State aid: Commission approves €93.3 million Danish schemes to support self-employed workers and freelancers affected by coronavirus outbreak
The European Commission has approved two Danish schemes to support self-employed workers and freelancers affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The schemes were approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. The first scheme, with an estimated budget of approximately €66.5 million (DKK 500 million), will be open to self-employed workers active in all sectors of the economy except the financial sector, which are facing liquidity shortage as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The second scheme, with an estimated budget of approximately €26.8 million (DKK 200 million), will be open to self-employed workers and freelancers whose yearly income is strongly dependent on delivering goods or services that are linked to large events, which were initially planned for the summer of this year but had to be cancelled or postponed due to the emergency measures put in place by the Danish Government to limit the spread of the coronavirus. A beneficiary receiving aid from one of the two schemes cannot receive aid from the other one, nor from any other coronavirus related Danish schemes for the same eligible costs. The Commission found that the Danish schemes are in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, the aid envisaged in both schemes does not exceed €100,000 per company active in the primary production of agricultural products, €120,000 per company active in the fishery and aquaculture sector, and €800,000 per company active in all other sectors. The Commission concluded that the measures 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 decisions will be made available under the case numbers SA.57919 and SA.57920 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website.
