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EUROPEAN COMMISSION Competition DG The Director General Brussels, 16 September 2020 COMP/A3 DV/tb *HT.5833-2020/106117 PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, AUSTRIA PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, BELGIUM PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, BULGARIA PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, CROATIA PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, CYPRUS PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, CZECH REPUBLIC PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, DENMARK PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, ESTONIAN REPUBLIC PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, FINLAND PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, FRANCE PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, GERMANY PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, GREECE PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, IRELAND PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, ITALY PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, LATVIAN REPUBLIC PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, LUXEMBOURG PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, MALTA PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, THE NETHERLANDS PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, POLAND PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, PORTUGAL PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, ROMANIA PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, SPAIN PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, SLOVAK REPUBLIC PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, SLOVENIAN REPUBLIC PERMANENT REPRESENTATION, SWEDEN Subject: State aid in the COVID-19 crisis: survey and data collection for assessing the way forward of the Temporary Framework On 19 March 2020, the Commission adopted a State aid Temporary Framework to support the economy in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, based on Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The Temporary Framework was amended on 3 April 2020, 8 May 2020 and 29 June 2020 and is expiring at the end of 2020, with the exception of recapitalisation measures that are supposed to expire at the end of June 2020. In view of the envisaged expiry date of the Temporary Framework, the Commission seeks to obtain from Member State information about your experiences with this Framework and the response to COVID-19. For this reason, we would like to consult your authorities via the survey enclosed to this letter. The survey contains three main sections: (1) A data request and related questions on actual aid granted for all COVID-19 related State aid measures put in place by Member States and approved by the Commission. Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111 [email protected]  (2) A data request and related questions of some economic indicators to contextualize the information on granted aid. (3) Questions to seek views on the way forward. You are kindly requested to submit:  your answers to the questions contained in the document “EC - SURVEY – STATE AID IN THE COVID-19 CRISIS.docx”,  the excel file “EC - DATA COLLECTION – STATE AID IN THE COVID-19 CRISIS.xlsx” duly filled in, We would be grateful to receive your input by Tuesday 6 October 2020 close of business at the email address [email protected]. When sending your input please refer to HT 5847 - State aid in the COVID-19 crisis: survey and data collection for assessing the way forward of the Temporary Framework. Both the Word and the Excel file shall be sent with password protection. The password to access the protected figures should be sent to the Commission in a separate email. Yours faithfully, [e-signed] Olivier GUERSENT Enclosure:  Survey – State aid in the COVID-19 crisis  Data collection via the Excel template file “EC - DATA COLLECTION – STATE AID IN THE COVID-19 CRISIS.xlsx”  Brussels, 16 September 2020 Survey – State aid in the Covid-19 crisis Data collection for assessing the way forward of the Temporary Framework Introduction On 19 March 2020, the Commission adopted a State aid Temporary Framework to support the economy in the context of the COVID -19 outbreak, based on Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The Temporary Framework was amended on 3 April 2020 , 8 May 2020 and 29 June 2020 . The Temporary Framework recognises that the entire EU economy is experiencing a serious disturbance. It enables Member States to use the full flexibility foreseen under State aid rules to support the economy and combat the public health crisis , while limiting negative consequences to the level playing field in the Single Market. Alongside the Temporary Framework, Member States could also design support measures in line w ith Block Exemption Regulations without the involvement of the Commission . They could also design measures on the basis of Article 107(3)(c) TFEU and as further specified in the Rescue and Restructuring State aid Guidelines . Finally, Member States could also compensate undertakings