The European Commission approved, on Friday 10 June, a €24 million Italian scheme to support workers’ cooperatives in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.
This aid was approved under the Temporary Framework for State Aid.
The measure will be open to workers’ cooperatives established, as of 1 January 2022, under the form of small enterprises, in order to take over previous businesses heavily affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The scheme aims to reduce the labour costs borne by eligible worker cooperatives and ultimately to preserve and encourage employment levels.
The aid will take the form of an exemption from the payment of compulsory social security contributions (with the exception of those referred to insurance for accident at work) of the workers who set up the cooperative, for a maximum period of twenty-four months running from the date of establishment of the workers’ cooperative.
The Commission found that the Italian scheme complies with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. Specifically, the aid will not exceed €2.3 million per beneficiary and will be granted by 30 June 2022. The Commission concluded that the measure was necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)