Belgium

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Commission has adopted support measures under the state aid Temporary Framework and EU state aid rules. These measures aim to help citizens and companies and mitigate the significant economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic:

• On 18 February 2022, the Commission approved a €5 million scheme to support small and medium-sized companies in the Brussels-Capital Region operating in the events and cultural sectors, in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. The scheme aims to help the beneficiaries’ continue their economic activity.

• On 11 January 2022, the Commission approved a €100 million Flemish scheme to support companies affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions in place to limit the spread of the virus. The scheme is open to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises active in all sectors, except the financial one. The assistance, in the form of loans, aims to support the beneficiaries to continue their economic activity.

• On 10 January 2022, the Commission approved a €25.5 million Flemish scheme to support companies in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. The measure is open to companies affected by business disruption due to the restrictive measures put in place to limit the spread of the virus. The assistance, in the form of direct grants, aims to support companies active in all sectors to overcome the decline in turnover and continue their economic activity.

• On 22 December 2021, the Commission approved a €9.8 million measure to recapitalise the Brussels South Charleroi Airport, in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The measure aims at restoring the financial position and liquidity of the beneficiary in the exceptional situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, while maintaining the necessary safeguards to limit competition distortions.

• On 15 December 2021, the Commission approved a €12.7 million scheme in the Walloon Region aimed at supporting airports affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictive measures put in place to limit the spread of the virus. The assistance, in the form of coverage for fixed costs outside the cancellation of concession fees claims owed by airports, aims to provide beneficiaries with the financial capacity necessary to meet their cash flow needs.

• On 6 December 2021, the Commission approved a €12.5 million scheme to support businesses in the cultural, artistic or professional events sector in the Brussels-Capital Region affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The purpose of the scheme is to support the beneficiaries’ economic activity during and after the pandemic.

• On 19 October 2021, the Commission approved a €17.7 million scheme to further support operators active in the tourist accommodation sector in the Brussels-Capital Region affected by the coronavirus outbreak and the restrictive measures implemented to limit the spread of the virus. The scheme consists of two measures, direct grants and support for uncovered fixed costs, aiming to help the beneficiaries continue their economic activity.

• On 18 October 2021, the Commission approved a €110 million scheme to support hotels and the restaurant and café sector in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The aid was granted in the form of a deferral and an exemption from payment of the of the annual social security contributions financing the annual holidays scheme for manual workers. The measure aims to mitigate the liquidity shortages faced by the beneficiaries due to the coronavirus outbreak and the restrictive measures implemented to limit the spread of the virus.

• on 15 October 2021, the Commission approved a €45 million scheme to support companies active in the Brussels-Capital region affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The aid, in the form of direct grants, is open to companies of all sizes active in the nightclub, restaurant and café, event organisation, culture, tourism, sport and passenger transport sectors. The measure aims to help the beneficiaries’ economic activity.

• on 6 October 2021, the Commission approved a €2 million scheme to support social economy companies active in the Flemish Region affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The measure, following a previous similar scheme approved in September 2021, entails assistance in the form of direct grants, and aims is to support social economy companies offering trainings to vulnerable groups. The purpose of the scheme is to safeguard sustainable employment in the new economic reality resulting from the coronavirus outbreak.

• on 21 September 2021, the Commission approved a €10 million scheme to support social economy companies active in the Flemish Region affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme, in the form of direct grants, aims to support social economy companies to develop and roll out strategic business transformations that would safeguard sustainable employment of disadvantaged groups in the social economy. 

• on 2 August 2021, the Commission approved a €80 million scheme to support Wallonian micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including self-employed workers in the restaurant and cafe sectors affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictive measures implemented to limit the spread of the virus. The support, in the form of direct grants, aims to mitigate the business disruption incurred by the beneficiaries.

• on 22 July 2021, the Commission approved a €200 million scheme to support micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictive measures imposed to limit the spread of the virus. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the measure is open to businesses in all sectors except the financial, agricultural, fishing and aquaculture ones. The support, in the form of direct grants, aims to alleviate the business disruptions linked to the coronavirus pandemic.

