European Foundation
for the Improvement of
Living and Working Conditions

The tripartite EU agency providing knowledge to assist
in the development of better social, employment and
work-related policies

EU PolicyWatch

Database of national-level policy measures

Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure NO-2021-9/1932 – measures in Norway

Umbrella scheme for liquidity support for undertakings in municipalities

Kommunal kompensasjonsordning for lokale virksomheter

Country Norway , applies nationwide
Time period Open ended, started on 25 February 2021
Context COVID-19
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Supporting businesses to stay afloat
– Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation
Author Aasmund Arup Seip, FAFO and Eurofound
Measure added 05 July 2021 (updated 16 July 2021)

Background information

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Norwegian authorities has imposed a series of national and local restrictions, which has significantly impeding economic activity. The impact of the crisis has been different for different local communities and sectors across Norway. The Norwegian authorities therefore proposed a municipal compensation scheme in order to improve the liquidity of undertakings in municipalities hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure shall, in particular, remedy the situation of local undertakings that are affected by local or national infection control measures or the economic recession following from the pandemic.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with subsequent stringent restrictive measures, has resulted in increased costs, loss of customers and large revenue losses, which in turn has led to an extraordinary liquidity situation for undertakings in many sectors. The crisis has dramatic consequences for many sectors, but the impact varies between municipalities and sectors.

Content of measure

The municipal compensation scheme aims at ensuring access to liquidity, by means of direct grants, for undertakings facing a sudden shortage or unavailability of liquidity due to the impact on the economy of the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure shall remedy the situation of local undertakings that are particularly affected by local or national infection control measures or the economic recession following from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The measure is funded through a budget allocation from the Government to the municipalities, which enables them to aid local undertakings. The municipalities may choose different ways, under the compensation scheme, to aid undertakings. These funds will remedy the situation for undertakings according to local needs not covered by national schemes. These needs vary from municipality to municipality.

The Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation is the authority responsible for the measure and for defining the framework within which the municipalities may adapt and prioritise local schemes. Aid under the measure may be granted to undertakings, or an entity within an undertaking, with their registered address within the municipality border, or to regional tourist boards and destination management organisations. Undertakings of all sizes can be eligible.

The municipal compensation scheme has by June 2021 been allocated NOK 2,500 million (€245 million).

Use of measure

No information.

Target groups

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

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
Local / regional government
National 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

Social partners involvement is unknown. Social partners may have had informal dialogue with government or/and members of parliament.

Views and reactions

The social partners are supportive of the measure.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2021), Umbrella scheme for liquidity support for undertakings in municipalities, measure NO-2021-9/1932 (measures in Norway), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/NO-2021-9_1932.html

Share

Eurofound publications based on EU PolicyWatch

30 January 2023

 

Measures to lessen the impact of the inflation and energy crisis on citizens

Governments across the EU continue to implement policies to support citizens and businesses in the face of rising food and energy prices caused by the COVID-19 crisis and intensified by the war in Ukraine. This article summarises the policy responses as reported in Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch database from January to September 2022.

Article

12 September 2022

 

First responses to cushion the impact of inflation on citizens

Although the worldwide pandemic situation had already disrupted supply chains and triggered increases in energy and food prices in 2021, the situation deteriorated in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Article

12 September 2022

 

Policies to support EU companies affected by the war in Ukraine

This article summarises the first policy responses that governments across the EU have started to implement to support companies affected by the rising prices, and those with commercial ties to Ukraine, Russia or Belarus.

Article

5 July 2022

 

Policies to support refugees from Ukraine

This article summarises the first policy responses of EU Member States, including those of the social partners and other civil society actors, enabling refugees to exercise their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.

Article

Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.