State aid notification is a procedure in which a Member State informs the European Commission in advance of intended support and awaits its approval. It follows from the rule that aid favouring selected undertakings can distort competition, and therefore is subject to review. Notification can be bypassed when the support falls under one of the block exemptions or under de minimis aid – this is precisely why most Slovak schemes rely on these regimes and merely notify the Commission. For the applicant, it is essential that granting aid before approval, where approval is required, renders the aid unlawful, with all consequences including the obligation to repay it. This is why some calls for proposals include a suspensive condition tied to the Commission's decision.
See also: State aid, General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), Aid scheme.