• on 19 July 2021, the Commission approved a €10 million scheme to support event-organizing companies in the Flemish Region affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the support, in the form of direct grants, aims to compensate event-organizing companies for costs incurred in relation to the re-booking of cancelled events. The beneficiaries are companies active in certain sectors (mainly arts, entertainment and recreation).

• on 1 July 2021, the Commission approved a €1.53 million scheme to  enhance the protection of workers' health, negatively affected by an increased use of teleworking. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the assistance, in the form of direct grants, is earmarked for a maximum of 20 companies proposing innovative projects that will contribute to the mental and physical health of teleworkers.

• on 25 June 2021, the Commission confirmed that a €4.8 million aid measure to support Air Belgium SA to be in line with EU state aid rules. The support, in the form of a capital injection financed by the three public shareholders of the company, aims to compensate the airline for the damages incurred between March and June 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak and the travel restrictions imposed to limit the spread of the virus.

• on 21 June 2021, the Commission approved a €8.6 million scheme to support operators in the tourist accommodation sector in the Brussels-Capital region affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the public support, in the form of direct grants, aims to mitigate the liquidity shortages faced by the beneficiaries due to the coronavirus outbreak and the restrictive measures implemented to limit the spread of the virus.

• on 7 June 2021, the Commission approved three wage subsidy schemes to support employers in sectors particularly affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The first scheme, worth €28.5 million, targets the travel sector, while the second and third ones, of €7.7 million and €22.6 million respectively, aim to support the hotel and events sectors. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the support, in the form of wage subsidies, was earmarked to help employers cover the social security contributions, allowing them to resume their activities and preserve jobs.

• on 19 May 2021, the Commission approved a €392,000 aid measure to compensate the Waterloo 1815 Memorial concession holder for the losses suffered due to the coronavirus outbreak. The support aims to enable the Belgian authorities to partially compensate the concession holder for the damage incurred due to the closing of the Memorial, and the travel restrictions imposed by the government to limit the spread of the virus.

• on 17 May 2021, the Commission approved, under EU state aid rules, a €255 million scheme aimed at supporting businesses and self-employed persons in Wallonia affected by closure decisions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the support, in the form of direct subsidies, aims to mitigate the consequences of the restrictive measures imposed by the authorities to limit the spread of the virus for business-to-business trade in Wallonia. The aim of the scheme is to alleviate the sudden cash shortage the beneficiaries are facing due to the coronavirus crisis.

• on 17 May 2021, the Commission approved, under EU state aid rules, a €27.8 million scheme aimed at supporting businesses and self-employed workers in Wallonia affected by closure decisions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the support, in the form of direct subsidies, aims to mitigate the consequences of restrictive measures imposed by the Belgian authorities to limit the spread of the virus. The objective of this scheme is to alleviate the sudden liquidity shortage faced by the beneficiaries due to the coronavirus crisis.

• on 12 May 2021, the Commission approved, under EU state aid rules, a  €12.5 million scheme to support Wallonian businesses and self-employed workers in the passenger transport that were affected by the coronavirus crisis. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the support, in the form of direct subsidies, aims to mitigate the consequences of the restrictive measures imposed by the Belgian authorities to limit the spread of the virus by alleviating the sudden liquidity shortage faced by the beneficiaries.

• on 30 April, the Commission approved a €2.5 million scheme to support professional sport clubs in the Flemish and Brussels Regions during the coronavirus outbreak. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the support, in the form of direct grants, aims to help professional sports clubs experiencing revenue declines due to the coronavirus outbreak and the measures imposed by the Belgian authorities to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The scheme aims to address the liquidity needs of the beneficiaries and to help them continue their activities during and after the outbreak.

• on 26 April, a €75 million scheme to support the costs of companies active in the Flemish Region restarting their activities affected by the restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the scheme is open to companies of all sizes active in all sectors except the financial one. The public support, in the form of loans, aims to help businesses facing liquidity shortages.  

• on 12 April 2021, an aid scheme amounting to €1.3 million aimed at supporting operators of tourist attractions in Wallonia affected by the coronavirus crisis. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the support, in the form of direct grants, aims to alleviate the sudden liquidity shortages faced by beneficiaries following the restrictive measures imposed by the Belgian authorities to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

• on 8 April 2021, a scheme worth €14.6 million to support hotels and similar accommodation establishments in Wallonia that were affected by the coronavirus crisis. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the support, in the form of direct grants, aims to alleviate the liquidity shortages faced by the beneficiaries, thus mitigate the impact of the restrictive measures imposed by the Belgian authorities to limit the spread of the virus.

