ESA adopts temporary State aid framework for sectors affected by the Middle East Crisis
The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has adopted the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (“METSAF”), providing EEA EFTA States with a temporary legal basis to support businesses affected by the economic consequences of the ongoing Middle East crisis. Mirroring the framework adopted by the European Commission for EU Member States on 29 April 2026, the METSAF enables Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to grant targeted aid to sectors particularly impacted by rising energy costs, including agriculture, fisheries, transport and energy-intensive industries.
The framework also introduces temporary amendments to Section 4.5 of ESA’s Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF), allowing for increased flexibility and higher aid intensities to address electricity price spikes. ESA will apply the METSAF when assessing aid measures notified by the EEA EFTA States from 1 March 2026 until 31 December 2026, ensuring a coordinated response across the EEA to the economic disruptions caused by the crisis.
For more information, see ESA’s PR.