State aid: Commission approves €96 million Italian scheme to support companies in Lombardy in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

The European Commission has approved a €96 million Italian scheme to support companies in the region of Lombardy in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted by the Commission on 23 March 2022 and amended on 20 July 2022. The measure will be open to all companies active in Lombardy, regardless of their size and of the activity performed. Credit and financial institutions, as well as companies active in the primary agriculture and in the fisheries sectors are however excluded. The measure follows other Italian schemes to support the agricultural, forestry, fishery and aquaculture sectors, for instance the one that the Commission approved on 18 May 2022(SA.102896). The scheme is aimed at ensuring that sufficient liquidity remains available to companies affected by the current geopolitical crisis and the subsequent sanctions and countersanctions, allowing them to continue their economic activity in this difficult context. Under the scheme, the eligible beneficiaries will be entitled to receive limited amounts of aid in the form of direct grants, guarantees and loans. The Commission found that the scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis Framework. In particular, the aid (i) will not exceed €500,000 per company; and (ii) will be granted no later than 31 December 2022. The Commission concluded that the Italian scheme 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 Crisis Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the aid measure under EU State aid rules. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under case number SA.103947 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website, once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.