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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28. February 2023 | State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Discretion of Public Authorities and Selectivity

State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 30

Introduction On 2 February 2023, the Court of justice, in case C649/20 P, Spain and Others v European Commission, clarified the extent to which public authorities can implement general measures without in practice favouring any undertaking. The exercise of administrative discretion can turn a general measure into selective. The Court made a distinction between what may be called “related” or […]

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10. November 2020 | State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

What is the Value of Informal Commission Communications?

State Aid Blogs - freighter 315201 1280

An official’s statement can be imputed to his authority if it can be reasonably assumed that the official speaks on behalf of the authority. Introduction It is often asked by national officials how much credence they should give to assurances by Commission officials in the absence of a formal Commission decision and what is the legal value of such assurances. […]

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5. January 2016 | State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

An Exception Is Not Necessarily Selective: The Case of the Spanish Tax Lease [1]

State Aid Blogs - m 40

An exception from a tax system is not selective if it is a priori open to any tax payer. Checks by tax authorities to ensure that a measure is applied correctly do not constitute exercise of administrative discretion that may render a measure de facto selective. The impact of a measure on trade and competition cannot be merely presumed just […]

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State Aid Uncovered ×

28. February 2023 | State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Discretion of Public Authorities and Selectivity

State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 30

Introduction On 2 February 2023, the Court of justice, in case C649/20 P, Spain and Others v European Commission, clarified the extent to which public authorities can implement general measures without in practice favouring any undertaking. The exercise of administrative discretion can turn a general measure into selective. The Court made a distinction between what may be called “related” or […]

No Comments

10. November 2020 | State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

What is the Value of Informal Commission Communications?

State Aid Blogs - freighter 315201 1280

An official’s statement can be imputed to his authority if it can be reasonably assumed that the official speaks on behalf of the authority. Introduction It is often asked by national officials how much credence they should give to assurances by Commission officials in the absence of a formal Commission decision and what is the legal value of such assurances. […]

No Comments

5. January 2016 | State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

An Exception Is Not Necessarily Selective: The Case of the Spanish Tax Lease [1]

State Aid Blogs - m 40

An exception from a tax system is not selective if it is a priori open to any tax payer. Checks by tax authorities to ensure that a measure is applied correctly do not constitute exercise of administrative discretion that may render a measure de facto selective. The impact of a measure on trade and competition cannot be merely presumed just […]

No Comments

State Aid Uncovered ×

28. February 2023 | State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Discretion of Public Authorities and Selectivity

State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 30

Introduction On 2 February 2023, the Court of justice, in case C649/20 P, Spain and Others v European Commission, clarified the extent to which public authorities can implement general measures without in practice favouring any undertaking. The exercise of administrative discretion can turn a general measure into selective. The Court made a distinction between what may be called “related” or […]

No Comments

10. November 2020 | State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

What is the Value of Informal Commission Communications?

State Aid Blogs - freighter 315201 1280

An official’s statement can be imputed to his authority if it can be reasonably assumed that the official speaks on behalf of the authority. Introduction It is often asked by national officials how much credence they should give to assurances by Commission officials in the absence of a formal Commission decision and what is the legal value of such assurances. […]

No Comments

5. January 2016 | State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

An Exception Is Not Necessarily Selective: The Case of the Spanish Tax Lease [1]

State Aid Blogs - m 40

An exception from a tax system is not selective if it is a priori open to any tax payer. Checks by tax authorities to ensure that a measure is applied correctly do not constitute exercise of administrative discretion that may render a measure de facto selective. The impact of a measure on trade and competition cannot be merely presumed just […]

No Comments

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