State aid: Commission approves two Slovenian schemes to support companies affected by the coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has found the modification of a an existing Slovenian scheme to support the economy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak, as well as a new measure, to be in line with the State aid Temporary Framework. The original scheme was approved on 26 June 2020 under case number SA.57558. The Commission approved amendments to the scheme on 24 July (SA.58037) and 11 November 2020 (SA.59099). Slovenia notified the modification of one of the four measures included in the original scheme, namely the measure granting wage subsidies to certain companies affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The amendment includes a few technical clarifications. The Commission found that the scheme, as modified, remains in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. At the same time, Slovenia notified a new measure that will provide grants to employers in order to cover a 100% reimbursement of the wage compensations (including social security contributions), for November, December 2020 and January 2021. The new measure will be funded within the budget of €1,350 million approved by the Commission under the second amendment of the existing scheme (SA.59099). The Commission found that the new measure is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, (i) the grants will not exceed €100,000 per company active in the primary agricultural production, €120,000 per company active in the fishery and aquaculture sector and €800,000 per company active in all other sectors; (ii) the aid will be granted no later than 30 June 2021; and (iii) the aid may be granted to micro and small enterprises that were in difficulty on 31 December 2019, if those enterprises, at the moment of granting the aid, were not subject to a collective insolvency procedure under national law and they have not received rescue or restructuring aid. The Commission concluded that both the amended scheme and the new measure are 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 measures under EU State aid rules. More information on the Temporary Framework and other 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 case numbers SA.59943 and SA.61019 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.