Minister Sutt explained that the purpose of the amendments is to increase access for smaller entrepreneurs to the crisis support paid through Enterprise Estonia. “We lowered the eligibility threshold for support and expanded the target group, so that non-profit associations, foundations, and self-employed persons could also apply for support,” said Sutt.
Crisis support in the tourism sector continues to be targeted at the businesses most affected by the various restrictions. The main target groups of the support are still accommodation companies, travel companies, catering companies in the Old Town of Tallinn, and handicraft and souvenir sellers all over Estonia. Pursuant to today’s decision, sellers of Estonian design will also be added as a target group. Self-employed persons, non-profit associations, and foundations can now also apply for support in all target groups (except catering). Requirements concerning paid labour taxes were also relaxed.
The amount of support per company is a maximum of 60,000 to 180,000 euros, depending on the company’s field of activity, loss of turnover, and labour taxes paid.
The aid budget to the tourism sector is 8.5 million euros. Enterprise Estonia will open the grants immediately after the order enters into force and after receiving authorisation from the European Commission, presumably in the second half of March.
Through Enterprise Estonia, the state also supports road passenger transport companies with up to 1.2 million euros. The support measure will become available in April immediately after receiving the authorisation from the European Commission.
Enterprise Estonia will announce the rounds of grants and the detailed eligibility conditions on its website.
