EU OKs COVID-19 State Aid For Portugal, Poland, Greece

The European Commission has approved a series of multi-billion-euro State support packages for Greece, Poland, and Portugal to help soften the economic impact of the coronavirus through grants and loan guarantees. 

The Commission, which enforces EU antitrust regulation, loosened its rules last month to allow EU governments to support businesses and banks after factories began to fall quiet and Europeans were ordered to stay home to stop the virus spreading. 

In a series of statements late on Friday and on Saturday, April 3 and 4, the Commission approved a €13 billion State aid program for the Portuguese economy, a €22 billion plan of State guarantees for Poland and a €2 billion-euro scheme for Greece.

The schemes were judged not to distort EU competition. “This Polish guarantee scheme will help Polish businesses affected by the current coronavirus crisis cover their immediate working capital and investment needs,” Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.

Full Content: Reuters

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