The European Commission has adopted a Regulation, which will come into force in the coming weeks, giving automatic approval for a range of aid measures that allow Member States to grant such aid without first notifying the Commission. The Regulation authorises aid in favour of SMEs, research, innovation, regional development, training, employment and risk capital. Furthermore it authorises environmental protection aid, aid measures promoting entrepreneurship such as aid for young innovative businesses, aid for newly created small businesses in assisted regions, and measures tackling problems, like difficulties in access to finance, faced by female entrepreneurs. As well as encouraging Member States to focus their state resources on aid that will be of real benefit to job creation and Europe’s competitiveness, the Regulation reduces the administrative burden for public authorities, the beneficiaries and the Commission.