EFTA Surveillance Authority

ESA initiates investigation into possible anticompetitive conduct by Elkjøp in electronic goods* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has initiated formal antitrust proceedings against Dixon Stores Group Retail Norway AS, Elkjøp Nordic AS and Elkjøp Norge AS (jointly referred to as Elkjøp) (...)

Iceland in breach of EEA law for restricting market access for foreign bus operators* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today sent a reasoned opinion to Iceland for failure to comply with EEA rules on provision of coach and bus cabotage operations. The relevant EEA rules provide a (...)

ESA approves Norwegian scheme for affordable homes in Oslo* The EFTA Surveillance Authority has today approved a Norwegian measure for affordable homes in Oslo. During the past 30 years, there has been a significant increase in housing prices in Oslo. This has led to a situation where (...)

ESA investigates possible breach of State aid rules by Iceland in submarine cable project* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today initiated a formal investigation into alleged State aid granted by the Icelandic authorities to Farice. In December 2018, Farice signed a contract with (...)

ESA and European Commission discuss closer cooperation* The College of the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) led by President Arne Røksund, met with European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič to explore ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two institutions. The (...)

ESA adopts new guidelines on State aid for broadband networks* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today adopted new guidelines for broadband networks applicable to the EEA EFTA states. The new guidelines provide a framework and guidance that ESA will apply while assessing State aid (...)

ESA approves Liechtenstein grant scheme for businesses affected by rising energy prices* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a grant scheme for businesses in Liechtenstein particularly affected by the severe rise in energy prices caused by the Russian aggression against (...)

Annual scoreboard: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway increase state aid spending* The EEA EFTA States in 2020 increased their spending on state aid, according to the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s (ESA) latest annual State Aid Scoreboard. The scoreboard, published today, summarises the (...)

Zero-emission vehicles: ESA approves prolongation of Norwegian tax incentives and threshold zero VAT rate* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a prolongation and amendments to certain tax incentives for zero-emission vehicles in Norway. The objective of the scheme is (...)

ESA adopts new guidelines on State aid for research, development and innovation* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today adopted new Guidelines on State aid for research, development, and innovation (RDI) applicable to the EEA EFTA States. The RDI Guidelines set out the rules that (...)

ESA finds no State aid in 2020 amendments to Norwegian Petroleum Tax Act* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today closed two complaints concerning temporary amendments to the Norwegian Petroleum Tax Act (PTA). ESA finds that the June 2020 amendments to the PTA do not entail State (...)

ESA approves the production grant scheme for news and current affairs media in Norway until 2029* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a revised production grant scheme for news and current affairs media in Norway. The objective of the scheme is to maintain diversity (...)

ESA approves a prolongation of and amendments to a Norwegian innovation and development scheme for news and current affairs media* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a prolongation and amendments to a Norwegian innovation and development scheme for news and current (...)

ESA approves Norwegian grant scheme for certain small rural retailers affected by severe increase in electricity prices* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a new Norwegian aid scheme for certain small rural retailers affected by the severe rise in electricity prices (...)

ESA approves Norwegian grant scheme for businesses particularly affected by severe increases in energy prices* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a grant scheme for businesses in Norway that are particularly affected by severe increases in energy prices that have (...)

ESA approves Norwegian guarantee scheme for businesses affected by the severe increase in electricity prices* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a new Norwegian aid scheme for undertakings particularly affected by the severe rise in electricity prices caused by the (...)

ESA approves prolongation of green support scheme for rail freight in Norway* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a prolongation of a Norwegian support scheme for rail freight aimed at helping the transport sector become more environmentally friendly. Most modes of (...)

ESA opens infringement proceedings against Norway for restricting ownership in credit institutions and insurance undertakings* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today in two separate cases issued letters of formal notice to Norway over its incorrect implementation and application of (...)

Norwegian municipalities in breach of EEA rules for failing to put waste-management contract to public tender* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today sent a reasoned opinion to Norway over the direct allocation of a contract for commercial waste management services by certain (...)

ESA approves aid for Norwegian projects participating in a European hydrogen value-chain initiative* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved aid for two Norwegian projects – Barents Blue and Tizir – participating in a hydrogen value-chain initiative, also known as Hy2Use. (...)

