"It is not time to lift the measures to support the economy," said the minister during a press conference call, and this "massive aid", which will be integrated into the current draft Budget for 2021 examination in Parliament, will be reoriented "on the sectors most affected", he added.
Prime Minister Jean Castex announced Thursday that deconfinement would be slower than expected, which will further increase the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on many businesses, in particular in leisure activities, restaurants or businesses. 'event.
And when the closed sectors reopen, it will be at the cost of strict sanitary conditions, which risk limiting their activity.
The "pillar" of this new phase of emergency support will be the solidarity fund, the allocation conditions of which were reinforced in December, detailed Bruno Le Maire.
The government plans to devote 7 billion euros to it in 2021, maintaining it "at least until the end of June".
It also mobilizes 11 billion euros for the support of partial unemployment, both under the existing system, which will be maintained at least until the end of January, and for long-term partial activity.
The government also provides for 1 billion euros of tax exemptions for companies.
In addition, there is aid for ski resorts, young people, food aid or even airports.
Of these 20 billion, 8,5 billion will be financed via carryovers of unspent credits this year for short-time working, the solidarity fund and exemptions from charges.
Despite everything, with a growth forecast that the government maintains at 6% for next year, the deficit and debt will ultimately be higher than what it had anticipated so far.
The deficit should reach 8,5% of GDP (against 6,7% initially forecast), after 11,3% expected this year.
The debt will continue to soar next year, as the government hoped to start its decline thanks to the recovery. He expects it at 122,4% of GDP (against 116,2% forecast so far), after 119,8% this year.
Details of the 20 billion euros in emergency support mobilized in 2021
Alongside the recovery plan, the government will still devote more than 20 billion euros next year in emergency support for businesses and households. Here is the detail of the planned measures.
Partial activity
The government plans to devote a further 11 billion euros to the financing of short-time working, against 6,5 billion euros budgeted so far in the finance bill for 2021.
This amount includes both the current partial unemployment scheme which is extended at least until the end of January, as announced by the Minister of Labor Elisabeth Borne, and the new long-term partial activity scheme (APLD) created. to support companies over time.
In 2020, the government should have spent 29 billion euros, out of the 34 billion budgeted.
Solidarity fund
The government is planning € 7 billion in spending to support businesses that will remain closed or whose activity will be greatly reduced by maintaining health constraints. This amount breaks down into 5 billion euros of new credits, the rest coming from carryovers of unused resources in 2020.
The new conditions for the allocation of the solidarity fund, put in place in December, will be maintained "at least until the end of June 2021", indicated the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire, unless the economic and health situation changes considerably by then.
New sectors, excluded until now, will be entitled to it, such as certain event providers (wedding organizers, ceremonial clothing stores), rabbit and guinea fowl producers or even snail producers, who are severely penalized by the closure of restaurants.
In 2020, 17 billion will have been spent, out of the more than 19,5 billion euros budgeted.
Exemptions from charges
An additional billion euros are dedicated to exemptions from charges that benefit the companies most affected by the crisis.
In 2020, companies benefited from 7 billion tax exemptions, when the government had provided for around 8 billion.
Youth
200 million euros are being mobilized to finance the announcements of new aid to young people made by the President of the Republic last week, in particular via the Youth Guarantee scheme or the strengthening of the scholarship system.
Food aid
the government will provide 120 million euros in support to associations that distribute food aid, and which have faced a sharp increase in household requests since the start of the crisis.
Ski stations
The ski resorts will be helped up to 400 million euros, in particular to cover the operating losses of the ski lifts, closed at least until the end of the year.
Paid vacation
The State will cover the cost of ten days of paid leave for the companies most affected by the crisis, such as hotels, restaurants, events, nightclubs or sports halls. The measure will cost several hundred million euros.
Airports
In difficulty faced with the drop in air traffic, the airports will benefit from aid of 250 million euros.
Post Office
The mail collapse has melted the revenue of the company, which the government has decided to help in an amount to be specified shortly.