Background information

Energy support enterprises are a partial intervention in energy costs for companies that faced rising energy costs in the first quarter of 2023. This aid provides continuity to healthy companies that faced EBITDA declines and prevents them from going bankrupt.

This measures is part of one of the promises of the Flemish government. In December, the Jambon government approved the support mechanism.

Content of measure

In total, the government will provide €250 million, divided into two allotments for this measure.

Strict conditions apply to qualify for this energy support measure. For instance, the company with an EBITDA decline will have to prove that it was sufficiently healthy before the crisis. The company needs to show that in the first quarter of 2023 it had an EBITDA decline of at least 50% compared to the benchmark EBITDA or suffered an operating loss due to the energy crisis.

Companies that had an energy cost per unit (kWh) of natural gas or electricity in the first quarter of 2023 that exceeds the average energy cost in the reference period, plus 50%, are eligible.

They must also have had at least €7,500 in natural gas and/or electricity costs at their Flemish sites in 2021. If the company was established between 1 January 2021 and 30 September 2021, the minimum energy expenses are calculated pro rata for the calendar year 2021.

Companies entitled to the support can be reimbursed up to 25% to 35% of eligible additional costs for natural gas and electricity.

Energy-intensive enterprises are eligible for increased aid. An enterprise is considered energy-intensive if the total energy costs for natural gas and electricity, including all costs and charges, in 2021 exceeded 3% of turnover in that year.

Use of measure

No data available.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Company / Companies	Regional funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No information on social partner involvement

Views and reactions

No public statements on the specific measure by the employers' organisations. However, in general they are clear proponents of support measures for companies due to the recent increases in cost.

Sources

• 24 April 2023: Energiesteun 2 (www.vlaio.be)