and integrated into the existing information system. This platform will keep detailed records of all funds granted to businesses, ensuring transparency and compliance with legal limits.
A practical example of the new legal framework is the Regional Investment Aid Scheme, which offers direct financial support to businesses in the manufacturing industry. This model already follows transparent rules, with clearly defined eligibility criteria and varying support ceilings based on region.
With the new regulations, institutions that distribute public funds will have clear procedures to follow, and beneficiary enterprises will have predictable guidelines for project development.
In 2024, a total of 4.67 billion lei in state aid was allocated, with 1.86 billion lei authorized by the Competition Council. Of this authorized amount, 1.17 billion lei was designated to support the economic activities of enterprises and citizens.