in sectors for damages suffered as a result of measures taken to contain the COVID -19 outbreak on the basis of Article 107(2)(b) TFEU . Since the beginning of the COVID -19 crisis and the implementation of the Temporary framework, the European Commission has authorised 289 d ecisions under Temporary Framework, under Article 107(3)(b) TFEU, Article 107(2)(b) TFEU and Article 107(3)(c) TFEU . In this context, and in light of the envisaged expiry date of the Temporary Framework, the Commission seeks to obtain from Member State information that would be useful to inform the thinking around the need and manner in which to continue the State aid response to COVID -19. This survey contains three main sections: A data request and related questions on actual aid granted for all COVID -19 related State aid measures put in place by Member States and approved by the Commission . This information is crucial to understand how Member States are making concrete use of the flexibility foreseen under State aid rules to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. While COVID -19 State aid measures are subject to specific monitoring and reporting provisions , such information will not become completely available to the Commission until the end of 2021 at the earliest. Given this background and in order to avoid creating a disproportionate burden for Member States , the Commission seeks to obtain from Member State aggregate information on the actual take-up of COVID -19 State aid measures , including in the form of best estimates, orders of magnitude or ranges if precise figures are not available . A data request of some economic indicators to contextualize the information on granted aid . Q uestions to seek views on the way forward of the Temporary Framework . Full cooperation by Member States is of the essence in order for the Commission to perform this assessment based on sound and reliable information . To avoid creating a disproportionate burden for M ember States , th is survey focus es as much as possible on data that M ember States are already collecting . Instructions Member States are kindly asked to read this set of instructions carefully before compiling the survey . In order to assure an accurate statistical treatment of the data collected, the Commission kindly ask s Member States to follow the instructions below: Please provide the data for all COVID -19 State aid measures approved under the Temporary Framework , directly under Article 107(2)(b) TFEU, Article 107(3)(b) TFEU, as well as based on Article 107(3)(c) TFEU and as further specified in the Rescue and Restructuring State aid Guidelines . Please provide the data in a machine-readable format (ie. Excel or csv files) using the dedicated template attached to this survey . Data should be provided at aggregate level , covering all regio ns and all granting authorities. If it is not possible to provide aggregated data, Member States have the possibility to send disaggregated data to the Commission, for example by beneficiary or time series. In this case, the Commission will take upon itself the task of aggregating the information . In case a piece of information is not available, please provide best estimates and mention it in your reply; aggregates can also be provided as orders of magnitude or in ranges. All monetary amounts shall be expressed in thousands of Euro s . Please provide the data in nominal amount , and not in gross grant equivalent; Data should refer to the cut-off reference date indicated in the template , i.e. 30 June 2020 . If data is only available at a date before 30 June 2020, the reference date should be clearly reported in the file. The data collection includes also optional columns where Member States can provide data at a date after 30 June 2020 , if available. This shall be regarded as additional information that in no case can replace the mandatory information at 30 June 2020. Data should always be reported in the appropriate cell, even if the requested information is missing. If a value is not available (meaning that best estimates are not possible), this should be reported as "n.a.". Values equal to zero should always be reported as zeros (i.e., only true zeros should be encoded as "0"). As a result, no cell in the data file should be empty. Any other feature of the specific data items that will be shared with the European Commission that is not covered by these instructions or by the template, and that is deemed to be relevant for their subsequent use, should be described by the Member State with the greatest possible detail at the time of the submission of the file(s). Content of the survey Use of State aid b y Member States during the COVID -19 crisis Please fill-in the template “ EC - DATA COLLECTION – STATE AID IN THE COVID -19 CRISIS.xlsx ” with data relative to the amount of aid granted in nominal terms ( i.e. nominal amount ) . Aid granted is any aid arising from a l egally binding commitment from the Member State to award the aid that can be invoked before the national courts . This differs from aid paid out. The file contains several tabs for different breakdown s . Tab1 – “State