-- The European Commission introduced a temporary aid framework running through Dec. 31, 2026, to support sectors hit by the Middle East crisis, it said Wednesday.
The framework, called the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework or METSAF, targets agriculture, fisheries, transport, and energy-intensive industries, the Commission said.
Member States can provide support through fuel and fertilizer subsidies or small-scale aid schemes to offset rising input costs, the Commission added.
The Commission is adjusting its Clean Industrial Deal State aid Framework to give countries more flexibility in responding to electricity price spikes, it said.
Energy-intensive industries can now receive higher support, with aid intensity rising from 50% to as much as 70% of electricity costs, the Commission said.
The aid can cover up to 50% of a company's electricity consumption without requiring additional decarbonization commitments, according to the Commission.
Companies can combine this support with aid under Emissions Trading System guidelines for up to half of the assistance granted, the Commission said.
Governments must notify measures under the framework, though the Commission will use a fast-track process to approve eligible support, the Commission added.
The Commission will also review targeted measures such as subsidizing gas-fired power generation to help lower electricity prices as the crisis evolves, it said.