EUU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 14: Notat samt høringssvar vedr. ændring og forlængelse af midlertidige rammebetingelser for statsstøttetiltag ifm. til COVID-19

Europaudvalget 2021-22
EUU Alm.del Bilag 14
Offentligt

NOTE

8 October 2021

Danish Government response to the urgent consultation on the 6th

amendment of Temporary Framework for State aid measures to sup-

port the economy in the current COVID-19 outbreak

The Danish Government welcomes the Commission’s

proposal to a 6

amendment to the Temporary Framework clarifying the Covid-19 state aid

regime for 2022 and 2023.

Since its first adoption in March 2020 the Temporary Framework has been

a very useful tool in order to cope with the negative impact on the economy

and undertakings during the Covid-19 outbreak.

In particular, we welcome the proposal to increase the aid ceiling of the

uncovered fixed cost measures to 12 mil. Euro in order to address the pro-

longed economic effects of the ongoing crisis caused by the long duration

of restrictions and former lockdowns.

Please, find below our comments to the draft 6

amendment.

1. Prolongation

The Danish Government accepts a general prolongation of the measures set

out in the Temporary Framework until 30 June 2022 while maintaining the

objective of returning to the normal state aid regime as soon as the situation

allows it.

Furthermore, we agree that it is necessary to enable the conversion of

repayable aid instruments into other forms of aid under section 3.1 and

section 3.12 of the Temporary Framework until 30 June 2023.

2. Section 3.12

–

increased ceiling

We support the proposal for an increase of the aid ceiling in section 3.12 of

the Temporary Framework, which enables targeted support to companies

that experienced significant turnover losses.

In order to meet the requirements of the companies particularly affected by

COVID-19 and the long duration of restrictions and former lockdowns

Denmark advocates for an increase of the aid ceiling of Temporary Frame-

work 3.12 with a minimum of 25 pct. so that the aid ceiling corresponds to

EUU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 14: Notat samt høringssvar vedr. ændring og forlængelse af midlertidige rammebetingelser for statsstøttetiltag ifm. til COVID-19

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the prolongation of the Temporary Framework measures until 30 June

2022.

3. New provisions enabling sustainability investment (TF 3.13)

and solvency support (TF 3.14)

We welcome the introduction of the new provisions enabling sustainability

investment and solvency support.

The possibility to support private investment as a stimulus to overcome an

investment gap accumulated in the economy due to the crisis is very appro-

priate.

As set out in point 52 of the draft 6

amendment to the Temporary Frame-

work such a stimulus could facilitate the development of certain economic

activities or of certain economic areas, and we welcome the fact that the

Commission will consider such measures compatible with the internal mar-

ket under Article 107(3)(c) TFEU if the conditions are met.

We also welcome the possibility to support the economic recovery by

strengthening the solvency undertakings, and we find it necessary that the

Commission will consider such schemes compatible with the internal mar-

ket under Article 107(3)(c) TFEU if the conditions are met.

4. Application of article 107(3)(b)

We appreciate the Commission's proposal to clarify and amend the scope

of TFEU article 107(3)(b) in the proposed new recital 41.

5. Short-term export-credit

insurance (“STEC”)

We support that the Commission will continue to consider all commercial

and political risks associated with exports to the countries listed in the

Annex to the STEC as temporarily non-marketable until 30 June 2022.

Hence, we support the proposal to amend the list of marketable risk coun-

tries set out in the Annex to the STEC.

6. Other points

–

the concept of a single undertaking and in-

creased aid ceiling in Section 3.1

We invite the Commission to include a clarification of the concept and def-

inition of a single undertaking in the revision of the Temporary Framework.

Finally, the Danish Government urges the Commission to increase the aid

ceiling in Section 3.1 with a minimum of 25 pct. for the same reasons as

mentioned above.