aid measures - TF ” : Total amount of aid granted for measures approved under the Temporary Framework , breakdown by State aid measure and Temporary Framework section in nominal amount and EUR thousand ; Tab 2 – “State aid measures - Treaty ” : Total amount of aid granted for measures approved directly under the Treaty , breakdown by State aid measure, in nominal amount and EUR thousand; Tab 3 – “Sectors” : Total amount of aid granted, breakdown by sector (identified by th e main section of the NACE code of the beneficiary), in nominal amount and EUR thousand ; Tab 4 – “Beneficiary type” : Total amount of aid granted, breakdown by type of beneficiary ( e.g. large undertakings , SMEs) , in nominal amount and EUR thousand . Please insert below your comments if any ( e.g. if best estimates are provided) . Click here to enter text. Were schemes approved prior to the coronavirus outbreak in March 2020 used to mitigate the effects of the COVID -19 crisis in your Member State ? If yes, please mention the S tate aid case number of the schemes concerned. ☐ Yes ☐ No Click here to enter text. Were GBER , ABER or FIBER schemes used to mitigate the effects of the COVID -19 crisis in your Member State ? If yes, please mention the State aid case number of the schemes concerned. ☐ Yes ☐ No Click here to enter text. General economic indicators to contextuali ze the information on State aid To allow the Commission to develop a coherent framework for further action, Member States are requested to provide a restricted set of additional economic indicator s via the attached template “ EC - DATA COLLECTION – STATE AID IN THE COVID -19 CRISIS.xlsx ” . These indicators will help orient Commission’s decisions and better shape the possible prolongation of the Temporary Framework, which require s taking into consideration the overall macroeconomic dimension. Please fill-in “ Tab 5 – Economic Indicators ” of the template “ EC - DATA COLLECTION – STATE AID IN THE COVID -19 CRISIS.xlsx ” with the data requested. Please insert below your comments , if any. Click here to enter text. P lease provide an overview of any other measure that does not constitute State aid (e.g. tax measures , vouchers, etc.) introduced to contrast the crisis. If possible, provide a rough estimate of the expected lost revenues for the State . Click here to enter text. Questions on the State aid Temporary Framework Do you think that the current rules set out in the Temporary Framework are sufficient to address the liquidity needs for a temporary halt of activity, the financial needs to adjust to the restrictive measures and the solvency concerns that companies are facing due to the restrictive measures taken by Member States to limit the spread of COVID -19? Please explain . Click here to enter text. Do you have evidence or forecasts pointing to the fact that liquidity shortage issues or other kinds of economic problems are likely to persist after 2020 ? Click here to enter text. Do you have any specific evidence concerning the performance of trade credit insurance in 2020 and forecast for 2021 and after? Please explain . Click here to enter text. What are your views on a possible extension of the Temporary Framework after the end of 2020 (and mid-2021 for recapitalisation measures) ? Please justify ( e.g. budgetary or administrative constraints that hinder the use of the measures by December 2020; general uncertainty about the COVID situation; etc. ) Click here to enter text. For what types of temporary State aid measures among the ones set out in section 3 of the Temporary Framework should a possible extension of the Temporary Framework after December 2020 apply? Which ones do you believe are no longer needed? Please explain . Click here to enter text. Do you think that additional types of measures should be added to the Temporary Framework? Please explain which ones and why. Click here to enter text. In your opinion, should the compatibility conditions set out in point 22(a) and 23(a) of the Temporary Framework be modified and how ? Please explain and justify why the current limits are not adequate. Click here to enter text. Do you think that the current rules set out in the Temporary Framework are not adequate to address the concerns of some specific sectors of the economy? Please explain which rules and how they could be amended. Click here to enter text. D o you think that certain provisions set out in the Temporary Framework should be repealed or reduced ? Please explain . Click here to enter text. Transmission of the data Member States are kindly requested to submit the information electronically by Tuesday 6 October 2020 close of business at the email address [email protected] (the same address can be used for questions about the survey ). Member States should submit the present survey duly filled in in Word format along with the Excel file “ EC - DATA COLLECTION – STATE AID IN THE COVID-19 CRISIS.xlsx ” that accompanies this survey . Both t he Word and the Excel file s shall be sent with password protection . The password to access the protected figures should be sent to the Commission in a separate email. -191770 