Background information

The scheme aims to finance SME development investments that ensure growth sustainable development and job creation in the areas targeted by the Just Transition Programme. The main objective is to support productive investments in SMEs (micro, small and medium-sized enterprises) to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the transition to climate neutrality.

The State aid and de minimis scheme applies to investments made in the counties of identified in the Fair Transition Programme 2021-2027: Hunedoara, Gorj, Dolj, Galati, Prahova and Mures

Content of measure

The Just Transition Programme (JTP) responds to the investment needs defined in the Territorial Plans for a Just Transition (PTTJ) for the counties of Gorj, Hunedoara, Dolj, Galati, Prahova and Mures, territories identified in Annex D of the 2020 Country Report for support from the Just Transition Fund for the period 2021-2027.The program aims, in correlation with the territories' development strategies for the period 2021-2027, to support environmentally sustainable economic diversification, in particular of the small and medium entrepreneurial sector, including female entrepreneurship, in order to increase the competitiveness and capacity of the affected local economies to generate sustainable, secure and attractive wage employment.

The proposed investments must be in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU. The proposed project must lead to the creation of new jobs, directly linked to the funded investment, which must be maintained for a period of at least three years after the final payment under the project or within the period of State aid, whichever is the later, in the area covered by the call. At least 75% of the total jobs created by the project must be for people with domicile/residence in the area covered by the call. The implementation period of the project may not exceed 36 months from the date of signature of the grant contract, to 31 December 2029.

For the de minimis aid component, the funding is granted up to the de minimis ceiling of €200,000 / single enterprise in the last three fiscal years. The amount of non-reimbursable funding awarded is a minimum of €200,000 and a maximum of €5 million.

Use of measure

In September 2024, the Ministry of European Funds announced that 379 SMEs were financed through the program as follows: • Hunedoara County - 37 SMEs. • Gorj County - 98 SMEs. • Dolj County - 122 SMEs. • Galati County - 41 SMEs. • Prahova County - 34 SMEs. • Mures County - 47 SMEs.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	SMEs	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Company / Companies	National funds National Recovery and Resilience Facility

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

There is no publicly available information about the social partners' involvement in designing, implementing, and monitoring the measure.

Views and reactions

There is no publicly available information on the social partners' views or reaction on the measure.

Sources

• 20 December 2023: State aid and de minimis measures to finance investments for the development of SMEs supporting sustainable growth and job creation (Schemă de măsuri de ajutor de stat și de minimis pentru finanțarea investițiilor pentru dezvoltarea IMM care sprijină creșterea durabilă și crearea de locuri de muncă) (mfe.gov.ro)