• on 31 March 2021, a €200 millionBelgian scheme to support economic activity in Wallonia in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the public support, in the form of subsidised interest rates for senior and subordinated loans, is open to small and medium-sized enterprises and large companies active in all sectors of the economy except the financial one. The objective of the measure is to mitigate the liquidity shortages that businesses experienced due to the measures implemented in Wallonia because of the coronavirus outbreak.

• on 29 March 2021, a €6.5 million Belgian scheme to support pig farmers with breeding sows in the Walloon region in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the public support, in the form of direct grants, aims to partially address the loss of income the farmers incurred due to the coronavirus outbreak.

• on 12 March 2021, a €10 million Belgian scheme to support organisers of festivals planned to take place in the Flemish and Brussels Regions in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the support, in the form of direct grants, aims to mitigate the liquidity shortages faced by the beneficiaries due to the coronavirus outbreak.

• on 22 February 2021, a €149 million Belgian schemeto support the uncovered fixed costs of companies in the Flemish Region affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the scheme is open to companies active in all sectors except the financial one. The public support, in the form of direct grants, aims to mitigate the economic difficulties and the sudden liquidity shortages the beneficiaries are facing due to the restrictive measures imposed by the Belgian authorities to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

• on 22 February 2021, a €34 million Belgian schemeto support tourism companies in the Flemish Region, in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the scheme aims to support investments in health measures, ecologic sustainability, digitalisation and professional training, to help the recovery of the tourism sector on the background of the pandemic.

• on 1 February 2021, a €200 million Belgian scheme to support companies active in the Flemish Region affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the support, in the form of direct grants, is open to companies active in all sectors. The scheme was subsequently amended on 25 March and 5 May 2021 respectively, the modifications allowing for additional aid options for beneficiaries and supplementary budgetary allocations.

• On 13 January 2021, under the state aid Temporary Framework, two Belgian measuresworth €23 million to support the production of products relevant to the coronavirus outbreak in the Walloon region. The first scheme, with an estimated budget of €20 million allocated in the form of direct grants, is open to enterprises that produce coronavirus-relevant products and are active in all sectors except the agriculture, financial, fishery and aquaculture ones. The second measure consists of a €3.5 million investment aid in the form of a direct grant to the University of Liège, to cover 80% of the investment costs related to the production of coronavirus-related diagnostic tools and the necessary raw materials. 

• on 20 November, the Commission approved a €434 million Belgian wage subsidy scheme to support companies whose activities were suspended due to new emergency measures put in place by the Government to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the scheme is open to companies in the hospitality, culture, recreation and events, sports, holiday parks and campsites sectors, as well as travel agencies, tour operators and touristic information services. The public support, in the form of direct grants, was earmarked to assist employers pay the social security contributions for the July - September 2020 period. The scheme aims to avoid lay-offs and help beneficiaries resume their business activities after the compulsory shutdown period.

• on 9 October, the Commission approved a €15.8 million Belgian scheme to support hotels and aparthotels in the Brussels-Capital Region in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The measure, approved under the State aid Temporary Framework, allocates direct grants of minimum €20,000 and maximum €200 per hotel or aparthotel. These grants aim to provide support to affected establishments for lost income and ongoing operating costs for insurance, maintenance and security. The purpose of the measure is to mitigate the liquidity shortages that the hospitality operators are facing due to the restrictive measures imposed by the government to limit the spread of the virus, and to ensure continuity of their economic activity.

• on 7 October, a €5.1 million Belgian scheme to support coach companies in the Flemish region in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework, and the support will take the form of direct grants to compensate the depreciation value of the bus fleet. The purpose of the measure is to facilitate access to finance and to mitigate the sudden liquidity shortages that these companies are facing due to the restrictive measures imposed by the government to limit the spread of the virus.