689610 Responsible manager: VAN DE CASTEELE Koen Responsible team: BOD D IN Valérie CANNAS Giuseppina GALLI DE PARATESI Davide MATHIEU COLLIN Antoine VIDONI Daniele 0 20000 Responsible manager: VAN DE CASTEELE Koen Responsible team: BOD D IN Valérie CANNAS Giuseppina GALLI DE PARATESI Davide MATHIEU COLLIN Antoine VIDONI Daniele Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium Meie 24.09.2020 nr 12.1-1/6506-1 [email protected] Euroopa Komisjoni küsimustik ajutiste meetmete kohta Austatud kolleegid Euroopa Komisjon võttis 19. märtsil 2020 vastu teatise „Riigiabi ajutine raamistik majanduse toetamiseks praeguse COVID-19 puhangu kontekstis“ (edaspidi „ajutine raamistik“), mida on kolm korda muudetud1. Seoses ajutise raamistiku kehtivuse kavandatud lõppemisega 31. detsembril 2020 soovib Euroopa Komisjon liikmeriikidelt informatsiooni nii ajutise raamistiku kasutamise kogemuse kui ka COVID-19 seotud meetmetest üldiselt. Palume tutvuda käesolevale kirjale lisatud dokumentidega ja saata Rahandusministeeriumile k.a 2. oktoobriks vastused järgmistele Euroopa Komisjoni poolt esitatud küsimustele: 1) küsimustiku 1. osa (Content of the survey, 1.Use of State aid by Member States during COVID-19 crisis) punktides 3 ja 4 toodud küsimustele; 2) küsimustiku 2. osa (Content of the survey, 2. General economic indicators to contextualize the information on State aid) punktis 3 toodud küsimusele; 3) küsimustiku 3. osas (Content of the survey, 3. Questions to the State aid Temporary Framework ) toodud küsimustele. Rahandusministeerium koondab vastused ja esitab Euroopa Komisjonile. Täiendavalt lisame, et exceli tabelis nõutud statistilised andmed ajutise raamistiku alusel riigiabi andmise loa saanud meetmete lõikes esitame Euroopa Komisjonile riigiabi ja vähese tähtsusega abi registrile esitatud informatsiooni alusel. 1Riigiabi ajutine raamistik majanduse toetamiseks praeguse COVID-19 puhangu kontekstis (ELT C 91 I, 20.3.2020, lk 1–9, muudetud ELT C 112 I, 4.04.2020, lk 1–9; ELT C 164, 13.05.2020, lk 3–15; ELT C 218, 2.07.2020, lk 3–8). Ajutise raamistiku konsolideeritud versioon on kättesaadav aadressil https://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/what_is_new/TF_consolidated_version_amended_3_april _8_may_and_29_june_2020_et.pdf. Suur-Ameerika 1 / 10122 Tallinn / 611 3558 / [email protected] / www.rahandusministeerium.ee registrikood 70000272 Lugupidamisega (allkirjastatud digitaalselt) Veiko Tali kantsler Lisa(d): Euroopa Komisjoni kiri koos lisadega Ljudmilla Sokolnikova 611 3360 [email protected] /*Lisaadressaadid: Kaitseministeerium Keskkonnaministeerium Kultuuriministeerium 2 Maaeluministeerium Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium Siseministeerium Sotsiaalministeerium Maaelu Edendamise Sihtasutus SA KredEx Ettevõtluse Arendamise Sihtasutus Tallinna Linnakantselei Eesti Töötukassa Riigi Tugiteenuste Keskus 3  This tab concerns only measures approved under the Temporary Framework of 19 March, amended All monetary amounts should be reported in EUR thousands All monetary amounts should be reported as of 30 June 2020 Please insert a line for each State aid measure, as shown in the examples. Budget of the measure - Total amount State aid number, as If cut-off date is committed in indicated in the text of before 30 June Measure title national the decision approved 2020, please budgetary laws by the Commission specify for the measure (in EUR thousand) SA.1234 [example] State aid for X SA.1235 [example] State aid for Y e Temporary Framework of 19 March, amended on 3 April , 8 May 2020 and 29 June 2020 Total amount granted (nominal amount) in EUR of which 3.1 3.1 - of which direct grants, thousand from Limited 3.1 - of which 3.1 - of which repayable Commission's approval of amounts of aid - advances or tax guarantees loans the measure until 30 June Total advantages 2020  of which 3.3 Aid of which 3.6 Aid of which 3.2 Aid in the form of 3.3 - of which for COVID-19 3.1 - of which in the form of 3.3 - of which subsidised subordinated relevant equity guarantees on subsidised loans interest rates loans research and loans for loans - Total development  of which 3.10 of which 3.8 of which 3.9 Aid Aid in form of OPTIONAL of which 3.7 Investment aid in form of wage subsidies If additional data Investment aid for the of which 3.11 deferrals of tax for employees is avaialble after for testing and production of Recapitalisation and/or of social to avoid lay-offs 30 June 2020, upscaling COVID-19 measures security during the please specify infrastructures relevant contributions COVID-19 the date products outbreak OPTIONAL Total amount granted (nominal amount) in EUR thousand from Commission's approval of the measure until the date indicated in Column U This tab concerns only measures approved directly under the Treaty Art. 107(2)(b), Art. 107(3)(b) an All monetary amounts should be reported in EUR thousands All monetary amounts should be reported as of 30 June 2020 Please insert a line for each State aid measure, as shown in the examples. Budget of the measure - Total amount State aid number, as If cut-off date is committed in indicated in the text of before 30 June