Automotive companies operating within special economic zones still have the right to be granted state aid. A nominal value of aid granted to four companies  between 1^st January 2001 and 30^th June 2013  exceeded PLN 1 billion. UOKiK submitted a report concerning this issue to the European Commission

In Poland there are 14 special economic zones, i.e. areas where business activity is run under favourable conditions. Undertakings benefit from state aid in the form of tax allowances – income tax releases, whereas large enterprises (providing employment to over 250 persons), which were granted permit to operate within the special economic zones before 1^st January 2001 – additionally benefit form estate tax releases. These zones are aimed at attracting investments to particular regions, creating new vacancies and thus affecting the development of particular regions of the country.

As a result of negociations preceding the Polish accession to the European Union, Poland was obliged, among others, to provide the European Commission with half-year reports on aid granted to automotive companies operating within the zones. These are undertakings granted permit to opeate before 1^st January 2001: Fiat Powertrain Technologies Poland, General Motors Manufacturing Poland, General Motors Powertrain Poland (former Isuzu Motors Polska) and Volkswagen Motor Polska. They employ more than 5.7 thousand workers.

In line with obligations imposed on Poland, the total aid value for each of these companies, as regards making investments in automotive industry, cannot exceed 30% of investment costs incurred by these companies till 31^st December 2006, e.g. for the purchase of production line, machines or construction of halls.

Following the latest, already the eighteenth report of UOKiK submitted to the EC, the companies did not exceed the maximum ceiling of permitted state aid, and therefore may still be aid beneficiaries. Undertakings took advantage of e.g. income tax releases, or extinction of estate tax. A total value of aid granted till 30^th June 2013 was PLN 1 072.3 billion – since June, 2012 it increased by PLN 87.2 mln.

General Motors Powertrain Poland (former Isuzu Motors Polska) is getting closer to the allowed threshold – the value of aid it has been awarded so far is 26.6 % of its investment costs. Fiat Powertrain Technologies Poland ranks second with the aid amounting to 17.6% of funds earmarked by the company for investments. The third entity - Volkswagen Motor Polska – was awarded 17.5 % of invested funds. The slightest support – 1.6 % of spendings for investments – was granted to General Motors Manufacturing Poland.

Additional information for media:
Małgorzata Cieloch, Spokesperson for UOKiK

Department of International Relations and Communication
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Tel.: +48 22 827 28 92, 55 60 314
Fax: +48 22 826 11 86
E-mail: [SCODE]bWFsZ29yemF0YS5jaWVsb2NoQHVva2lrLmdvdi5wbA==[ECODE]