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Competition Law

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Antitrust, Competition and TradeCOVID19 MeasuresLegal Updates

Malta’s Employment Aid Scheme Approved

On 24 April 2020, the European Commission approved Malta's €215 million wage subsidies scheme, which aims to prevent unemployment and to support undertakings that operate in sectors that have been greatly affected by the current outbreak.The notified aid comprises a scheme to finance wage costs of employers that would have otherwise had to lay off their employees as a result of COVID-19. Any undertaking, including self-employed individuals, hit hard by the pandemic may benefit under this scheme. Beneficiaries will receive aid that is proportional to their salary, which is capped at €800. The scheme was approved under the State Aid…
MamoTCV Advocates
28th April 2020
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Antitrust, Competition and TradeCOVID19 Measures

State Aid Extension Update – Commission Adopts Amended State Aid Temporary Framework

This article was written by Dr Annalies Muscat and Dr Laura SpiteriOn 3 April, 2020, the European Commission adopted an extension to the State Aid Temporary Framework (the "Framework"), which is to form part of the Framework that was initially put into effect on 19 March, 2020. The amended Framework provides for additional types of aid measures intended to help businesses involved in the fight against the current pandemic and to preserve employment. The extended Framework allows for more flexibility with the cumulation of State aid. While the initial Framework did not allow for aid in the form of guarantees…
Annalies Muscat
9th April 2020
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Antitrust, Competition and TradeCOVID19 MeasuresLegal Updates

Malta’s €350 million State aid scheme approved by the Commission

On 2 April 2020, the European Commission approved Malta's State aid scheme to support the local economy amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The scheme has an estimated budget of €350 million to enable public guarantees on loans to support the Maltese economy as it navigates through the current situation. It will also help businesses cover their liquidity needs.The Maltese government notified the scheme under the EU State aid Temporary Framework that was put into effect on the 19 March 2020. In approving the scheme, the European Commission acknowledged that this measure is necessary, appropriate, and proportionate in line with State aid…
MamoTCV Advocates
6th April 2020
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Antitrust, Competition and TradeCOVID19 Measures

Maltese Government Issues Financial Incentives Amid COVID-19 Outbreak

This article was written by Dr Michael Psaila, Dr Annalies Muscat, and Dr Laura SpiteriAmid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maltese Government has issued three financial packages that businesses can avail themselves of. Each financial package builds upon the previous package. First Financial Package:The First Financial Package consists of two incentives. One measure is dedicated to the postponement of the payment of certain taxes, while the other provides aid in the form of a grant to help employers invest in teleworking technology. 1. Postponement of payment of certain taxes: This incentive provides enterprises, including those who are self-employed, with a two-month moratorium…
Michael Psaila
30th March 2020
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Antitrust, Competition and TradeCOVID19 MeasuresNews

Do the Competition Rules Still Apply During Pandemics?

This article was written by Dr Annalies Muscat and Dr Laura SpiteriUndoubtedly, the current COVID-19 pandemic means that we are living in unparalleled times; perhaps for some of us, unprecedented.Equally unprecedented during our lifetime is the joint statement issued on 23 March 2020 by the European Commission together with the national competition authorities of the Member States, cooperating with one another through the European Competition Network (the "ECN"), on the application of competition rules amid the COVID-19 crisis. The Office for Competition, Malta's national competition authority, issued a statement confirming the contents of the joint statement on 24 March 2020.…
Annalies Muscat
25th March 2020
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Antitrust, Competition and TradeCOVID19 Measures

COVID-19 Update – State Aid and the COVID-19 Pandemic

This article was written by Dr Annalies Muscat and Dr Laura Spiteri"State aid" is a form of an advantage given to an undertaking by a national public authority. State aid is generally prohibited by EU State Aid rules, save in certain limited circumstances. One of the exceptions to the general prohibition with respect to granting of aid by States is contained in Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ("TFEU") which provides that State aid to remedy a serious disturbance in the EU's economy is aid that may be considered compatible with the internal market. To this…
Annalies Muscat
23rd March 2020