Threat to Regional Selective Assistance

That the Parliament notes that the rules for EU regional aid, which are delivered in Scotland through Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) are being reviewed by the European Commission; understands that the officials carrying out the review have full delegated power to make and implement changes to these rules; is profoundly concerned that there are proposals that might result in companies seeking to invest in Scotland’s assisted areas with more than 250 employees globally being debarred from accessing RSA; understands that other regions that are designated as assisted areas and currently receive RSA could also be denied the capacity to support investment by larger firms; is alarmed at what it sees as the short timescale left to influence any decisions; believes that, despite the UK, French and German governments all reportedly supporting RSA-type assistance for larger firms, matters are on a knife-edge; urges every politician to write to the European Commissioner for Competition to express profound concern, and hopes that a cross-party delegation from Scotland will seek an urgent meeting with the commissioner.