Measure title national the decision approved 2020, please budgetary laws by the Commission specify for the measure (in EUR thousand) SA.1234 [example] State aid for X SA.1235 [example] State aid for Y nder the Treaty Art. 107(2)(b), Art. 107(3)(b) and based on Art. 107(3)(c) and Guidelines on rescue and restructuring Total amount granted Total amount Total amount Total amount OPTIONAL (nominal amount) in EUR granted granted granted If additional data (nominal (nominal (nominal thousand from is avaialble after amount) in EUR amount) in EUR amount) in EUR Commission's approval of thousand - of thousand - of thousand - of 30 June 2020, the measure until 30 June which direct which which any other please specify 2020 grants guarantees type of measure the date Guidelines on rescue and restructuring aid OPTIONAL Total amount granted (nominal amount) in EUR thousand from Commission's approval of the measure until the date indicated in Column I All monetary amounts should be reported in EUR thousands All monetary amounts should be reported as of 30 June 2020 NACE Code level 1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U netary amounts should be reported in EUR thousands netary amounts should be reported as of 30 June 2020 Name Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Mining and Quarrying Manufacturing Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities Construction Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles Transportation and Storage Accommodation and Food Service Activities Information and Communication Financial and Insurance Activities Real Estate Activities Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities Administrative and Support Service Activities Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security Education Human Health and Social Work Activities Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Other Service Activities Activities of Households as Employers; Undifferentiate Goods and Services Producing Activities of Households for Own Use Activities of Extraterritorial Organisations and Bodies  OPTIONAL Total amount granted (nominal If cut-off date is before 30 If additional data is avaialble after amount) in EUR thousands until 30 June 2020, please specify 30 June 2020, please specify the June 2020 date Households for Own Use OPTIONAL Total amount granted (nominal amount) in EUR thousand as of the date indicated in Column E All monetary amounts should be reported in EUR thousands All monetary amounts should be reported as of 30 June 2020 If cut-off date is before 30 June 2020, please Type of companies specify Large enterprises SMEs of which small enterprises of which medium-sized of which micro enterprises of which Start-ups please provide your national definition of start-up  OPTIONAL Total amount granted (nominal amount) in If additional data is avaialble after EUR thousands until 30 June 2020 30 June 2020, please specify the date OPTIONAL Total amount granted (nominal amount) in EUR thousand as of the date indicated in Column D Economic indicator Total expenditure for workers in employment benefits 2019-Q2 Total expenditure for workers in employment benefits 2020-Q2 Enterprise closure rate, large enterprises 2019-Q2 Enterprise closure rate, large enterprises 2020-Q2 Enterprise closure rate, SMEs 2019-Q2 Enterprise closure rate, SMEs 2020-Q2 GDP growth forecast for 2020 GDP growth forecast for 2021 Description In EUR million, Q2 2019. If the reference period differs, please indicate in the cell "Comment" In EUR million, Q2 2020. If the reference period differs, please indicate in the cell "Comment" Number of large enterprise closures as a percentage of the population of active enterprises in Q2 2019. An enterprise closure is the termination of an enterprise. Closures do not include: - exits from the population of active enterprises due to mergers, take-overs, break-ups or restructuring of a set of enterprises; - exits from a sub-population resulting only from a change of activity. Number of large enterprise closures as a percentage of the population of active enterprises in Q2 2020. An enterprise closure is the termination of an enterprise. Closures do not include: - exits from the population of active enterprises due to mergers, take-overs, break-ups or restructuring of a set of enterprises; - exits from a sub-population resulting only from a change of activity. Number of SME closures as a percentage of the population of active enterprises in Q2 2019. An enterprise closure is the termination of an enterprise. Closures do not include: - exits from the population of active enterprises due to mergers, take-overs, break-ups or restructuring of a set of enterprises; - exits from a sub-population resulting only from a change of activity. Number of SME closures as a percentage of the population of active enterprises in Q2 2020. An enterprise closure is the termination of an enterprise. Closures do not include: - exits from the population of active enterprises due to mergers, take-overs, break-ups or restructuring of a set of enterprises; - exits from a sub-population resulting only from a change of activity. Value Comment