State Aid

The Commission is closely monitoring the situation and is ready to use the full flexibility of its State aid toolbox to enable Member States to support companies in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Based on Article 107(2)b TFEU Member States can compensate specific companies or specific sectors for the damage directly caused by exceptional events, such as the Russian invasion. 

On Wednesday 23 March, the Commission adopted a new Temporary Crisis Framework to support the economy in the context of the Ukrainian crisis. The new framework will enable Member States to

• grant limited amounts of aid to companies affected by the current crisis or by the related sanctions and countersanctions;
• ensure that sufficient liquidity remains available to businesses;
• compensate companies for the additional costs incurred due to exceptionally high gas and electricity prices.

The transport of refugees and humanitarian material would in principle not be subject to State aid control as long as the State is acting in its public remit (as opposed to carrying out an economic activity), and as long as the transport services are purchased at market price.  

As many transport operators have not yet recovered from the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, Member States can also still grant aid under the State aid Temporary Framework to support the economy, including the transport sector, in the context of the coronavirus outbreak