Member Article

This new framework will remain in force until 31December 2020 and it allows Member States to provide:

a) Aid in the form of direct grants, selective tax advantages and repayable advance payments, up to EUR 800,000 per company, to companies in most economic sectors to meet their urgent liquidity needs;

b) State guarantees for loans taken out by companies from banks and the framework defines, among other possibilities, minimum guarantee premiums for this purpose;

c) Aid to companies in the form of subsidised interest rates for loans. Loans can be granted at reduced interest rates that are at least equal to the base rate (IBOR one year or equivalent published by the Commission) in force on 1 January 2020, plus credit risk margins similar to those identified in the table above;

d) State guarantees for loans or aid in the form of interest rates subsidies may be granted not only directly to companies, but also through credit institutions or other financial institutions;

e) Short-term export credit insurance, upon presentation of evidence of the unavailability of risk coverage in the private insurance market.

Diagram of the mechanisms available to Member States tosupport the economy under the new temporary framework

To keep Member States informed, the European Commission created a dedicated mailbox and a phone number for any queries they have or measures they would like to discuss in these times of uncertainty.

Finally, the European Commission has already published a notification form for the state measures implemented to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19, which should be used by Member States, depending on the type of measure in question. The European Commission has also undertaken to take a decision quickly on measures notified to it.

This note was drawn up on 20 March 2020. It is not intended to be exhaustive and it should never substitute specific legal advice.