On 20 July 2022, the European Commission (the EC) amended its recently approved Temporary Crisis Framework for State Aid measures to support the economy following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (the Temporary Crisis Framework). The main aim of this instrument is to support the EC’s objective of phasing out Member States’ traditional reliance on fossil fuels.

The amendment expands the original Temporary Crisis Framework (published on 23 March 2022), which enabled Member States to use State aid rules more flexibly to support the economy in the context of the crisis. The amendment also complements the EC’s Winter Preparedness Package, a proposed set of rules aimed at reducing consumer gas demand by 15% by spring 2023, while ensuring energy security.