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Commission approves €25 million Belgian aid to support the ground handling service provider Aviapartner in context of #Coronavirus outbreak

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The European Commission has approved a €25 million Belgian individual aid measure to support Aviapartner, a ground handling service provider at Brussels National Airport (Zaventem). The measure was approved under the state aid Temporary Framework. The measure provides aid in the form of a convertible loan. The aim of the recapitalization measure is to ensure that Aviapartner has sufficient liquidity to continue its operations. Aviapartner is an essential operator at Brussels National Airport (Belgium's main airport).

A failure of Aviapartner would cause major disturbance to the Belgian economy and connectivity. The Commission found that the measure notified by Belgium is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, (i) the measure will not exceed the minimum needed to ensure the viability of Aviapartner and will not go beyond restoring  its capital position to before the coronavirus outbreak, (ii) the scheme provides an adequate remuneration for the state; (iii) the conditions of the measures incentivise beneficiaries and/or their owners to repay the support as early as possible; (v) safeguards are in place to make sure that beneficiaries do not unduly benefit from the recapitalization aid by the state to the detriment of fair competition in the Single Market, such as an acquisition ban to avoid aggressive commercial expansion.

The Commission concluded that the measure is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a member state, in line with Article 107(3)(b) TFEU and the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the measure under EU state aid rules. More information on the Temporary Framework and other actions taken by the Commission to address the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic can be found here.

The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.57637 in the state aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.

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