ESA approves new Norwegian CO2 compensation scheme* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a new Norwegian aid scheme for the compensation of indirect emission costs. The scheme partially compensates certain energy-intensive companies, such as basic iron and steel (...)

ESA launches investigation into aid provided under Norwegian state aid scheme* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today decided to initiate a formal investigation into certain state aid granted under the aid scheme “Norwegian Catapult”. ESA monitors state aid granted by the EEA EFTA (...)

ESA finds financial aid to Sandnes Ulf Arena in Norway to be in line with EEA state-aid rules* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today concluded that financial aid provided by the Municipality of Sandnes for the construction of Sandnes Ulf Arena is in line with EEA rules. ESA has (...)

ESA finds financing of streetlighting in Bergen incompatible with EEA state-aid rules* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today concluded that parts of financing granted for the running of streetlight infrastructure in Bergen do not comply with EEA state-aid rules. ESA in 2017 (...)

ESA greenlights Norway’s financing of a new airport in Mo i Rana* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today concluded that the funding by the Norwegian State and Rana municipality for the construction of a new airport in the vicinity of Mo i Rana, a city located in the Helgeland region (...)

ESA approves Norwegian aid scheme for businesses affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved an aid scheme for Norwegian undertakings that would normally receive a significant part of their turnover from customers based in Ukraine, (...)

COVID-19: ESA approves aid scheme for Icelandic aviation academies* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved an Icelandic scheme that compensates aviation academies for losses resulting from COVID-19 restrictions. The objective of the scheme is to ensure access to liquidity (...)

Joint statement from the European Competition Network on applying competition law in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine* Today the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA), the European Commission, and the EU/EEA national competition authorities issued a joint statement providing (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves amendments to Norwegian support scheme for cancelled and downscaled cultural events* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved amendments to a scheme offering financial support to organisers and subcontractors of cultural events that have been (...)

ESA approves Iceland’s regional aid map for 2022-2027* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a new map proposed by Iceland designating areas eligible to receive regional aid. The EEA Agreement contains rules that allow for state aid to support the economic development of (...)

State aid: ESA adopts revised climate, energy and environmental guidelines* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today adopted revised Guidelines on state aid for Climate, Environmental Protection and Energy (CEEAG). ESA will apply these when assessing state aid granted by Iceland, (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves amendments to two Norwegian aid schemes for the sports and voluntary sectors* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved amendments to two aid schemes: one compensating voluntary organisations, and another compensating voluntary organisations (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves amendments to Icelandic support scheme for businesses* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved amendments to an Icelandic aid scheme offering resilience grants to eligible companies and self-employed individuals. The resilience grants scheme (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves aid scheme for Icelandic businesses that have suffered losses due to restrictions in opening hours* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved an Icelandic scheme offering direct grants to companies in the restaurant sector for income losses due (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves renewal and amendments to Norwegian aid scheme for lost inventory* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved amendments and renewal of a Norwegian scheme compensating undertakings for spoiled inventory that can no longer be sold or used. The (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves compensation to Trondheim Spektrum AS* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved NOK 5.4 million (EUR 540 000) in compensation to Trondheim Spektrum AS for financial losses caused by COVID-19 related restrictions. Trondheim Spektrum is a (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves continued and increased support to long-distance bus and passenger boat services in Norway* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a renewal of and amendments to a Norwegian scheme to compensate operators of long-distance bus and passenger (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves Icelandic tax-deferral scheme for the restaurant sector* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved an Icelandic tax-referral scheme that allows eligible businesses in the restaurant sector to defer payroll tax payments and social security (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves renewal of Icelandic support scheme for businesses* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved the renewal of and amendments to an Icelandic aid scheme offering resilience grants to eligible companies and self-employed individuals. The (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves additional amendments to a Norwegian compensation scheme for businesses* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved additional amendments to a Norwegian scheme providing compensation to companies suffering losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves prolongation and amendments to a Norwegian compensation scheme for businesses suffering financial losses* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a prolongation and amendments to a Norwegian scheme for businesses, which offers compensation for (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves prolongation to Norwegian compensation scheme for cancelled and downscaled cultural events* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a prolongation of a Norwegian scheme providing compensation for losses related to cancelled or downscaled (...)

