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The European Exhibition Industry & COVID-19
The European Exhibition Industry & COVID-19
This document lists support measures from the EU and national governments in Europe for businesses in general, and the exhibition industry
in particular. It will continuously grow and cover all European countries of EMECA and UFI Members. We hope that by gathering together
examples of financial and other support for the exhibition industry, it will encourage other governments and policymakers to do the same in
their respective markets.
Exhibitions and trade shows are a fast-track to economic recovery once the coronavirus crisis has passed and will deliver the best return on
investment now. We have also listed examples of how the exhibition industry offers support to communities in this crisis, such as converting
exhibition halls to temporary emergency hospitals, and other initiatives.
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Key – Exhibition industry only
Wider business support
Sector Specific support (e.g. aviation, tourism, etc.)
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
EU Coronavirus Response EU Commission. EU Member Website on the Ready to receive inputs EEIA:
Investment Initiative – Measures States must Coronavirus from the Exhibition Summary of
€37 billion using unspent approved by the activate and Response Industry on how to better the web
European Structural and European implement summarising all support them conference –
Investments funds - Parliament on each of those initiatives in all 17.03.2020
10.03.2020 – (link – 26.03.2020 and schemes in fields. (English) (link - English)
English - Exact amounts confirmed by the their own
per each country EU council on country EEIA Update
available here) 30.03.2020 (link – document:
English) Coronavirus
outbreak –
Measures to support European Central Impact on the
bank liquidity conditions Bank European
and money market exhibition
activity - 12.03.2020 (link industry and
- English) economy in
general
ECB Banking Supervision European Central Support to
provides temporary Bank avoid
capital and operational bankruptcy
relief in reaction to and prepare
coronavirus – 12.03.2020 for recovery –
(link - English) 25.03.2020
(link - English)
2
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
EIB Group will rapidly European European
mobilise up to EUR 40 Investment Bank Exhibition
billion to fight crisis Industry
caused by Covid-19 and Alliance
calls on Member States to releases
set up a further documentation
guarantee for SME and on economic
mid-cap support from EIB measures
Group and national taken by
promotional banks – governments
16.03.2020 (link - English) to support the
exhibition
€750 billion Pandemic European Central industry to
Emergency Purchase Bank mitigate the
Programme (PEPP) – COVID-19
18.03.2020 (link – crisis.
English) (Link – English)
3
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
28.03.2020 (Official
statement here – English)
4
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
can be mobilised to the
fullest. 02.04.2020
(Official Link here).
5
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
Report on the EIB. EU
comprehensive economic Commission, ESM
policy response to the
COVID-19 pandemic –
09.04.2020 (Official link
here)
6
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
Austria EU Commission approves Austrian Govt EU EU Commission Messe Wien (Vienna) Messe Wien
€15 billion Austrian Commission (English) adding 3,100 hospital (English)
liquidity scheme to beds to cope with
support the economy in hospital overflow
the coronavirus outbreak
(09.04.2020)
7
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
coronavirus outbreak
(11.04.2020)
8
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
sectors most affected by
the coronavirus outbreak
(15.04.2020)
9
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
fishery and aquaculture
sector in coronavirus
outbreak (17.04.2020)
Cyprus
Czech Republic EU Commission approves Czech Govt EU EU Commission
Czech scheme of up to Commission (English)
€37 million to support
investments in the
production of
coronavirus-relevant
products
Denmark EU Commission approves Danish Govt EU EU Commission
€12 million Danish Commission (English)
scheme to compensate
damages caused by Danish Business
cancellations of large Service
public events due to (Danish)
COVID-19 outbreak
(12.03.2020)
10
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
coronavirus outbreak
(25.03.2020)
11
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
for damage caused by
coronavirus outbreak
(15.04.2020)
Estonia EU Commission approves Estonian Govt EU EU Commission
€1.75 billion Estonian Commission (English)
schemes to support
economy in coronavirus
outbreak (30.03.2020)
12
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
(21.03.2020) GL Events (Lyon) offered Link
its venue as temporary (French)
EU Commission approves French Govt EU EU Commission hospital, storage or other
€1.2 billion French “Fonds Commission (English) use fitting the needs of
de solidarité” scheme for the governements as-
small enterprises in well-as our co-workers’
temporary financial expertise in logistic and
difficulties due to other useful domains.
