Brussels, Jan. 26, 2021 (Lusa) – The government on Tuesday criticised the "easy populism" in the comments on state aid to TAP, stressing that this kind of support "is not a national exclusive", but a trend across the European Union (EU), given the pandemic.

"As MEPs know, the support that the government is giving to TAP is not a national one. All European countries without exception are supporting their flagship airlines," said infrastructure and housing minister Pedro Nuno Santos, speaking at a video conference hearing in the European Parliament's Transport and Tourism Committee.

Responding to PSD MEP Claudia Monteiro de Aguiar, he said: "It was important for us all to be aware, in the European Parliament and across the EU, of the importance of supporting our flag carriers and the difficulty national governments face due to the easy populism in supporting and funding flag carriers, which obviously need to be supported and defended".

For Pedro Nuno Santos, "this is a key issue for the future of European countries and connections in Europe".

"If we weren't doing it, we would be in serious difficulties," he said, alluding to the European Commission's approval of state aid from member states to aviation at a time of crisis generated by Covid-19.

On 10 June 2020, the EU executive gave the 'green light' for Portuguese emergency aid to TAP, a state support of €1.2 billion to meet immediate cash-flow needs given the pandemic, with pre-determined conditions for its repayment.

TAP has been forced to halt its operations for several months, but as the flag carrier's problems predated the Covid-19 crisis, the Portuguese support was approved by the European Commission under rescue and restructuring guidelines.

"Portugal is a small peripheral country but at no point will it drop its flagship company," he stressed.

Similar aid was provided to other airlines such as Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines.

ANE/AYLS // AYLS

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