• on 29 September,  €2.2 million Belgian aid measures to support the operators of Flemish airports (Antwerp airport, Ostend airport and Kortrijk airport) in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The measures were approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. The measures consist in: (i) an aid scheme, under which all Flemish airport operators will receive support in the form of a direct grant; and (ii) support to the operators of Antwerp and Ostend airports in the form of payment deferrals of certain costs and fees (namely annual compensation for the use of statutory staff of the Flemish Region and concession fee for the use of the airport infrastructure due for the year 2020). The purpose of the aid measures is to help Flemish airport operators mitigating the liquidity shortages that they have been facing due to the coronavirus outbreak.

• on 6 August, under the Temporary Framework, a Belgian support scheme for enterprises in the HORECA sector (hotels, restaurants, catering) and the mobile retail food sector, which have been severely affected by the coronavirus crisis. The support takes the form of an exemption from the annual contribution due by enterprises from these sectors to the Federal Agency for the security of the food chain (AFSCA) for 2020, which will apply to the entire Belgian territory. The aim of this scheme is to reduce the costs of the beneficiaries who are facing a serious lack of liquidity as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

• a €50 million scheme to support companies active in the Flemish events sector that have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework adopted by the Commission on 19 March 2020. The objective of the scheme is to provide the necessary financing and insurance to companies active in the Flemish events sector in order to fund the restart of their activities, thereby enabling them to organize an event, to make investments, and to place orders. The support will take the form of repayable advances of a minimum amount of €25,000 and a maximum amount of €800,000, calculated as a maximum of 60% of the total costs of the event, as budgeted in the company's business plan. The repayable advance will have to be reimbursed if the event actually takes place.  Conversely, the repayable advance will not have to be reimbursed if the event is cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak or of related measures adopted by the competent authorities.

• a €35 million Belgian scheme to support companies active in the potato and floricultural primary production sectors in the Flemish region that are affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. The public support will take the form of direct grants. Of the total budget of €35 million, €10 million are earmarked to support potato growers, and €25 million to support ornamental plant growers. The measure aims to address the liquidity needs of these companies and help them to continue their activities during and after the outbreak. The scheme is expected to benefit approximately 1,450 small and medium-sized enterprises, of which about 650 active in the potato sector and 800 in the floricultural sector.

• on 15 July 2020, a Belgian federal loan guarantee scheme to support lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The support will take the form of State guarantees on new loans provided by banks, and will complement the existing guarantee scheme approved by the Commission on 11 April 2020 (SA.56819). To fund the measure, Belgium has reallocated €10 billion of the €50 billion envelope earmarked for the previously approved guarantee scheme. The new measure aims at enhancing access to external financing for SMEs, thus ensuring the continuation of their activities.

• on 10 July 2020, a €6.35 million Belgian scheme to support up to 95 organisations, active in the social tourism sector in Flanders, which have suffered from a severe revenue reduction due to the coronavirus outbreak. The public support, which will take the form of direct grants, is intended to mitigate the severe liquidity shortage that the Flemish tourism organisations are facing, and prevent their bankruptcy. The tourism organisations organise holidays for vulnerable people. The aid will be channelled through the Toerisme Vlaanderen (‘Visit Flanders') agency.

• on 22 June 2020, a €21 million Belgian scheme to support the production of coronavirus-relevant medical products, equipment, technologies and raw materials in the Flemish region. The public support will take the form of direct grants and will be open to all companies active in the Flemish region, except for financial institutions. The aim of the scheme is to incentivise companies to direct their activities to the production of certain products that are crucial to tackle the current health crisis, including vaccines and treatments, medical equipment and devices, disinfectants, data collection and processing instruments.

• on 18 May 2020, under EU State aid rules, a €903 million Belgian reinsurance scheme to support the trade credit insurance market in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. Trade credit insurance protects companies supplying goods and services against the risk of non-payment by their clients. Given the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, the risk of insurers not being willing to maintain their insurance coverage has become higher. The Belgian reinsurance scheme, with a total budget of €903 million, ensures that trade credit insurance continues to be available to all companies, avoiding the need for buyers of goods or services to pay in advance, therefore reducing their immediate liquidity needs.

