News
New Rules on Regional State Aid in Serbia
The Government of Serbia adopted on 11 March 2021 two new bylaws under the State Aid Control Act.
Illegal State Aid Threatens to Sink Montenegrin Maritime Transport Companies
Following the decision on opening an investigation into alleged illegal state aid to Montenegrin airline company Montenegro Airlines, which led to grounding of its airplanes and termination of transport operations in December 2020, the Montenegrin Agency for Protection of Competition has opened two more investigations into alleged illegal state aid granted to state-owned transport companies.
State Aid in the Time of COVID-19 Crisis
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of European countries are taking extraordinary measures in an effort to slow down the spread of infection and cope with the toll that the epidemic is taking on the healthcare sector and economy in general. In addition to being a serious threat to life and health for a large number of people, COVID-19 is hurting the economy through severe disruptions of production, financial markets, supply chains, and workforces.
Serbia Has New State Aid Control Act
The Serbian National Assembly enacted on 10 October 2019 the new State Aid Control Act, which will become applicable only on 1 January 2020 (with the exception of the provisions regulating the organisation of the Commission for State Aid Control (“Commission“), which are already applicable).
The new legislation was drafted with a view to harmonization with the European Union’s acquis in this field. It remedies to a significant extent the shortcomings of the existing State aid law.
State Aid: European Commission Approves EUR 300 Million Public Co-Finance for the Greek Ultrafast Broadband Scheme
According to the Digital Economy and Society Index 2019 (DESI 2019), Greece ranks 26th amongst EU countries in fast broadband coverage per household. In particular, only 66% of homes have access to fast internet of above 30 Mbps, far below the EU coverage of 83%, and less than 1% have access to ultrafast broadband of at least 100 Mbps.
The European Commission has recently approved as compatible State Aid €300 million of public support for Greece's Ultrafast Broadband Infrastructure Scheme (publication of decision pending - case number SA.53135). The scheme will bring ultrafast broadband services to approximately 2.400.000 customers in areas with insufficient connectivity in Greece.
COVID-19
COVID-19: Intervention Measures to Support the Slovenian Economy
On 21 April 2020, the Slovenian Government proposed the amendments to the Act on Intervention Measures for Suppression of COVID-19 Epidemic and Mitigation of its Consequences for Citizens and the Economy as adopted by the Slovenian Parliament on 3 April 2020.
Covid-19 and EU State Aid Developments: The European Commission Shows Quick Reflexes in its Effort to Alleviate the Economic Impact of the Pandemic th...
When the effects of the pandemic first became apparent, it also became clear that the European Commission would need to put forward all available tools to support the EU’s economy. In this context, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated on 10 March 2020, amongst others, that the Commission would “make sure that state aid can flow to companies that need it”.
State Aid in the Time of COVID-19 Crisis
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of European countries are taking extraordinary measures in an effort to slow down the spread of infection and cope with the toll that the epidemic is taking on the healthcare sector and economy in general. In addition to being a serious threat to life and health for a large number of people, COVID-19 is hurting the economy through severe disruptions of production, financial markets, supply chains, and workforces.
