Spain

European Commission: Extension of Film Support in Madrid Approved

IRIS 2009-1:1/38

Christian M. Bron

Institute of European Media Law (EMR), Saarbrücken/Brussels

In its decision of 18 December 2008, the European Commission approved the third extension of direct state aid for the production of short films in the Autonomous Region of Madrid.

As in the case of the previous decisions, this extension of the support scheme is valid for one year. The first application for approval for state aid for such productions was made by the Spanish authorities in 2005 and involves an annual budget of EUR 400,000.

The legal basis for the support is, inter alia, the Law relating to grants in the Community of Madrid (Ley 2/95, de 8 marzo, de Subvenciones de la Comunidad de Madrid) and the General Law on Grants (Ley 38/2003, de 17 noviembre, General de Subvenciones - Ley Estatal).

The Commission considers that this arrangement for the provision of state aid to promote culture is compatible with the Common Market under Article 87(3)(d) EC.