State aid: Commission approves €3.4 million Danish scheme to support TV producers affected by coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €3.4 million (approximately DKK 25 million) Danish scheme to support TV producers affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. Under the scheme, the support will take the form of direct grants. The scheme will be open to TV production companies registered in the Danish Central Business Register (CVR), regardless of the location in which the TV productions were planned to take place. The support is expected to benefit around 20 production companies that were affected by the restrictive measures that the Danish government had to impose to limit the spread of the coronavirus, which led to cancellation and postponement of a number of TV productions in the period from 11 March to 22 May 2020. The aim of the scheme is to mitigate the sudden liquidity shortages that the beneficiaries are facing, and to ensure continuity of their economic activity. The Commission found that the scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, the support (i) will not exceed €800,000 per beneficiary; and (ii) aid will be granted before 30 June 2021. The Commission concluded that the measure is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State, in line with Article 107(3)(b) TFEU and the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the measure under EU State aid rules. More information on the Temporary Framework and the actions taken by the Commission to address the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.60074 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.