State Aid Guidelines

State Aid Guidelines are rules established by the European Union to ensure that government support to businesses does not distort competition in the internal market. These guidelines define what forms of financial support, like grants or tax breaks, are acceptable for governments to provide without harming fair competition. They aim to promote economic growth, innovation, and job creation while preventing larger companies from gaining an unfair advantage over smaller ones through excessive financial help from the state. Essentially, they create a level playing field for businesses across EU member states.