Thursday, on Europe 1, Alain Griset was the guest of "La France bouge".

The opportunity for the Minister in charge of VSEs and SMEs to take stock of the situation of companies affected by the economic and health crisis, as well as the aid proposed by the government.

This state support, he assures, will last "as long as it takes".

INTERVIEW

After two confinements and the implementation of the curfew to fight the coronavirus epidemic, many companies are hit hard by the economic crisis.

Solidarity fund, partial unemployment, loan guaranteed by the State (PGE) ... Faced with this situation, the government has deployed a number of aid for entrepreneurs.

But as the crisis dragged on, how long will they be able to count on state support?

Invited Thursday from

La France bouge

, on Europe 1, the Minister in charge of VSEs-SMEs, Alain Griset, took stock of the situation.

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How many companies are they helped?

"The economy is holding", assures the minister, insisting on the fact that today, "90% of the economy is functioning normally".

But, he admits, "for the 10% who do not work, it is very difficult".

This is why, he adds, the State wants to support "as much as possible" these companies. 

Concretely, 2 million companies are supported under the solidarity fund, while 650,000 companies have obtained an EMP.

"We are on considerable amounts", recalls Alain Griset, praising a "massive and continuous support" of the State, with "27 billion for partial activity and 131 billion for PGE".

Until when will the aid be maintained?

But while the prospect of a Cree exit remains unclear, how long will companies be able to count on this government aid?

"As long as it takes," replies Alain Griset.

"No one in the world is able to give dates for the end of the pandemic", he said, assuring that "whatever the cost, the time it takes, the government will support the companies". 

Towards an extension of the reimbursement of EMPs? 

At the beginning of February, the minister in charge of VSE-SMEs had indicated that the government was in discussions with Brussels to reduce the duration of the reimbursement of EMPs from six to eight years, to "secure the entrepreneurs".

EMPs are currently underwritten for a maximum period of 6 years, and no repayment is required for the first two years.

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Cancellation of refunds is not considered

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"The decision is not yet obtained", indicates Alain Griset on Europe 1, "I hope that we will get there".

For the minister, "it is essential for entrepreneurs to give visibility. When you have 25% of your turnover, repaying it in 4 years seems difficult, so two more years seems to me something that we should achieve" . 

And for the most troubled companies, could the government consider canceling reimbursements?

"It is not envisaged", rejects Alain Griset.

"It's a loan," he recalls.

However, according to him, "to give the idea that a loan is not repaid, it is not to have any more lender in the future". 

What timetable for the reopening of bars and restaurants? 

Among the companies most affected, we obviously find bars and restaurants, forced to close since October.

As for restaurateurs, some are asking the government to allow them to open at noon to welcome the French working in the area.

"For the moment, this is not a good lead," said Alain Griset, aware of the "very strong and legitimate" desire of restaurateurs to reopen.

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"There is a priority, it is the sanitary", adds the guest of Europe 1, insisting on the support "very strong" of cafes, hotels and restaurants.

And while the variants continue to make the health authorities fear a strong rebound in the epidemic, "there is no timetable" for the reopening of the bars, indicates Alain Griset.

"When we were in May, June, July-August and September, no one believed that we were going to have to refine in November," says Alain Griset. And to conclude: "We have a light at the end of the tunnel, it is the vaccine, which is the collective hope. It will allow us, with barrier gestures, to eradicate this pandemic."