10/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - Extension of Portuguese and British schemes to aid the economy. On Monday 10 January, the European Commission authorised the extension until 31 December 2011 of both the Portuguese and UK state aid schemes for the real economy. In line with the temporary framework for access by businesses to finance during the crisis, these schemes allow for temporary aid of up to €500,000 per beneficiary to be granted. In both cases, beneficiaries had to apply for aid before 31 December 2010 and national authorities must grant the aid no later than 31 December 2011. The Commission considered that the schemes, which are limited in time, respect the relevant thresholds and apply only to companies that were not in difficulty on 1 July 2008, as required under the temporary framework, as extended on 1 December 2010 with more stringent conditions to encourage a gradual return to market conditions (see EUROPE 10268). The Portuguese scheme was first approved on 29 January 2009 and the UK scheme on 4 February 2009. (F.G./transl.rt)