Brussels, 3 January 2023
The European Commission has approved a €3 billion Polish scheme to support companies active in the Polish gas market in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted by the Commission on 23 March 2022 and amended on 20 July 2022 and on 28 October 2022.
The measure will be open to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large companies active on the Polish gas market, specifically sellers of last resort and entities legally obliged to sell natural gas on the gas exchange market. Under this measure, the aid will take the form of subsidised loans.
The Commission concluded that the Polish scheme is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State, in line with Article 107(3)(b) TFEU and the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the aid measure under EU State aid rules.
Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said:
“With this €3 billion scheme, Poland will ensure that sufficient liquidity remains available to companies active in the Polish gas market, which need support in this difficult context.“
A press release is available online.
Source – EU Commission