ESA adopts new State aid guidelines for sustainable land and multimodal transport
The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has adopted new State aid guidelines for land and multimodal transport (LMTG), aligning its framework with that of the European Commission to ensure consistent application across the European Economic Area (EEA).
The guidelines clarify how notified aid measures in the sustainable transport sector will be assessed, facilitating faster and more predictable support by EEA EFTA States for greener transport solutions. They follow the Commission’s adoption of similar rules in March 2026, alongside the Transport Block Exemption Regulation (TBER), which will further simplify procedures once incorporated into the EEA framework.
The new guidelines replace ESA’s 2008 Guidelines on State aid for railway undertakings and broaden the scope to cover rail, inland waterways and sustainable multimodal transport. They provide greater flexibility for both investment and operating aid, including support for new transport services, infrastructure, and public service obligations in rail freight. In addition, the framework promotes the green and digital transition and facilitates market entry and access to finance, supporting a more competitive and sustainable transport sector across Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.