ESA approves revised Norwegian scheme for regionally differentiated social security contributions* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a revised Norwegian scheme under which employers in very sparsely populated areas pay reduced social security contributions. The measure (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves renewal of Norwegian loan guarantee scheme for businesses* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved the renewal of a Norwegian loan guarantee scheme that will help ensure access to finance for businesses facing acute liquidity shortages due to (...)

ESA adopts revised state aid guidelines on state aid to promote risk finance investments and on short-term export credit insurance* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has adopted two sets of revised guidelines in the field of state aid: one on the promotion of risk finance investments and (...)

ESA adopts revised state aid guidelines for important projects of common European interest* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today adopted guidelines corresponding to the European Commission’s revised communication on important projects of common European interest (the IPCEI (...)

ESA approves Norway’s regional aid map for 2022-2027* The EFTA Surveillance Authority has today approved a new map proposed by Norway to designate areas that are eligible for regional aid. The EEA Agreement includes rules that allow for state aid to support the economic development of (...)

ESA adopts new guidelines for regional aid* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today adopted new regional aid guidelines for the period 2022 to 2027. These guidelines are equivalent to the guidelines adopted by the European Commission. The regional aid guidelines set out rules under (...)

ESA greenlights Norwegian aid for zero-emission hydrogen vessels Illustration / Topeka* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved NOK 219 million (EUR 21.73m) in Norwegian state aid for the purchase of two zero-emission hydrogen vessels being developed under the Topeka (...)

ESA concludes no state aid was provided to Iceland’s Landsbankinn and Íslandsbanki* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today closed a complaint case brought by Arion Banki, a privately owned bank, in which it alleged that Iceland’s two state-owned banks – Landsbankinn and Íslandsbanki (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves amendments to Norwegian compensation scheme for organisers of cancelled or downscaled cultural events* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved the renewal of a Norwegian scheme to compensate organisers and subcontractors for losses related to (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves amendments to Norwegian compensation scheme for businesses suffering financial losses* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved changes to a Norwegian support scheme for businesses seeking compensation for COVID-19-related financial (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves renewal of temporary amendments to Norwegian tax refund scheme for seafarers* The EFTA Surveillance Authority has today approved the renewal of temporary amendments to a Norwegian aid scheme granting tax refunds to shipping companies aimed at off-setting the (...)

ESA approves production grant scheme for private media outlets in Iceland* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a grant scheme for private media outlets in Iceland. The scheme aims to improve operating conditions and strengthen the media’s role in providing factual (...)

ESA finds no state aid in Iceland’s additional funding of summer courses in 2020* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has finalised looking into grants provided by Iceland to higher education institutions offering summer courses. It concludes that the measure, which was part of Iceland’s (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves renewing support to large public events that are cancelled or downscaled due to the pandemic* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved the renewal of a scheme offering compensation to organisers of large public events downscaled or cancelled as (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA approves increased support to long-distance bus and passenger boat services in Norway until the end of 2021* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved the renewal of a support scheme to compensate losses incurred by operators of long-distance bus and (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves prolongation of Norwegian support scheme for businesses* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved the prolongation of a Norwegian guarantee scheme that will help ensure access to credit for businesses facing an acute shortage of liquidity due (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves prolongation of Norwegian aid scheme for sporting events of national importance* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a prolongation until 31 October 2021 of a scheme providing support to sporting events affected by the ongoing COVID-19 (...)

ESA approves prolonging support to news and current affairs media in Norway* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) today approves a prolongation of a production grant scheme for media in Norway, until the end of 2022. The production grant scheme for media is an important part of Norway’s (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves support to organisers of package travels in Norway* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a scheme that will help ensure that organisers of package travels can obtain refund guarantees from insurance companies and continue operations. In (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves Norwegian compensation scheme for organisers of cancelled or downscaled cultural events* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a Norwegian scheme to compensate organisers and subcontractors for losses related to cancelled or downscaled (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves renewal and adjustments to a Norwegian compensation scheme for businesses* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved the renewal of a Norwegian scheme providing compensation to companies suffering losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme, (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves Norwegian aid to businesses for lost inventory* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a scheme to compensate restaurants, bars, certain hotels, cafés and flower shops for losses in spoiled inventory that could no longer be sold or used. (...)

