State aid granted in 2012 exceeded PLN 20 billion as revealed the latest report  by the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection. The money was mostly earmarked for regional aid

The President of UOKiK is responsible for state aid monitoring and drawing up annual reports. The latest report clearly demonstrates that the total value of aid granted in 2012 was PLN 20.38 billion, decreased as compared to PLN 21.46 billion in 2011 and PLN 24.09 billion in 2010. The total aid value contains aid given to the transport sector, which in 2012 was 3.41 billion (approx. 60% of it constituted the aid granted to railway companies). The report and this press release present the analysis of aid granted excluding the funds earmarked for the transport sector.

Most frequent aid forms, as previously, were tax concessions and grants (94.9% of aid value). Among aid donors in 2012, the Chairman of the State Fund for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons ranked first (PLN 2.97 billion, compared to PLN 2.75 billion in 2011). Next ranked the Chief Executive Officer of the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development - PLN 2.33 billion (compared to PLN 1.69 billion in 2011) and marshals of voivodeships - PLN 2.14 billion (PLN 1.60 billion in 2011). The President of the Management Board of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management granted aid value 60 % lower than previously and amounting to PLN 0.78 billion (PLN 2.12 billion in 2011).

Over PLN 5.82 billion was distributed under the horizontal aid, compared to PLN 5.60 billion in 2011. Greatest amounts were earmarked for employment (PLN 3.07 billion, in 2011 - PLN 2.80 billion), R&D – PLN 1.30 billion (PLN 0.52 billion in 2011), trainings – PLN 0.43 billion (PLN 0.72 billion in 2011). The most significant was the decrease in aid value for environmental protection – PLN 0.28 PLN (PLN 1.08 billion in 2011).  

As regards the sectoral aid, there was observed a considerable decrease, the aid value was finally PLN 1.87 billion. In 2011, the sectoral aid amounted to PLN 3.43 billion. The energy sector faced the most noticeable decrease due to voluntary termination of long-term agreements on power and electric energy sale – from PLN 2.44 billion in 2011 to PLN 0.80 billion the following year. Aid granted to entities operating in mining was PLN 0.40 billion; Spółka Restrukturyzacji Kopalń with PLN 0.38 billion was the leading beneficiary in this industry.

The regional aid totalled PLN 8.43 billion (compared to PLN 6.79 billion in 2011). Most of it – PLN 1.82 billion – was granted by tax authorities, including income tax concessions for entities operating within special economic zones (PLN 1.80 billion).

Aid and voivodeships

The highest average aid value per 1 registered undertaking was granted in Podkarpackie voivodeship (PLN 9.3 thousand), the next in a row were: Łódzkie (PLN 5.8 thousand), Śląskie (PLN 5.3 thousand) and Mazowieckie (PLN 5.1 thousand). The lowest aid value per one entrepreneur was given to undertakings from the following voivodeships: Lubelskie (PLN 1.7 thousand), Świętokrzyskie (PLN 2.4 thousand), Opolskie (PLN 2.6 thousand) and Zachodniopomorskie (PLN 2.7 thousand).

Aid and beneficiaries

Like in 2012, large businesses benefitted from half of aid value (in 2011 it was 62%), and were granted in total PLN 8.54 billion. Medium enterprises were awarded approx. 20% of aid, small ones about 16% and microbusinesses – approx. 13%.  

The most significant aid beneficiary (including the aid in transport sector) was Przewozy Regionalne – PLN 900.7 mln, PKP Intercity – PLN 548.1 mln. Next ranked: PLL LOT – PLN 400 mln, Spółka Restrukturyzacji Kopalń – PLN 383.2 mln, Wielkopolska Siec Szerokopasmowa – PLN 283.6 mln, Telewizja Polska – PLN 253.9 mln.

Decrease in aid value

The years 2008-2012 witnessed an increase in total aid value till the year 2010, mostly due to starting projects cofinanced form EU funds. However, starting from 2010, there was a decrease in aid value. The decrease in 2011 as compared to 2010, mainly results from lower aid value granted under regional investment aid cofinanced from EU funds, however, aid decrease in 2012 in relation to the year 2011 (by PLN 0.98 billion) is due to lower aid value granted by President of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management from Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment and by the President of the Energy Regulatory Office.

Additional information for the 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 60 106, 55 60 430
Fax: +48 22 826 11 86
E-mail: [SCODE]bWFsZ29yemF0YS5jaWVsb2NoQHVva2lrLmdvdi5wbA==[ECODE]