State Aid Law Blog

State Aid Uncovered Blog

In Lexxion’s State Aid Uncovered blog, Prof. Phedon Nicolaides publishes weekly critical analyses of recent State aid judgments and decisions. Each post presents the key points of a court judgment or EU Commission decision, places it in the context of similar case law or practice, assesses the underlying reasoning and highlights any inconsistencies or contradictions.

Guest contributions from other State aid experts will also be published on the blog at irregular intervals to complement the content of the blog posts.

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Commission decision on SA.59158 ×

5. January 2026  |   by Phedon Nicolaides

Transfer of Public Land Free of State Aid
State Aid Blogs - Blog 1 Bild Madrid
For valuation of public land to be credible, it should preferably be carried out by external experts. Introduction  In December 2011, the Commission asked the Spanish authorities for information on alleged state aid in the transfer of public land from Madrid City Council to Real Madrid football club. In December 2013, the Commission decided to open the formal investigation procedure […]
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30. December 2025  |   by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid to Support a Technology Hub
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered photos 92
Introduction  As part of the digital transition, Member States try to revitalise old industrial regions. A case in point is a recent Commission decision on the establishment of a technology hub in Poland’s former coal mining region of Katowice [SA.114301].1  The purpose of the Polish measure was to incentivise the development of new skills in the region. The aided project is a […]
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26. July 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Economic Activities of a Research Organisation (Part I)
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 16
The revenue from the economic activities of a research organisation must cover the full cost of those activities. Introduction Member States use extensively the GBER to support R&D schemes. If we exclude the measures that were implemented in the context of covid-19 and now those which are financed by the recovery and resilience fund, not more than a dozen measures […]
read more
No Comments
8. March 2016  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

When Infrastructure is not Public: Dedicated, Project-Specific and Bespoke
State Aid Blogs - alex kalinin 8bs Kz8ACdM unsplash
Public funding of open and freely used infrastructure is not State aid. Public funding of project-specific, dedicated or bespoke infrastructure is State aid. Public funding of infrastructure connecting public and private parts may be State aid if the relevant national rules require developers to bear the cost.   Introduction The Commission has recently examined an infrastructure project in the vicinity […]
read more
No Comments

Commission decision on SA.59158 ×

5. January 2026  |   by Phedon Nicolaides

Transfer of Public Land Free of State Aid
State Aid Blogs - Blog 1 Bild Madrid
For valuation of public land to be credible, it should preferably be carried out by external experts. Introduction  In December 2011, the Commission asked the Spanish authorities for information on alleged state aid in the transfer of public land from Madrid City Council to Real Madrid football club. In December 2013, the Commission decided to open the formal investigation procedure […]
read more
No Comments
30. December 2025  |   by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid to Support a Technology Hub
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered photos 92
Introduction  As part of the digital transition, Member States try to revitalise old industrial regions. A case in point is a recent Commission decision on the establishment of a technology hub in Poland’s former coal mining region of Katowice [SA.114301].1  The purpose of the Polish measure was to incentivise the development of new skills in the region. The aided project is a […]
read more
No Comments
26. July 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Economic Activities of a Research Organisation (Part I)
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 16
The revenue from the economic activities of a research organisation must cover the full cost of those activities. Introduction Member States use extensively the GBER to support R&D schemes. If we exclude the measures that were implemented in the context of covid-19 and now those which are financed by the recovery and resilience fund, not more than a dozen measures […]
read more
No Comments
8. March 2016  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

When Infrastructure is not Public: Dedicated, Project-Specific and Bespoke
State Aid Blogs - alex kalinin 8bs Kz8ACdM unsplash
Public funding of open and freely used infrastructure is not State aid. Public funding of project-specific, dedicated or bespoke infrastructure is State aid. Public funding of infrastructure connecting public and private parts may be State aid if the relevant national rules require developers to bear the cost.   Introduction The Commission has recently examined an infrastructure project in the vicinity […]
read more
No Comments

Commission decision on SA.59158 ×

5. January 2026  |   by Phedon Nicolaides

Transfer of Public Land Free of State Aid
State Aid Blogs - Blog 1 Bild Madrid
For valuation of public land to be credible, it should preferably be carried out by external experts. Introduction  In December 2011, the Commission asked the Spanish authorities for information on alleged state aid in the transfer of public land from Madrid City Council to Real Madrid football club. In December 2013, the Commission decided to open the formal investigation procedure […]
read more
No Comments
30. December 2025  |   by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid to Support a Technology Hub
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered photos 92
Introduction  As part of the digital transition, Member States try to revitalise old industrial regions. A case in point is a recent Commission decision on the establishment of a technology hub in Poland’s former coal mining region of Katowice [SA.114301].1  The purpose of the Polish measure was to incentivise the development of new skills in the region. The aided project is a […]
read more
No Comments
26. July 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Economic Activities of a Research Organisation (Part I)
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 16
The revenue from the economic activities of a research organisation must cover the full cost of those activities. Introduction Member States use extensively the GBER to support R&D schemes. If we exclude the measures that were implemented in the context of covid-19 and now those which are financed by the recovery and resilience fund, not more than a dozen measures […]
read more
No Comments
8. March 2016  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

When Infrastructure is not Public: Dedicated, Project-Specific and Bespoke
State Aid Blogs - alex kalinin 8bs Kz8ACdM unsplash
Public funding of open and freely used infrastructure is not State aid. Public funding of project-specific, dedicated or bespoke infrastructure is State aid. Public funding of infrastructure connecting public and private parts may be State aid if the relevant national rules require developers to bear the cost.   Introduction The Commission has recently examined an infrastructure project in the vicinity […]
read more
No Comments

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