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 cancelled or downscaled cultural events organised between July and end October.
COVID-19 restrictions are gradually being lifted in Norway, and more people can now attend public events.
The scheme was initially approved in May 2021 and compensates eligible organisers for unavoidable costs related to ticketed cultural events that are cancelled or downscaled. The scheme also compensates eligible subcontractors for loss of income and additional costs related to cancelled or downscaled events.
Today’s decision renews the scheme in line with the European Commission’s Temporary Framework for state aid measures to support the economy during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Under the renewed scheme, compensation can be provided in relation to events organised between 1 July and 31 October 2021. The measure is divided into two compensation periods: 1 July until 31 August and 1 September until 31 October.
The renewed scheme also provides that organisers of a festival held yearly or biannually and lasting at least two days, may receive up to NOK 7 million (approx. EUR 700 000) in one of the compensation periods.
The budget of the scheme is NOK 425 million (approx. EUR 41 million).
Read ESA’s decision here.
