Updated last 26.03.2021
 | Investment аid, enabling the enterprises to exceed the standards of the Environmental Protection Union or improve the level of environmental protection, if relevant Union standards are absent |
The aid is provided when the investment gives the beneficiary the opportunity to raise the level of environmental preservation as a result of its activity, exceeding the Union applicable standards or in case there are no such Union standards.
| Important to know | |
 | Aid cannot be granted, when the investments are intended to guarantee that the enterprises observe the Union standards, which have already been accepted, but are still not effective. |
The eligible expenses include the additional investment expenses, the enterprises should make to exceed the Union applicable standards or to raise the level of the environmental preservation in case of missing Union standards. In certain conditions aid can also be provided for upgrade or purchasing of new vehicles/vessels for road, railroad, inland waterway and marine transport.
The aid intensity is up to 40 % of the eligible expenses (in certain conditions it could be increased by 10 or 20 %).
 | Investment аid for early adaptation to future Union standards |
To utilise such aid the Union standards should have been adopted and the investments have to be executed and completed not later than one year prior to the effective date of the respective standard.
The eligible expenses include the additional investment expenditures, necessary for achievement of environmental protection level, higher than the level, set out in the applicable Union standards.
Costs and expenditures, which are not directly related to the achievement of a higher level of environmental protection shall not be eligible.
The aid intensity as a standard is between 5 % and 20 % of the eligible costs (depending on the enterprise type and the time for the investment’s implementation).
 | Investment аid for energy efficiency improvement |
The eligible costs include the additional investment expenditures, necessary for the achievement of a higher energy efficiency level.
The aid intensity is up to 30 % of the eligible expenses (the intensity could be increased for small and medium-size enterprises and in case of investment, made in aided regions).
 | Investment аid for energy efficiency projects for buildings |
The eligible expenses are the total costs of energy efficiency projects. The eligible expenses are the total expenses for the energy efficiency project. The aid is provided in the form of donation, capital participation, guarantee or loan to an energy efficiency fund or to another financial broker, which then transfer the aid fully to the end beneficiaries, who are the owners of the building or the tenants.
 | Investment аid for high-efficiency co-generation of energy |
The investment аid shall only be provided to newly installed or renovated facilities. The new aggregates for combined energy production generally should achieve savings of primary energy in comparison to the divided production of heat energy and electricity. The improvement of an existing aggregate for combined energy production or the transformation of an existing energy production aggregate into an aggregate for combined energy production should lead to saving of primary energy in view of the initial situation.
The eligible expenses include the additional investment expenses for the equipment, required for the installation, so it could function as highly efficient installation for combined energy production compared to the traditional electrical or heating installations with the same capacity, or the additional investment expenses for the modernization up to higher efficiency, when the existing installation has already reached its limit in view of high efficiency.
The aid intensity is up to 45 % of the eligible expenses (the intensity could be increased for small and medium-size enterprises and in case of investments, made in aided regions).
 | Investment аid for the encouragement of the energy from renewable sources |
Financing may be available for the production of sustainable biofuels, which are not produced from food crops.
Investment аid must be only provided for new facilities until the commissioning of the facility. This aid is not relevant to the production of the facilities.
Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 stipulates also other aid, stimulating the environmental protection and preservation:
- Operating aid for stimulating the production of energy from renewable sources;
- Operating aid for stimulating the production of energy from renewable sources in small-scale installations;
- Aid in the form of reduction of environmental taxes under Directive 2003/96/EC;
- Investment aid for renovation of polluted sites;
- Investment aid for energy-efficient regional heating and cooling;
- Investment aid for waste recycling and reuse;
- Investment aid for energy infrastructure;
Aid for research in the environmental sphere.
| Important to know | |
| A “de minimis” aid is one, which, due to its amount does not disrupt or jeopardize competition or has an unsubstantial impact thereon. In order to properly apply the de minimis rule, the amount of the aid shall not exceed the equivalence in BGN of EUR 200 000 (in the general case) for a period of three financial years, irrespective of the form of the aid and the economic objectives, pursued with it. De minimis aid may be granted to enterprises of all branches of industry, except for:
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| Important to know | |
| For each of the aforementioned categories of state aid, as well as for the “de minimis” aid, a certain intensity of the financial grant shall apply. Тhe intensity may vary between 35% and 100% of the total investment (depending on the type of aid, the size of the enterprise, the nature of the project and the area, where the activities are carried out). |
Examples of programs, available to SMEs for receiving state aid:
The program period for implementation of a part of the stated hereinbelow programs has expired. The preparation of the new programs 2021-2027 is under way.
Operational Programme “Innovations and Competitiveness“ 2014-2020:
- “De minimis” aid;
- “Regional investment aid“;
- Aid for consulting services to the benefit of SMEs, etc.
Norwegian financial mechanism 2014-2020/ Financial Mechanism of the EEA:
- “De minimis” aid ;
- “Regional investment aid“;
- Aid for consulting services to the benefit of SMEs;
- Aid за environmental protection;
- Aid за participation of SMEs in fairs, etc.;
- Aid for R&D activities and innovations.
Operational Programme “Human Resources Development “ 2014-2020:
- “De minimis” aid ;
- Aid for employees in disadvantaged position and employees with disabilities, etc.
| For more information | |
 | For more information regarding the regulatory framework please refer to the State Aid Act and its Implementing Rules. Information regarding the European regulatory framework, related to state aid, please visit the website of the: |
| For more information | |
| For more information on State aid in the area of agriculture please refer to the websites of the: |