19 pandemic: ESA approves amendments to Norwegian aid scheme for voluntary organisations* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved prolonging support to voluntary organisations experiencing financial challenges as a result of COVID-19-containment measures. The budget is also (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves amendments to Norwegian liquidity support scheme for tourism sector* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a prolongation of a liquidity support scheme to Norway’s tourism sector. The scheme is also amended to allow for increased support and (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves prolongation and amendments to financial aid schemes for organisers of events in the sporting and voluntary sectors in Norway* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a prolongation and amendments to two Norwegian aid schemes that provide (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves prolonging support for large public events in Norway* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a prolongation and amendments of a scheme offering compensation to organisers of large public events that must be downscaled or cancelled as a result (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves amendments and prolongations to Icelandic business-support schemes* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved amendments and prolongations to the closure grants and resilience grants schemes providing support to companies suffering income losses (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves compensation to producers of eligible Norwegian culture films* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a scheme compensating film producers for losses due to the closure of cinemas or restrictions in seating capacity. The Norwegian (...)

ESA approves Norwegian aid scheme for alternative fuels infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a Norwegian aid scheme to support private sector investments in own-use alternative fuels infrastructure. The measure, which (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves Norwegian umbrella scheme to support businesses* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a Norwegian umbrella scheme allowing municipalities to support local businesses that are suffering due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Preventive (...)

ESA approves aid for third submarine cable connecting Iceland with Europe* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a capital increase of an estimated EUR 50 million to Farice, a state-owned provider of international telecommunications services, for the construction of the (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves Norwegian aid scheme for sporting events of national importance* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved an aid scheme that will provide financial support to voluntary organisations organising sporting events considered to be of national (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves financial aid to Norwegian voluntary sector* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved an aid scheme that will compensate voluntary organisations for lost income and increased costs arising from COVID-19 containment measures. Norway continues (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves scheme to help the event industry adjust to prolonged restrictions* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a Norwegian scheme to help event companies overcome pandemic-related challenges. The event industry continues to be strongly (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves increased compensation to Norwegian businesses* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved amendments to a temporary compensation scheme for companies in Norway. This entails stepping up the aid intensity for January and February 2021, including (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves renewing temporary amendments to Norway’s seafarer tax refund scheme* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a renewal of temporary amendments to a Norwegian aid scheme that grants tax and social security contribution refunds. The refunds (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA approves increased support for the tourism sector in Norway* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a budget increase for the liquidity support grant scheme for businesses in Norway’s tourism sector from NOK 550 million to NOK 850 million. On 6 July (...)

ESA approves state aid to digital games showcasing Norwegian culture* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a scheme that will support the production, development, promotion and distribution of digital games that shines the spotlight on Norwegian culture. The goal of the (...)

ESA takes action against Iceland for restrictions in the taxi-services market* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today launched infringement proceedings against Iceland for not respecting EEA rules on freedom of establishment in the taxi sector. Current practice in Iceland limits (...)

Annual Scoreboard: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway increase state aid spending on research, development and innovation* The EEA EFTA States have increased their combined spending on state aid, according to the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s (ESA) latest annual State Aid Scoreboard. The (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA approves ISK 15 billion in aid to Keflavík Airport* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved an Icelandic measure that will offer damage compensation to Isavia, the operator of Keflavík Airport, by increasing its share capital. Air travel has (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves ISK 400m compensation to Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved state aid for Harpa aiming to compensate for damages suffered as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has had serious (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA approves continued and increased support to long-distance bus and passenger boat services in Norway* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a prolongation of a scheme to compensate losses incurred by operators of long-distance bus and passenger boat (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves Norwegian compensation scheme for cancelled and downscaled large public events* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a scheme offering compensation to organisers and co-organisers of large public events for losses due to the COVID-19 (...)

ESA approves aid to Boliden Odda to develop green technology for zinc production* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved environmental aid to facilitate a project to develop more environmentally friendly and energy efficient processes and technologies for the production of (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves ISK 400m compensation to Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved state aid for Harpa aiming to compensate for damages suffered as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has had serious (...)

