“We will not disappoint any company, any SME”. Traveling to Blanzy (Saône-et-Loire) on Monday, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, renewed his promise to come to the aid of all French companies in difficulties due to the increase in energy costs.
To this end, he recalled the opening on Saturday morning of a simplified single window that allows all structures, regardless of their size, to request aid for the year 2022. The Bercy tenant invited “all companies that have doubts about the payment of their 2022 invoices to present their file”.
“This applies to SMEs, ETIs and large companies,” he explained. The amount of aid may reach “up to 4 million euros and even, for large companies, up to 150 million euros”, said the minister.
Perfect aid coordination with Germany
In 2023, the single assistance window will be replaced by a “shock absorber”, that is, “a reduction in the energy bill of 25% on average for all SMEs”. “If there are holes in the racket, we will correct them,” he continued, before assuring that Bercy will be able to examine situations on a case-by-case basis in sectors with specific characteristics.
Finally, Bruno Le Maire was reassuring about fears of “unfair competition” setting in between France and Germany after the massive aid plan launched across the Rhine to support companies.
This will be one of the issues that the Economy Minister will address on Monday night, together with his German counterpart, Robert Habeck. This interview will aim, in particular, to ensure the “perfect coordination of French and German aid” to maintain “fair and equitable competition” within the euro zone.
Source: BFM TV
