EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE GENERAL ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS Policy measures taken against the spread and impact of the coronavirus – 14 May 2020 The table provides a comprehensive overview of measures announced or taken in the Member States so far. The measures (which are not exhaustive) outlined here are happening in a fast changing environment and are subject to being changed and updated/amended. As high uncertainty continues to surround the outcome of the crisis, the final outturns in terms of costings may differ. The policy measures are classified in the table below according to the following categories: (i) expenditure measures, (ii) tax measures, (iii) sectorial, regional, or measures other than fiscal, (iv) any other measures. The recording does not prejudge decisions to be taken by national statistical authorities and Eurostat on the statistical recording of measures taken in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Member Type of measure State (very briefly describe the measures taken and their estimated budgetary impact) BE • Expenditure measures - Increased flexibility is applied in the execution of public contracts if difficulties are linked to COVID-19. No sanctions or fines will be imposed for not respecting the agreed deadline. - Federal provision to cover additional costs (healthcare, repatriation of Belgian citizens, etc.) has been adopted (EUR 2 bn). • Tax measures (up to 30/06/2020) - Tax deferrals have been made easier in case of financial difficulties linked to Coronavirus both for companies and the self-employed (applicable to social contributions, payroll taxes, VAT, personal and corporate income taxes). They are assumed not to have a deficit-increasing impact in 2020. - Self-employed can also apply for an exemption of social security contributions. Social rights stemming from the activity would not be attributed for the period. Proof of social coverage under other pillars is therefore mandatory. The current estimate of the budgetary cost is relatively small. - Several regional taxes have also been postponed (various taxes in Wallonia; Flemish car tax, immovable property tax, inheritance and portability of registration rights; traffic taxes for individuals and companies in Brussels capital region). An exemption of the City Tax in the Brussels Capital Region has been introduced. • Sectorial, regional measures, or measures other than fiscal (e.g. labour) - Federal: Temporary unemployment due to COVID-19 outbreak can be considered as temporary unemployment due to force majeure up to 1 30/06/2020. Temporary unemployment scheme for economic reasons can also be used by enterprises that experience difficulties related to the spreading of the virus. The procedures have been largely simplified. Up to 30/06/2020, the temporary unemployment benefits (for force majeure or economic reasons) have been increased from 65% to 70% of the capped average earnings. Ceiling remains EUR 2.754,76 per month. An additional top-up of EUR 150 gross per month has been added. Lump sum of EUR 1.450 per month made available before the application is processed. - Federal: The activation allowance for young unemployed is extended for three months. - Federal: The unemployment benefit allowance due on 1 April is frozen until 30 June. For unempoyment benefit rights due between April and June, the phases of degressivity are also extended. - Federal: Replacement income (so-called droit passerelle) is eased in case of activity discontinuity due to the COVID-10 outbreak for self-employed individuals, partial self-employed, retired self-employed, and self-employed already benefiting from another replacement income. An interruption of 7 days is enough to claim the full monthly benefit amounting to EUR 1.291 (without family burden) EUR 1.614 (with family burden). The current rules apply until end of May. - Flanders: Allowance for companies and self-employed forced to close due to security measures (so-called Hinderpremie) is paid as a one-off payment of EUR 4.000 in case of a complete closure and of EUR 2000 if the closure is partial. In both cases, a daily payment of EUR 160 is added after 21 days of closure. The amounts are exempt from corporate income tax. - Flanders: Compensation premium of EUR 3.000 for companies and self- employed not forced to close their activity due to COVID-19 but with a turnover reduction of more than 60% between 15 March and 30 April compared to the same period last year is paid. Additional conditions for self-employed The amount is exempt from personal and corporate income tax. - Flanders: All temporary unemployed in Flanders will automatically receive EUR 203 to support their water and energy costs for a month. - Flanders: Extension of the existing support scheme for part time work to companies in difficulties due to COVID-19 outbreak. - Flanders: Youth and social tourism industry are subsidised further. Subsidised sectors (e.g. culture, sports, youth) and other specific sectors (e.g. horticulture, tourism, mobility) will also be able to recover losses through the emergency fund of EUR 200 mn. A higher wage premium of 4% to employees in sheltered workshops. In local services sectors, a one-off protection premium of € 50 or €100 per employee is paid. - Flanders: Childcare and education sectors are compensated for income losses. In particular, creches are compensated with EUR 27 per a non-attending child, per day. Outside school childcare and familiy support are supported. Cancelled individual professional training are also compensated. - Flanders: Support to care sector (residential and day care, home help, handicaped care sector, vulnerable young persons and children) is provided. Icome losses are compensated. In the case of residential care, temporary hiring of additional nurses is supported. Financial support to projects and organisations taking care of vulnerable youth is provided. - Flanders: The subsidy to service voucher companies who remain active increases. The services vouchers expiring between March and June are extended to July. 2 - Flanders: Small support measures for the private and social rental market. Flanders: Additional health-related spending concern procurement of extra masks, other care material, contact tracers and a communication campaign on COVID-19. - Wallonia: A one-off allowance for small companies from a number of sectors (restaurants, hotels, travel, events, retail stores, culture) forced to completely or partially close due to security measures is paid. The premium amounts to EUR 5000 in case of a complete closure and to EUR 2500 if the closure is partial. A new lump sum allowance of € 2500 is introduced for self-employed and companies with substantially reduced activity in March and April. The measure also concerns self-employed benefiting from full bridging right in March or April. - Wallonia: Enterprises in the care sector with decreasing revenues (e.g. family help, creches, mental health services, service voucher, adapted work enterprises) can benefit from a one-off premium of EUR 5000 covering a period of three months. - Wallonia: Households can benefit from gas- and electricity bill supports (EUR 75 and 100 per household, respectively). For temporary unemployed a premium of € 40 per person for water expenditure is paid. Limitation of water supply during April and May is prohibited. Funding for social water services is increased. Additional facilities for self-employed and companies to pay water bills are introduced. - Wallonia: Additional spending on health-related concern puchase of masks, contact traders, medical equipment and support for hospitals, rest homes, homeless and vulnerable facilities. - Wallonia: Grants to local social services are increased. Support to social housing sectors is also provided by deferring loans due by social housing companies without interests for the period of deferral. - Wallonia: Up to 80% of costs of industrial or experimental research projects related to Covid-19 are reimbursed. - Wallonia: A provision to relaunch the economy while supporting the transition towards a more circular and local oriented economy has been announced. It is meant to finance first realisation of the Transition Plan. - Wallonia: Financial support to local authorities is provided, notably for purchases of masks. - Wallonia: Funds for a possible calling in of lean guarantees are reserved. - Brussels Capital Region: A one-off of EUR 4000 allowance is granted for companies forced to close in selected sectors (restaurants, bars, hotels, travel agencies, retail stores, leisure and sports activities). - Brussels Capital Region: A one-off premium of € 2000 for small enterprises (below the threshold of 5 full-time equivalent workers) and self-employed suffering from substantial reductions in turnover due to Coronavirus. - Brussels Capital Region: Fund of EUR 29 mn for support to care sector (rest homes, disability sectors) was created. - Brussels Capital Region: Additional support to care sector and service voucher enterprises is provided. Top-up of EUR 2.5 per hour of temporary unemployment allowance, one-off premium of EUR 4000 to service voucher companies and an increased subsidy for service voucher companies to ensure security to domestic workers. - Brussels Capital Region: Low-income tenants renting on the private housing markets and hit by income loss are eligible for a premium of EUR 215. - Brussels Capital Region: Research projects related to COVID-19 are eligible for a 3 subsidy. - French Community: Support is provided to sectors hit by the containment measures