Background information

On 18 March 2022, the government announced that it would introduce several support measures to help companies hard hit by Russia's war against Ukraine and subsequent sanctions. On 1 April, the government presented details of these schemes and sent a proposition to the parliament for consideration.

The support scheme for loss of income is aimed at companies with a significant part of their turnover from Russia, Belarus and / or Ukraine. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Jan Christian Vestre of the Labour Party, said the government’s goal was to help Norwegian businesses and industry weather the impacts of sanctions directed toward Russia. Companies can receive support to cover up to 80% of contract losses.

Content of measure

The government proposals of 1 April include a subsidy scheme for companies with a loss of income due to the war in Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions. The scheme has a framework of NOK 55 million (€5.5 millions) and is aimed at companies in Norway that have not received settlements for contracts with Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian customers due to the war. The scheme is intended to help companies that have been impacted by the war in Ukraine.

The scheme covers companies that have had a minimum of 50% of their turnover from Russia, Belarus and / or Ukraine. Companies can receive grants to cover up to 80% of their claims against Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian companies. Up to €400,000 can be given in grants to one company (approximately NOK 3.9 million).

The scheme applies to contracts entered into before 25 February 2022. Contracts entered into after this date may in special cases also be included, if the companies can prove that these are contracts and customer relationships that fall within the company's scope and normal business operations.

The scheme applies to agreed deliveries of goods or services to Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian customers by the end of September 2022. No support can be given to contracts that breach or undermine sanctions. The scheme will be managed by Innovation Norway and must be approved by the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA).

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 Public support service providers	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

No information on social partners involvement during design and implementation of the measure.

Views and reactions

The social partners are supportive of the measure.

Sources

• 01 April 2022: This is how the support schemes for companies with high exposure to Russia become (www.regjeringen.no)