ESA adopts revised Emissions Trading System state aid guidelines* The EFTA Surveillance Authority adopts revised guidelines for assessing state aid for sectors exposed to the European carbon market, the Emissions Trading System (ETS). The guidelines will allow Iceland, Liechtenstein and (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA clears amendments to Norwegian trade credit insurance scheme* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved amendments to a scheme ensuring access to trade credit insurance for enterprises with activity in Norway. The changes will align the scheme with (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves continuation of Norwegian compensation scheme for companies* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today authorised amendments and a prolongation of a temporary compensation scheme for companies in Norway. The updated scheme reflects the continued impact (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves prolongation of Icelandic travel voucher scheme* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a prolongation of an Icelandic scheme offering digital gift vouchers of ISK 5 000 (approximately EUR 33) to individuals, which can be used to buy services (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves Icelandic grant scheme for businesses* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved an Icelandic scheme that will offer grants to companies suffering income losses as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA approves amendments to Norwegian support scheme for cultural events* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved amendments to a scheme to cover losses due to cancellation or postponement of events. Norway notified ESA on 14 December of changes to the (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves additional aid to Norway’s Torp Sandefjord Airport* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) today found a Norwegian plan to continue support to Torp Sandefjord Airport to be in line with EEA state-aid rules. The aid will help alleviate the airport’s financial (...)

ESA clears public financing of Norway’s e-health record system Akson* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today concluded that Norway’s financing of Akson, an electronic health (e-health) record system, does not raise state aid issues. On 25 November 2020, Norway notified ESA of its (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves amendments to support scheme for Norwegian tourism sector* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a prolongation of and amendments to the Norwegian liquidity support grant scheme for businesses in the tourism sector. On 6 July 2020, ESA (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves amendments to grant scheme for Norwegian traders of package travels* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved amendments to a Norwegian scheme that provides access to liquidity for tour operators offering package holidays. The package-holiday (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves amendments to a compensation scheme for bus and passenger boat services in Norway* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved amendments making it easier for eligible bus and boat service operators to access funding. On 20 July 2020, ESA (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves prolonged support to airlines in Norway* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved an amendment and prolongation of the existing guarantee scheme for airline operators facing acute liquidity shortages until 30 June 2021. Air travel has (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves prolongation of trade credit insurance scheme* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved the prolongation of a scheme ensuring access to trade credit insurance for enterprises with activity in Norway. The scheme aims to ensure access to trade (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves prolongation of Norwegian support to businesses* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved amendments to a guarantee scheme in Norway that ensures access to liquidity for companies, including a prolongation of the scheme. On 26 March 2020, ESA (...)

ESA approves prolongation of Norwegian assistance to regions* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today decided to approve a prolongation of regionally differentiated social security contributions in Norway. Since 1975, social security contributions have been regionally (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves Icelandic schemes to compensate companies* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved two Icelandic schemes that will offer direct grants to companies suffering income losses as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since the outbreak of (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves renewal of support scheme for cultural events in Norway* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved renewal and amendments of a scheme to cover losses following cancellation and postponement of events. Events across Norway have been cancelled (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves state aid to cancelled Offshore Northern Seas conference and fair* The EFTA Surveillance Authority has today approved state aid for the Offshore Northern Seas Foundation’s (ONS) 2020 conference, which was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The (...)

ESA approves grant scheme for local broadcasting in Norway* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a Norwegian state aid grant scheme to support the digitisation of local TV and radio broadcasters. The main objectives of the scheme are to contribute to media pluralism and (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves aid to Dyrsku’n agricultural and trade fair in Norway* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved aid to Dyrsku’n, Norway’s largest agricultural and trade fair. The aid aims to compensate for pandemic-related losses following the cancellation of (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves prolongation of support to airlines in Norway* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved the extension of the current guarantee scheme for airline operators in Norway until 31 December 2020. Strict containment measures, including travel (...)

COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves renewal of support to event organisers in the sports and voluntary sector* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved renewal and amendments of a scheme to cover losses following cancellation and postponement of events. Events across Norway (...)

ESA signs MoU with ACER* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on its cooperation with the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER). The adoption of the MoU is intended to put in place practical arrangements to (...)

