Governing the interregnum: state aid rules and the COVID-19 crisis

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Andrea Biondi

Abstract

This article focuses on the transformations and changes in the area of state aid control prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It attempts to provide a first assessment on the European Commission Temporary Framework on state aid measures to support the economy in the outbreak. It discusses whether the measures adopted have been effective and managed to guarantee on the one side the possibility of Member States to take swift and effective action as to ensure short and long term liquidity to undertakings affected by COVID 19 and on the other to preserve fair competition respect of state aid rules control.

Keywords: COVID-19 temporary framework, Compatibility of state aid measures, Direct grants, State guarantees, Recapitalization

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