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3.135. State aid by member States is regulated under Articles 107 to 109 of the TFEU. According to these provisions, state aid is prohibited, unless it is approved by the Commission (either following an individual notification of plans to grant aid, or on the basis of ex ante-defined compatibility conditions laid down in a block exemption regulation), serves an objective of common interest, and meets other strict conditions:
• objective of common interest: the aid must promote a specific objective of common interest, e.g. research, development and innovation (R&D&I), or environmental protection;
(...)

3.138. The GBER allows for aid in favour of: regional investment; SMEs and access to finance for SMEs; environmental protection; consultancy in favour of SMEs; Research Development and Innovation (R&D&I); training; employment of disadvantaged and disabled workers; culture and heritage conservation; local infrastructures; broadband infrastructures; sport and multifunctional recreational infrastructures; and transport for residents of promoted regions. (...)

3.143. The Commission publishes, annually, a state aid scoreboard based on expenditure reports by member States. (...) About 53% of total spending was attributed to state aid for environmental and energy savings. In 2017, about 94% of total state aid spending was allocated to horizontal objectives of common interest or "good aid" (e.g. environmental protection, R&D&I and regional development). (...)

Table 3.14 Non-crisis related state aid, 2013-17
Table Heading: Non- Agricultural Aid; 2013; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017
(...)
Compensation for damages caused by natural disasters; 236.1; 433.9; 389.7; 601.1; 589.6
(...)
Environmental protection, including energy saving; 15,822.1; 42,394.0; 46,805.3; 57,104.8; 61,278.1

3.146. In 2017, Germany (EUR 43 billion) and France (EUR 17 billion) provided over 50% of the total of non-crisis related state aid in the EU (Chart 3.6). In Germany's case, 80% of total state aid (less railways) was devoted to environmental protection, including energy saving. (...)

3.173. (...) The purpose of conformity assessment is to ensure consistency of compliance from design to production, and to allow acceptance of the final product. Conformity assessment procedures in the EU product legislation range from a self-certification examination and production quality control system, to a full quality assurance system, depending on the impact of the product on the protection of public interest (health, safety, environment, etc.). (...)

3.184. In addition to the three European Standardization Organizations (ESOs), the Commission plays a role in standardization by funding participation in the standardization process by SMEs and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as environmental and consumer groups and trade unions. (...)

3.185. In October 2018, the Commission identified a number of strategic priorities for European standardization in support of Union legislation and policies in the fields of ICT, climate, circular economy, defence, space and security, among others. (...)

3.188. The participants of the Joint Initiative on Standardisation (JIS) are the Commission; EU member States; EFTA countries; European Standardization Organizations (ESOs), European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), and European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI); NSBs; European industry also represented by several associations including SMEs; and societal stakeholders, i.e. representing environmental interests, trade unions and consumers. JIS activities include a wide range of actions, such as programmes for education in standardization, improvement standardization awareness in national public authorities, a pilot project on aiding the implementation of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) through standards, and another pilot project on the increased use of standards in public procurement

3.190. (...) CEN and CENELEC will focus on: a harmonized single market; a competitive European industry ready to lead in international trade; trust in new technologies; enhanced innovation for Europe; and the sustainable development goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.