From Press Release http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1514&format=HTML
The European Commission has authorised, under the EC Treaty’s rules on state aid, a revised version of a Dutch tax incentive measure, first approved by the Commission in August 2006 as "Regeling Groenprojecten", to stimulate investments in projects that have a positive effect on nature and the environment in The Netherlands. The Commission found the various parts of the scheme to be in line respectively with its guidelines on state aid to agriculture, to fisheries, to the environment and with EC Treaty rules on state aid for the development of certain economic activities (Article 87.3.c).
In 1995, the Dutch government launched the Green Funds tax incentive scheme to encourage environmentally-friendly initiatives. Tax exemptions may be granted for investments by individual tax payers in investment funds that mainly (at least 70%) invest in "green projects". To qualify as a green project certain conditions, laid down in the scheme, must be met.
The modified scheme proposes new project categories and amends a number of existing project categories. The proposed amendments seek to adapt the scheme to experience gained over the past ten years, to advancements in environmental technologies and to current policy priorities; they do not affect the underlying methodology nor the co-operation between investors, banks and green projects.
The project categories range from projects for the development and maintenance of nature, forest and landscape to projects for sustainable aquaculture, the generation of renewable energy and the sustainable construction of dwellings and utility buildings.
The Commission found that the measure was in line with the criteria of the Commission's guidelines on state aid for agriculture, for fisheries, for the environment and with EC Treaty rules on state aid for the development of certain economic activities (Article 87(3)(c).
References
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1514&format=HTML
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