On Wednesday 23 August, the European Commission announced that it had authorised a Czech scheme worth around €800 million (CZK 19 billion) notified under the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (see EUROPE 13138/1) to support businesses faced with rising energy costs as a result of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.
The aid will be open to all large companies, whatever their sector of activity. The aid scheme is designed to enable them to cover the additional costs due to exceptional increases in energy prices (natural gas and electricity) during the eligible period, in particular from 1 January to 31 December 2023 compared with the period from 1 January to 31 December 2021.
The aid will reach eligible businesses via energy suppliers in the form of direct grants.
Beneficiaries will be eligible for aid as soon as market prices for natural gas and electricity exceed the maximum prices set by the scheme, i.e. around €210/MWH (CZK 5,000/MWh) for natural gas and around €105/MWH (CZK 2,500/MWh) for electricity.
The amount of subsidies granted under this scheme will correspond to the difference between the price ceilings set by the aid scheme and market prices during the period 2023, subject to the application of the maximum aid amounts set in the temporary crisis and transitional framework. (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)