The EU Commission approves a Lithuanian scheme worth €5M in the form of loan interest payments for SMEs active in road freight transport affected by the COVID-19 outbreak

State aid: Commission approves €5 million Lithuanian scheme for SMEs active in road freight transport affected by the coronavirus outbreak* The European Commission has approved a €5 million direct grant scheme to support the Lithuanian economy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework adopted by the Commission on 19 March 2020, as amended on 3 April 2020. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Road freight transport is also one of the sectors affected by the pandemic. The €5 million Lithuanian scheme will help SMEs active in this sector to ease their financial burden and maintain their activity during and after the outbreak. This is the first scheme we have approved to