The government will soften the conditions for access to the solidarity fund for small businesses in the hotel and restaurant sector, Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire announced on France 3 on Sunday.
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So far, to be able to benefit from aid of 10,000 euros monthly, a company had to have been refused a loan guaranteed by the State (PGE). "We will remove this condition" for companies in this sector "who need it and who are unable to pay their rent," said Bruno Le Maire. In addition, the solidarity fund will be maintained "at least until the end of June (...) and we will then see whether it is necessary, especially for those who cannot reopen under good conditions, to keep it "longer, the minister added.
"The State will remain alongside this sector"
Restaurants and cafes will be able to reopen from June 2 in the "green" departments, but with significant sanitary constraints, while in the "orange" departments including Paris, only the terraces will be able to accommodate customers. "The State will remain alongside this sector", assured Bruno Le Maire.
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The solidarity fund set up at the start of the crisis provides, in its first part, for the payment of 1,500 euros of monthly aid to very small businesses and the self-employed. A second component, co-financed by the regions, plans to grant an additional sum to businesses most in difficulty.