VADEMECUM COMMUNITY RULES ON STATE AID - Interact

FICHE 8
TRAINING AID
Reference
This fiche summarizes the “Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2001 of 12 January 2001 on
the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to training aid” as later amended
(Official Journal No L 10, 13.1.2001, p.20) (hereinafter in this fiche the “Regulation”).
Scope
The regulation covers all public support for training which favours one or more firms or
sectors of industry by reducing costs they should normally have to bear when they want their
employees to acquire new skills. The regulation applies to training aid whether the training is
provided by companies themselves or by public or private training centres. Examples of
training measures which do not constitute State aid:
■ schooling and initial training (incl. apprenticeships and day release schemes);
■ training of unemployed people, including traineeships in enterprises The regulation
applies to all sectors.
Concepts
Specific training: Training involving tuition directly and principally applicable to the
employee’s present or future position in the assisted firm and providing qualifications which
are not or only to a limited extent transferable to other firms or fields of work.
General training: Training involving tuition which is not applicable only or principally to the
employee’s present or future position in the assisted firm, but which provides qualifications
which are largely transferable to other firms or fields of work and thereby substantially
improve the employability of the employee. Training is considered ‘general’ if, e.g. it is
jointly organised by different independent enterprises, or if employees of different enterprises
may avail themselves of the training. It is also considered ‘general’ if it is recognised,
certified or validated by public authorities or bodies on which the Member State or the
Community conferred the necessary powers.
Eligible cost
• trainers’ personnel costs;
• trainers’ and trainees’ travel expenses;
• other current expenses (materials, supplies, etc.);
• depreciation of tools and equipment, to the extent that they are used exclusively for the
• training scheme in question;
• cost of guidance and counseling services with regard to the training project;
• trainees’ personnel costs up to the amount of the total of the above eligible costs.
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