Aid to companies affected by the health restrictions linked to Covid-19 will continue as long as these are maintained, assured this Friday the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire.
“As soon as there is a restriction, there is help from the public authorities, so I will maintain all sectoral aid as long as the health restriction measures are maintained,” said the minister, in an interview on the Public Senate channel, adding that it was a question of “justice”.
The companies most in difficulty will be able to spread out their repayments
Thus, for example, nightclubs closed until February 16 “will benefit from all the aid: fixed costs, partial activity, the measures which have been announced on the payroll”, he said. listed.
Bruno Le Maire also recalled the new repayment terms for state-guaranteed loans (PGE) taken out in spring 2020 to deal with the consequences of the health crisis. Thus the companies most in difficulty for their repayment deadlines will be able to spread them over a longer period, up to 10 years, or to shift their first payment by 6 months.
The government announced Thursday evening the lifting, in February, of most of the restrictions taken to curb the epidemic.
“Perfectly legitimate support”
Asked about the cost of these measures, he replied that it was “not the most expensive”. In mid-February, the reopening of nightclubs, the resumption of standing concerts, and the authorization of consumption in stadiums, cinemas, transport and standing in bars are expected.
“Support for restaurateurs, tourism, events, nightclubs, these are supports that are perfectly legitimate, that amounts to 100 or 120 million euros” for the measures on fixed costs, a-t he quantified, specifying that he did not yet have the amount for the measures on partial activity.
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“What costs more, let’s say, are the tests”, for an amount estimated at 1.5 billion. “Health is priceless, so I believe it was necessary to guarantee the health security of the French that the tests were free under certain conditions,” he added.