Competition Weekly e-news

The European Commission has approved a €10 billion Finnish loan guarantee scheme to support energy producers 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, based on Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, recognising that the EU economy is experiencing a serious disturbance.

The European Commission has approved a €5 billion Finnish subsidised loan umbrella scheme to support municipal electricity producers and suppliers 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, based on Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, recognising that the EU economy is experiencing a serious disturbance.

The European Commission has sent to Member States for consultation a draft proposal to prolong and adjust the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted by the Commission on 23 March 2022 to enable Member States to use the flexibility foreseen under State aid rules to support the economy in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The Temporary Crisis Framework was first amended on 20 July 2022, to complement the Winter Preparedness Package and in line with the REPowerEU Plan objectives.
See also Statement by Executive Vice-President Vestager.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €292.5 million Italian measure made available through the Recovery and Resilience Facility to support STMicroelectronics in the construction of a plant in the semiconductor value chain in Catania, Sicily. The measure will strengthen Europe's security of supply, resilience and digital sovereignty in semiconductor technologies, in line with the ambitions set out in the European Chips Act Communication. The measure will also contribute to achieving both the digital and green transition.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €1 billion German measure to help Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH decarbonise its steel production processes by using hydrogen, including renewable hydrogen produced on site, thanks to a new production facility. The measure contributes to the achievement of the EU Hydrogen Strategy and the European Green Deal targets, while helping reduce dependence on imported Russian fossil fuels and fast forward the green transition, in line with the REPowerEU Plan.

The European Commission has approved a €800 million Greek scheme to support non-household electricity consumers 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, based on Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU'), recognising that the EU economy is experiencing a serious disturbance.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €134 million German measure to support BASF SE in the production of renewable hydrogen, with the aims of decarbonising its chemical production processes and of promoting hydrogen use in the transport sector. The measure contributes to the achievement of the EU Hydrogen Strategy and the European Green Deal targets, while helping reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast forward the green transition in line with the REPowerEU Plan.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, several support measures in the context of the resolution of the Polish Getin Noble Bank S.A.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a temporary German measure to enable five lignite-fired power plants to be on stand-by and ready to be activated to the extent needed in the event of natural gas shortages. The measure will compensate the operators of the power plants for the costs of getting the plants ready to operate if needed. The measure, under which aid may be provided until 31 March 2024 at the latest, will contribute to safeguarding natural gas availability amidst Russian natural gas shortages in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine.

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess the proposed acquisition of Alumetal by Norsk Hydro under the EU Merger Regulation. The Commission is concerned that the proposed acquisition may reduce competition in the production and supply of aluminium foundry alloys and master alloys in the European Economic Area.

The European Commission has today adopted a revised Informal Guidance Notice that allows businesses to seek informal guidance on the application of EU competition rules to novel or unresolved questions. The revised Informal Guidance Notice provides for more flexible conditions and aims at increasing legal certainty, to the benefit of businesses seeking the guidance when assessing the legality of their actions under EU competition rules. Informal guidance will take the form of “guidance letters”.

Registration is open for Making Markets Work for People. EVP Vestager is inviting top political and business leaders, academics and civil-society representatives to debate the social dimension of competition policy and explore what it can do for ordinary people, especially in this growing cost-of-living crisis.
The conference will take place at The EGG Brussels and online on 27 October, 2022.