Brussels, 8 July 2022
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €60 million Italian scheme to support the distribution of newspapers. The scheme is aimed at ensuring the availability of newspapers and periodicals in Italy, in particular in small municipalities where the distribution of printed press is more burdensome, costly and time-consuming for publishers.
Under the scheme, newspaper and periodical publishers will be entitled to a tax credit covering up to 30% of their distribution costs incurred in 2020. The scheme will be applied solely for the fiscal year 2021. The Commission assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which enables Member States to support the development of certain economic activities or areas. The Commission found that the measure is necessary and appropriate to achieve the objectives pursued, namely the development of the news media sector, wide access to newspapers and periodicals and promotion of media pluralism.
The Commission concluded that the measure is proportionate, i.e. limited to the minimum necessary, and will have a limited impact on competition and trade between Member States. On this basis, the Commission approved the scheme under EU State aid rules. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.101274 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
Source – EU Commission