ESA prolongs a recommendation to prevent delays and ease market access for protective equipment and medical gear* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today decided to amend and prolong its Recommendation on conformity assessment and market surveillance procedures , in order to continue (...)

ESA renews decision requiring disclosure of net short positions of 0.1% and above* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has renewed its decision to temporarily require holders of net short positions in shares traded on a regulated market of the EEA EFTA States to notify the relevant (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA greenlights state guarantee for Icelandair* Iceland will provide state aid to Icelandair to partly compensate for the damage resulting from travel restrictions linked to the COVID-19 outbreak. Icelandair is an international passenger airline operating in Iceland. It (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA approves Norwegian aid to TORP Sandefjord Airport* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has approved aid to the operator of TORP Sandefjord Airport in Norway to cover some of the losses caused by the COVID-19 containment measures. The aviation sector in Norway, both (...)

State Aid: ESA approves financing prolongation for Mongstad CCS Project* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a prolongation of Norway’s financing for the flagship carbon capture testing facility established in Mongstad (the TCM). The TCM will receive financing for a (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA approves Norwegian aid to Haugesund Airport* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has approved aid to Haugesund Airport, Karmøy (HAU) in Norway to cover losses caused by the COVID-19 containment measures. The aviation sector in Norway, both domestic and (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA approves temporary Norwegian rules on asset depreciation* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a measure by the Norwegian government to stimulate liquidity for businesses by allowing an increased initial depreciation rate for investments in assets (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA approves compensation scheme for bus and passenger boat services in Norway* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has approved a scheme that will compensate undertakings offering commercial, year round, long-distance bus and boat services for losses incurred on (...)

ESA approves Norwegian Full-Scale Carbon Capture and Storage: up to €2.1bn in aid to meet climate goals* The CCS Full-Scale project is a central part of Norway’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and meet the European goal of climate-neutrality by 2050. It is the largest single state (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA greenlights amendments and prolongation of schemes compensating losses for sport, voluntary and cultural events* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has approved amendments and prolongation of two schemes for organisers in the culture, sports and voluntary sector in (...)

State Aid: ESA prolongs and amends guidelines* Today, the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has decided to prolong six sets of state aid guidelines that were due to expire at the end of 2020. The decision, which mirrors that taken by the European Commission on 2 July 2020, is designed to (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA approves amended Norwegian guarantee scheme for airlines* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has approved a renewal and amendments of the scheme that will make it feasible for more airline operators to access guarantees to help them through the current crisis. The (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA approves grant scheme for the private media sector in Iceland* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has approved a scheme that will offer direct grants to private media entities in Iceland to support the media sector in the ongoing pandemic. Since the outbreak of (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA approves amendments to Norway’s seafarer tax refund scheme* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has greenlighted amendments to a Norwegian aid scheme granting tax and social security contribution refunds to shipping companies in Norway. The amendments lift refund (...)

Competition: ESA discontinues Widerøe investigation* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has discontinued an investigation regarding suspected breaches of the competition rules in the EEA Agreement. In 2016, ESA opened a formal investigation into whether Widerøe’s Flyveselskap AS (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA approves compensation scheme for the media sector in Norway* ESA has approved a scheme that will compensate undertakings in the Norwegian media sector for losses in turnover caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Norwegian (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA approves Norwegian support to tourism sector* Businesses in the tourism sector that have suffered significant losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic can now receive up to EUR 800 000 in direct grants from the Norwegian government. The Norwegian tourism sector provides (...)

COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA greenlights Icelandic travel guarantee fund* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has approved an Icelandic scheme that provides subsidised loans for package travel traders. The tourism and package travel sector in Iceland is experiencing financial difficulties due (...)

ESA fines Telenor EUR 112 million for anticompetitive practices* Following an in-depth investigation, the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) concludes that Telenor abused its market dominance by a pricing strategy that resulted in rivals making a loss when selling residential mobile broadband (...)

ESA investigates DNB, Nordea, Finance Norway and BankID* The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has opened proceedings against DNB, Nordea, Finance Norway and BankID for suspected breaches of the competition rules in the EEA Agreement. Bits, a related organisation to Finance Norway, will also (...)