COVID-19: State Aid Amid the Crisis - The European Commission Acts Swiftly to Guide Member States on Support to the Economy During the Pandemic

On 19 March, the European Commission published a Temporary Framework for State aid measures to support the economy during the COVID-19 outbreak (the “Temporary COVID-19 Framework”). It outlines new temporary State aid measures which the Commission considers compatible with the internal market under Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (“TFEU”). Such measures must be notified to the European Commission for approval, but “can be approved very rapidly upon notification”.¹