coronavirus outbreak
(30.03.2020)
13
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
solidarité” scheme for
small enterprises in
temporary financial
difficulties due to
coronavirus outbreak
(15.04.2020)
14
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
15
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
in coronavirus outbreak
(11.04.2020)
16
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
coronavirus outbreak
(07.04.2020)
EU Commission approves
€88 million Hungarian aid Hungarian Govt EU EU Commission
scheme supporting Commission (English)
researchers and
developers in all sectors
affected by coronavirus
outbreak (17.04.2020)
Iceland
17
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
Ireland EU Commission approves Irish Govt EU EU Commission
€200 million Irish scheme Commission (English)
to support the economy
in the current coronavirus
outbreak (31.03.2020)
EU Commission approves
€200 million Irish scheme
to support companies Irish Govt EU EU Commission
affected by the Commission (English)
coronavirus outbreak
(21.04.2020)
Israel
Italy Different measures to Italian Govt Italian Fiera Milano (Milan) link, link2 and
support companies Government 25.000 sqm converted official website
(Italian) into a temporary hospital (Italian)
with about 250 intensive
EU Commission approves Italian Govt EU EU Commission care beds.
€50 million Italian Commission (English)
support scheme for Fiera Bergamo (Bergamo) link
production and supply of adding 300 hospital beds (Italian)
medical equipment and
masks during Coronavirus VeronaFiere (Verona) Link (Italian)
outbreak donate €50,000 to
(22.03.2020) emergency services
appeal
EU Commission approves Italian Govt EU EU Commission
Italian State guarantee Commission (English)
scheme to support SMEs
affected by coronavirus
outbreak
18
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
(25.03.2020)
19
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
sectors affected by
coronavirus outbreak in
Friuli Venezia Giulia
region (21.04.2020)
Latvia EU Commission approves Latvian Govt EU EU Commission
state support for €250 Commission (English)
million Latvian subsidised
loan scheme and loan
guarantee scheme for
companies affected by
coronavirus outbreak
(23.03.200)
EU Commission approves
€150 million Lithuanian Lithuanian Govt EU EU Commission
schemes to support Commission (English)
20
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
economy in coronavirus
outbreak
21
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
the European
Parliament
and the
Council of
the EU
Malta EU Commission approves Maltese Govt EU EU Commission
€350 million Maltese Commission (English)
guarantee scheme to
support economy in
coronavirus outbreak
(02.04.2020)
EU Commission approves
€5.3 million Maltese Maltese Govt EU EU Commission
scheme to support Commission (English)
research and
development related to
coronavirus outbreak
(22.04.2020)
Moldova EU Commission proposes EU Commission The EU Commission
€3 billion macro-financial Commission's (English)
assistance package to proposal is
support ten neighbouring subject to
countries (22.04.2020) adoption by
the European
Parliament
and the
Council of
the EU
Monaco
22
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
Montenegro EU Commission proposes EU Commission The EU Commission
€3 billion macro-financial Commission's (English)
assistance package to proposal is
support ten neighbouring subject to
countries (22.04.2020) adoption by
the European
Parliament
and the
Council of
the EU
Netherlands Different measures to Dutch Govt Dutch Government Easyfairs offered their 10
support companies (English) exhibition venues in
Belgium, Nethelands and
EU Commission approves Dutch Govt EU EU Commission Sweden to the relevant
€23 million Dutch scheme Commission (English) authorities
to support the economy
in the current coronavirus
outbreak (03.04.2020)
23
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
government for micro, (Polish) Grupa MTP (Poznan)
small, medium and big transported protective
companies to improve masks and protective
liquidity. The whole suits to the isolation
amount of the funds will hospital in Poznań; they
be100 billion PLN expressed their readiness
to provide hospitals with
EU Commission approves Polish Government EU EU Commission catering and fresh water
Polish scheme enabling Commission (English)
public guarantees up to
€22 billion to support
economy in coronavirus
outbreak (03.04.2020)
24
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
support the economy in
coronavirus outbreak
(22.04.2020)
25
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
26
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
to preserve jobs and
support the self-
employed during the
coronavirus outbreak
(21.04.2020)
Slovenia
Spain Different measures to Spanish Govt Local Newspaper Fira Barcelona Link
support companies (English) (Barcelona) giving one (Spanish)
pavilion to host homeless
Spanish Govt people, setting up a Link (English)
(Spanish) temporary hospital with a
capacity of 300 places
EU Commission approves Spanish Govt EU EU Commission and expandable to 2.000.
