Revision of the General Block Exemption Regulation

ClientEarth argues that the GBER must be revised to eliminate aid for environmentally harmful activities and prioritise sustainable energy transitions. The organisation recommends integrating the 'do no harm' principle, increasing transparency in state aid reporting, and excluding fossil-fuel-based technologies like high-efficient cogeneration and hydrogen from block exemptions. Conversely, it proposes new aid categories for energy communities, zero-exhaust-emission vehicles, and sustainable battery storage to accelerate the green transition.

• ClientEarth recommends that the GBER explicitly state that any aid granted to activities that violate EU environmental law is incompatible with the internal market, and that the 'do no significant harm' principle be strictly applied to phase out environmentally harmful subsidies.
• The organisation argues that aid for high-efficient cogeneration (CHP) should be removed from the GBER because the technology is primarily fossil-fuel based and inconsistent with EU climate ambitions.
• ClientEarth proposes that aid for forest-biomass and small hydropower plants (10 MW or less) be found incompatible with the internal market, citing negative impacts on biodiversity, carbon emissions, and river fragmentation.
• The document advises against including hydrogen projects in the GBER, suggesting they require ex ante scrutiny by the Commission to avoid infrastructure lock-in and ensure they are reserved for hard-to-abate sectors.
• To support the green transition, ClientEarth suggests introducing new GBER aid categories for energy communities, zero-exhaust-emission vehicles (ZEEV), and sustainable battery storage that complies with the future Battery Regulation.

APA

ClientEarth (2021). Revision of the General Block Exemption Regulation. https://www.clientearth.org/media/l2ig0d3l/clientearth-feedback-roadmap-revision-general-block-exemption-regulation-april-2021.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Revision of the General Block Exemption Regulation. 2021. https://www.clientearth.org/media/l2ig0d3l/clientearth-feedback-roadmap-revision-general-block-exemption-regulation-april-2021.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=ClientEarth |title=Revision of the General Block Exemption Regulation |date=April 2021 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/l2ig0d3l/clientearth-feedback-roadmap-revision-general-block-exemption-regulation-april-2021.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{clientearth2021revision, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Revision of the General Block Exemption Regulation}}, publisher = {ClientEarth}, year = {2021}, month = apr, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/l2ig0d3l/clientearth-feedback-roadmap-revision-general-block-exemption-regulation-april-2021.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }