BAKGRUNN (fra EFTAs overvåkingsorgans pressemelding, engelsk utgave)

State aid: New guidelines on rescuing and restructuring aid adopted
The EFTA Surveillance Authority has adopted new guidelines on State aid for rescuing and restructuring non-financial undertakings in difficulty. The guidelines correspond to similar rules adopted by the European Commission.

The adoption of these new guidelines is one of the final key elements of the wider reform of state aid control under way since 2012.

Under the guidelines, aid to companies undergoing financial difficulties may be granted temporarily for a period of 6 months ('rescue aid'). Beyond this period the aid must either be reimbursed or a restructuring plan must be notified to the Authority for the aid to be approved as 'restructuring aid'.

The plan must ensure that:

• the long-term viability of a company is restored without further state support,
• that the distortions of competition induced by the state support are addressed by specific measures, and
• that the company contributes to the costs of restructuring.

Restructuring aid may be granted only once over a period of ten years, to prevent companies that are not viable being kept artificially alive through public support.