€20 billion Spanish Commission (English) Using kitchen facilities to
guarantee schemes for prepare meals for
companies and self- hospitals and nursing
employed affected by homes and gives 2 tonnes
coronavirus outbreak of food to suply kitchens.
(24.03.2020) Link, 2, 3,
IFEMA (Madrid) adding video (Spanish)
EU Commission approves 3.000 hospital beds,
Spanish “umbrella” Spanish Govt EU EU Commission hosting homeless people
scheme to support Commission (English) and allowing the use of
economy in coronavirus the kitchen facilities.
outbreak 85.000m2 used as a
(02.03.2020) whole.
Link
Feria Valencia (Valencia) (Spanish)
will host 800 “fallas”,
gigantic cardboard
monuments considered a
27
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
World Heritage Site by
UNESCO, in their
pavilions
Sweden EU Commission approves Swedish Govt EU EU Commission Easyfairs offered their 10
a €9.1 billion Swedish Commission (English) exhibition venues in
guarantee scheme to Belgium, Nethelands and
support economy in Sweden to the relevant
coronavirus outbreak authorities
(02.04.2020)
Commission approves
€38 million Swedish Swedish Govt EU EU Commission
scheme to compensate Commission (English)
damages caused by
cancelled or postponed
cultural events due to
coronavirus outbreak
28
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
(22.04.2020)
Switzerland Different measures to Swiss Government Swiss Government Palexpo (Geneva) allows
support companies (DE, FR, IT) the use of the kitchen
and staff to support the
4.5 million CHF for SMEs Swiss Government Switzerland Global hospitals. A hall is used
in trade fairs and events Enterprise by the army for storing
industry (DE, FR, IT) material and for a
(25.03.2020) dormitory for about 500
people.
Turkey Different measures to Turkish Govt Turkish
support companies Government
(Turkish)
About Govt support: Turkish Govt
a) all the venue’s which Turkish chamber of
are owned by the commerce
government/municipality, (Turkish)
have decided to “freeze”
the rental price until İŞKUR General
2022. Directorate, which
b) furthermore, all the is affiliated to the
lessee’s of these venues, Ministry of Family,
which had to postpone Labor and Social
their fair, will get a new Services
date with the same (English)
conditions.
c) the government is
giving financial support to
all organizing (small)
companies, including fair
organizers. The amount
of this support will be
29
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
depending on the loses of
the company.
d) all the (trade) fairs will
be postponed at least
until July.
Ukraine EU Commission proposes EU Commission The EU Commission
€3 billion macro-financial Commission's (English)
assistance package to proposal is
support ten neighbouring subject to
countries (22.04.2020) adoption by
the European
Parliament
and the
Council of
the EU
UK* Ongoing petition from Industry Supplier Petition.org Excel London (London) Link (English)
events industry for (English) “Operation Nightingale”
specific govt support to become a temporary
NHS Hospital. Initially
Govt support for UK Govt 500 beds with scope to
businesses: VAT increase to 4000.
exemption, covering 80%
of redundant workers’ NEC (Birmingham) BBC Link
salaries (up to £2,800). planning and building a (English)
However, no support for field hospital for up to
freelancers/self- 5,000 beds
employed
30
Country Govt Programme / Primary Source Secondary More info / Support from exhibition More info /
activity Source external URLs industry external URLs
coronavirus outbreak
(25.03.2020)
EU Commission approves
£50 billion UK “umbrella” UK Govt EU EU Commission
scheme to support the Commission (English)
economy in the
coronavirus outbreak
(06.04.2020)
*According to the UK Withdrawal Agreement, during the transition period, the entire body of EU law continues to apply to, and in, the UK as if it were a
Member State. This includes all EU rules relating to State aid.
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