• on 14 May 2020, a Belgian guarantee measure, with an indicative budget of €500 million, for companies with export activities affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The support, in the form of State guarantees on loans, will be accessible to companies whose exports represent at least 30% of their annual turnover and will be implemented by the Credit-Export Agency “Credendo”, acting on behalf of the State. The support concerns State guarantees on loans with a maximum maturity of one year and offers to companies with international activities the possibility to substitute guarantees on loans eligible under the previously approved Belgian guarantee scheme with the Credendo guarantee. The measure will be open to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large companies that face economic difficulties and liquidity shortages due to the coronavirus outbreak. The measure will support lending to eligible companies, but will not take the form of export aid contingent on export activities as it is not tied to concrete export contracts. On the contrary, it finances the general activity of the beneficiaries by facilitating their access to liquidity in the form of working capital loans and investment loans. The scheme aims at limiting the risk associated with issuing loans to internationally active companies affected by the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, thus ensuring the continuation of their activities. 

• on 12 May 2020, a €25 million Belgian aid scheme to support coronavirus related research and development (R&D) in Wallonia. The public support will take the form of direct grants and repayable advances, and is open to all companies active in Wallonia that are capable of carrying out R&D projects relevant to the coronavirus outbreak. The aim of the scheme is to find solutions to respond to the current health crisis, among others via diagnostic solutions and the development and validation of treatments and vaccines.

• on 5 May 2020, a Belgian scheme of €250 million, financed by the Flemish region, to support companies in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. This is a subordinated loan scheme to support companies, in particular start-ups, scale-ups and small/medium-sized enterprises, active in the Flemish region and affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The measure, with a budget of €250 million, aims at supporting the financing needs of these businesses at a crucial point of their economic development.

• on 30 April 2020, a Belgian scheme, financed by the Walloon region, to support companies in the context of the coronavirus outbreak through guarantees. This is a loan guarantee scheme to support companies active in the Walloon region and affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The measure, with an overall volume of guarantees to be issued of €530 million, aims at limiting the risk associated with issuing or restructuring loans to those companies that are most severely affected by the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, ensuring the continuation of activities.

• on 27 April 2020, a €4 million Belgian direct grant scheme for the Brussels-Capital region to support coronavirus related research and development (R&D) projects in the Brussels-Capital region. The public support will take the form of direct grants. The scheme will be accessible to small, medium-sized and large enterprises from all sectors, capable to carry out such activities, which have at least one place of business in the Brussels-Capital region. The aim of the scheme is to support the development of innovative solutions to the coronavirus pandemic, such as vaccines, drugs and treatments, medical devices, hospital and medical products and equipment, including ventilators, protective clothing, diagnostic tools and disinfectants. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework adopted by the Commission on 19 March 2020, as amended on 3 April 2020.

• on 24 April 2020, a Belgian regional scheme to support agricultural and aquaculture sectors in the Brussels-Capital region in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The Brussels-Capital region support measure will be accessible to companies of all sizes active in this sector in the Brussels-Capital region. The public support, which will take the form of direct grants, aims at ensuring that those companies which are experiencing cash difficulties due to the coronavirus outbreak have liquidity for their activities during and after the outbreak.

• on 11 April 2020, under EU State aid rules, a Belgian loan guarantee scheme to support the Belgian economy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The Belgian support measure, in the form of State guarantees on new short-term loans, was accessible to all companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and self-employed traders. The aim of the scheme is to help businesses affected by the economic impact of the current crisis cover their liquidity needs, thus ensuring the continuation of their activities. The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, and in particular Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which enables the Commission to approve State aid measures implemented by Member States to remedy a serious disturbance to their economy.

• on 11 April 2020, a Belgian scheme deferring the payment by Walloon airports of concession fees to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Belgium notified the Commission of its intention to set up a deferral payment measure of the concession fees owed by the Walloon airports to the Walloon authorities to support those airport operators during and after the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme budget and timeframe were subsequently modified on 12 April 2021, at the request of Belgium. The amendments allow for the deferment of payments as well as a budget of around € 17.5 million, bringing the total potential aid budget to approximately € 34.7 million since 2020.

• on 10 April, a Belgian scheme, financed by the Flemish region, to support companies in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The support measure is a guarantee scheme for working capital and investment loans, to support companies active in the Flemish region and affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The measure aims at limiting the risk associated with issuing or restructuring loans to those companies that are most severely affected by the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, ensuring the continuation of activities.