GBER (General Block Exemption Regulation)

Definition

The GBER (General Block Exemption Regulation), known in Dutch as the AGVV (Algemene Groepsvrijstellingsverordening), is a European regulation that allows member states to grant certain categories of state aid without first notifying the European Commission, provided the aid meets the conditions set out in the regulation. It exists to reduce administrative burden for both member states and the Commission: rather than reviewing every individual aid measure case by case, the Commission has pre-approved broad categories — such as aid for research, development and innovation, training, environmental protection, and support for SMEs — as long as the aid stays within defined limits on aid intensity and eligible costs. Many Dutch innovation and R&D subsidies are granted under the GBER rather than the de-minimis rule, which matters because the two exemptions work differently: de-minimis caps the total aid an enterprise may receive over a rolling period regardless of the project, while the GBER instead attaches conditions to the specific aid measure and project, such as maximum aid intensities as a percentage of eligible costs. For applicants, what matters most is which exemption a specific scheme falls under, since that determines which conditions, declarations and aid ceilings apply — information you can find in the scheme's own conditions or with RVO.

Frequently asked questions

What does the GBER (AGVV) do?

The GBER lets governments grant certain categories of state aid, such as R&D or SME support, without notifying the European Commission first, as long as the aid meets the regulation's conditions.

What's the difference between the GBER and de-minimis aid?

De-minimis caps the total aid an enterprise may receive over a rolling period regardless of the project, while the GBER attaches conditions to the specific aid measure, such as maximum aid intensity.

How do you know whether a subsidy falls under the GBER or de-minimis?

This is set out in the conditions of the specific subsidy scheme, or can be checked with RVO; it determines which declarations and aid ceilings apply to your application.