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.

Subscribe now!

State Aid Uncovered ×

20. September 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

An Innovative Scheme to Support Individual Borrowers
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 31
Individuals and households are not undertakings. However, any public funding of individuals or households may constitute indirect aid to undertakings. Such aid may be exempted on the basis of Article 107(2)(a) TFEU. Introduction Article 107(1) TFEU applies to indirect State aid as well as to direct aid. Since all State aid has both primary effects [i.e. the benefits that go […]
read more
No Comments
22. February 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Damage and De Minimis Aid
State Aid Blogs - Social Media posts 4
Compensation for damage caused by protected animals is State aid. Member States may categorise compensatory payments as de minimis aid and refuse to make payments in excess of the de minimis threshold. Introduction Advantage in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU is any benefit granted by the state that is not available under normal market conditions. Normal market conditions are […]
read more
No Comments
24. November 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

De Minimis Aid
wood
If different awards of de minimis aid bring the total amount over the ceiling of EUR 200,000, Member States may withdraw aid already granted or reduce the amount of aid that is scheduled to be granted or simply refuse to grant aid so as to ensure that the total remains below the ceiling for any three-fiscal year period. Introduction A […]
read more
No Comments
19. February 2019  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Support for Non-Performing Loans in Cyprus
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost47 Finance lexxion GBER SMEs
Public assistance to households to pay for their mortgages is not State aid. Public assistance to enterprises to pay for their loans may be qualified as de minimis aid. Public assistance to households and de minimis aid to enterprises to pay for their loans are indirect aid to banks, which, however, falls outside the directive on bank recovery and resolution […]
read more
No Comments
19. December 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Sport and Trade
State Aid Blogs - m 2 2
State aid has a purely local impact when i) the beneficiaries supply goods or services to a limited area within a Member State, ii) they are unlikely to attract customers from other Member States and iii) there is no inducement for cross-border investment or establishment.   Introduction The article this week continues with the theme of affectation of trade that […]
read more
No Comments
10. October 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Pitfalls in the Use of De Minimis Aid
State Aid Blogs - 05.12.Imputability of Aid State aidz
Calculating de minimis aid according to the average amount of aid received by undertakings is wrong. Introduction It appears that all Member States grant de minimis aid, even though some tend to grant it more easily than others. De minimis aid can be used to subsidise any costs, including those which are not eligible under other State aid rules. The […]
read more
3 Comments
14. December 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Altmark, again!
State Aid Blogs - m 5 2
Sectoral regulation is not the same as definition of public service obligation. Aid that favours a certain technology is incompatible with the internal market, unless it can be objectively justified.   Introduction “Altmark” has become a permanent feature in the landscape of State aid. Its application was again one of the main issues of contention in six judgments rendered by […]
read more
1 Comment
4. August 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Use and Abuse of De Minimis Aid & State Resources
State Aid Blogs - m 9 2
Individual awards of de minimis aid must remain below the relevant threshold as well as the sum of all individual awards in any three-year period. Aid measures which are funded by beneficiaries themselves are unlikely to constitute State aid.   Introduction This article reviews two cases that, among other things, deal with the use and abuse of de minimis aid […]
read more
No Comments
14. July 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Using Loans to Grant De Minimis Aid and GBER Compatible Aid
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost23
De minimis aid underpins “off-the-shelf” financial instruments which leverage private investment and at the same time ensure that all aid is passed on to the final beneficiary.   Introduction One of the most convenient aid instruments is de minimis aid. It can be used for any purpose [apart from promotion of exports or on condition that domestic products are favoured] […]
read more
No Comments
2. January 2014  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The New Rules on De minimis Aid for 2014-2020: Regulation 1407/2013
EU comission
Introduction[1] It is appropriate to start this year’s articles on State aid with an appraisal of one of the most important new legislative items for the period 2014-2020: the new de minimis rules. The European Commission adopted the new de minimis Regulation in mid-December and the formal text was published just before Christmas in the Official Journal of 24 December […]
read more
No Comments
Next Page »

State Aid Uncovered ×

20. September 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

An Innovative Scheme to Support Individual Borrowers
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 31
Individuals and households are not undertakings. However, any public funding of individuals or households may constitute indirect aid to undertakings. Such aid may be exempted on the basis of Article 107(2)(a) TFEU. Introduction Article 107(1) TFEU applies to indirect State aid as well as to direct aid. Since all State aid has both primary effects [i.e. the benefits that go […]
read more
No Comments
22. February 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Damage and De Minimis Aid
State Aid Blogs - Social Media posts 4
Compensation for damage caused by protected animals is State aid. Member States may categorise compensatory payments as de minimis aid and refuse to make payments in excess of the de minimis threshold. Introduction Advantage in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU is any benefit granted by the state that is not available under normal market conditions. Normal market conditions are […]
read more
No Comments
24. November 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

De Minimis Aid
wood
If different awards of de minimis aid bring the total amount over the ceiling of EUR 200,000, Member States may withdraw aid already granted or reduce the amount of aid that is scheduled to be granted or simply refuse to grant aid so as to ensure that the total remains below the ceiling for any three-fiscal year period. Introduction A […]
read more
No Comments
19. February 2019  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Support for Non-Performing Loans in Cyprus
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost47 Finance lexxion GBER SMEs
Public assistance to households to pay for their mortgages is not State aid. Public assistance to enterprises to pay for their loans may be qualified as de minimis aid. Public assistance to households and de minimis aid to enterprises to pay for their loans are indirect aid to banks, which, however, falls outside the directive on bank recovery and resolution […]
read more
No Comments
19. December 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Sport and Trade
State Aid Blogs - m 2 2
State aid has a purely local impact when i) the beneficiaries supply goods or services to a limited area within a Member State, ii) they are unlikely to attract customers from other Member States and iii) there is no inducement for cross-border investment or establishment.   Introduction The article this week continues with the theme of affectation of trade that […]
read more
No Comments
10. October 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Pitfalls in the Use of De Minimis Aid
State Aid Blogs - 05.12.Imputability of Aid State aidz
Calculating de minimis aid according to the average amount of aid received by undertakings is wrong. Introduction It appears that all Member States grant de minimis aid, even though some tend to grant it more easily than others. De minimis aid can be used to subsidise any costs, including those which are not eligible under other State aid rules. The […]
read more
3 Comments
14. December 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Altmark, again!
State Aid Blogs - m 5 2
Sectoral regulation is not the same as definition of public service obligation. Aid that favours a certain technology is incompatible with the internal market, unless it can be objectively justified.   Introduction “Altmark” has become a permanent feature in the landscape of State aid. Its application was again one of the main issues of contention in six judgments rendered by […]
read more
1 Comment
4. August 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Use and Abuse of De Minimis Aid & State Resources
State Aid Blogs - m 9 2
Individual awards of de minimis aid must remain below the relevant threshold as well as the sum of all individual awards in any three-year period. Aid measures which are funded by beneficiaries themselves are unlikely to constitute State aid.   Introduction This article reviews two cases that, among other things, deal with the use and abuse of de minimis aid […]
read more
No Comments
14. July 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Using Loans to Grant De Minimis Aid and GBER Compatible Aid
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost23
De minimis aid underpins “off-the-shelf” financial instruments which leverage private investment and at the same time ensure that all aid is passed on to the final beneficiary.   Introduction One of the most convenient aid instruments is de minimis aid. It can be used for any purpose [apart from promotion of exports or on condition that domestic products are favoured] […]
read more
No Comments
2. January 2014  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The New Rules on De minimis Aid for 2014-2020: Regulation 1407/2013
EU comission
Introduction[1] It is appropriate to start this year’s articles on State aid with an appraisal of one of the most important new legislative items for the period 2014-2020: the new de minimis rules. The European Commission adopted the new de minimis Regulation in mid-December and the formal text was published just before Christmas in the Official Journal of 24 December […]
read more
No Comments
Next Page »

