On Monday 28 November, the European Commission approved German aid of €557 million to Deutsche Bahn for the damage suffered by its subsidiary DB Fernverkehr between 1 November 2020 and 16 May 2021.
This measure follows another one (authorised last August, see EUROPE 12774/12) compensating Deutsche Bahn for the damage suffered by DB Fernverkehr due to the Covid-19 pandemic between 16 March and 7 June 2020 (for national transport) and between 16 March and 30 June 2020 (for international transport).
DB Fernverkehr is a German rail service operator that provides national and international long-distance passenger services.
The Commission considers the Covid-19 pandemic to be an extraordinary event due to its exceptional and unforeseeable nature and its major impact on the economy. As a result, exceptional interventions by Member States to compensate for the damages linked to the outbreak are justified.
The Commission considered that the German measure would compensate DB Fernverkehr for the damage directly linked to the Covid-19 pandemic. It also found that the measure was proportionate, as the compensation envisaged did not go beyond the amount necessary to remedy the damage. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)