On Monday 24 April, the European Commission announced that it had authorised a Spanish aid scheme worth €450 million. Spain is therefore allowed to support energy-intensive manufacturing companies, to help them cope with some of the consequences of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine.
More specifically, the aid will help energy-intensive companies to cope with the exceptional increase in natural gas prices, identified as a “serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State”, as described in Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The European Commission found the aid to be in line with the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework for State aid, adopted on 9 March (see EUROPE 13138/1).
The aid will be provided to the companies concerned in the form of direct grants. These grants will reach the companies before the end of this year. (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)