Infrastructure: State aid: Commission approves €1.15 million Romanian scheme to support airlines in the context of the coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved a €1.15 million Romanian scheme to support airlines affected by the coronavirus outbreak resuming or starting regular flights from/to Târgu Mure? Transilvania Airport. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. Under the scheme, the public support will take the form of direct grants up to a maximum of €600,000 per beneficiary.

The aid amount per company will be calculated based on an individual score derived from certain evaluation factors, such as for example the number of flights per week. The purpose of the scheme is to mitigate the sudden liquidity shortages that the beneficiaries are facing due to the coronavirus outbreak and the restrictive measures that the Romanian government had to implement to limit the spread of the virus.

The Commission found that the Romanian scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, the aid (i) will not exceed the limits per beneficiary set by the Temporary Framework; and (ii) will be granted no later than 31 December 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.

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