State Aid Uncovered ×

20. September 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

An Innovative Scheme to Support Individual Borrowers
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 31
Individuals and households are not undertakings. However, any public funding of individuals or households may constitute indirect aid to undertakings. Such aid may be exempted on the basis of Article 107(2)(a) TFEU. Introduction Article 107(1) TFEU applies to indirect State aid as well as to direct aid. Since all State aid has both primary effects [i.e. the benefits that go […]
read more
No Comments
22. February 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Damage and De Minimis Aid
State Aid Blogs - Social Media posts 4
Compensation for damage caused by protected animals is State aid. Member States may categorise compensatory payments as de minimis aid and refuse to make payments in excess of the de minimis threshold. Introduction Advantage in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU is any benefit granted by the state that is not available under normal market conditions. Normal market conditions are […]
read more
No Comments
24. November 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

De Minimis Aid
wood
If different awards of de minimis aid bring the total amount over the ceiling of EUR 200,000, Member States may withdraw aid already granted or reduce the amount of aid that is scheduled to be granted or simply refuse to grant aid so as to ensure that the total remains below the ceiling for any three-fiscal year period. Introduction A […]
read more
No Comments
19. February 2019  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Support for Non-Performing Loans in Cyprus
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost47 Finance lexxion GBER SMEs
Public assistance to households to pay for their mortgages is not State aid. Public assistance to enterprises to pay for their loans may be qualified as de minimis aid. Public assistance to households and de minimis aid to enterprises to pay for their loans are indirect aid to banks, which, however, falls outside the directive on bank recovery and resolution […]
read more
No Comments
19. December 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Sport and Trade
State Aid Blogs - m 2 2
State aid has a purely local impact when i) the beneficiaries supply goods or services to a limited area within a Member State, ii) they are unlikely to attract customers from other Member States and iii) there is no inducement for cross-border investment or establishment.   Introduction The article this week continues with the theme of affectation of trade that […]
read more
No Comments
10. October 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Pitfalls in the Use of De Minimis Aid
State Aid Blogs - 05.12.Imputability of Aid State aidz
Calculating de minimis aid according to the average amount of aid received by undertakings is wrong. Introduction It appears that all Member States grant de minimis aid, even though some tend to grant it more easily than others. De minimis aid can be used to subsidise any costs, including those which are not eligible under other State aid rules. The […]
read more
3 Comments
14. December 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Altmark, again!
State Aid Blogs - m 5 2
Sectoral regulation is not the same as definition of public service obligation. Aid that favours a certain technology is incompatible with the internal market, unless it can be objectively justified.   Introduction “Altmark” has become a permanent feature in the landscape of State aid. Its application was again one of the main issues of contention in six judgments rendered by […]
read more
1 Comment
4. August 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Use and Abuse of De Minimis Aid & State Resources
State Aid Blogs - m 9 2
Individual awards of de minimis aid must remain below the relevant threshold as well as the sum of all individual awards in any three-year period. Aid measures which are funded by beneficiaries themselves are unlikely to constitute State aid.   Introduction This article reviews two cases that, among other things, deal with the use and abuse of de minimis aid […]
read more
No Comments
14. July 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Using Loans to Grant De Minimis Aid and GBER Compatible Aid
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost23
De minimis aid underpins “off-the-shelf” financial instruments which leverage private investment and at the same time ensure that all aid is passed on to the final beneficiary.   Introduction One of the most convenient aid instruments is de minimis aid. It can be used for any purpose [apart from promotion of exports or on condition that domestic products are favoured] […]
read more
No Comments
2. January 2014  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The New Rules on De minimis Aid for 2014-2020: Regulation 1407/2013
EU comission
Introduction[1] It is appropriate to start this year’s articles on State aid with an appraisal of one of the most important new legislative items for the period 2014-2020: the new de minimis rules. The European Commission adopted the new de minimis Regulation in mid-December and the formal text was published just before Christmas in the Official Journal of 24 December […]
read more
No Comments
Next Page »

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on legal developments, upcoming conferences, workshops, and publications in your areas of interest.

Newsletter: Subscribe now