Introduction France notified a measure to grant State aid to ProLogium for the implementation of the Promotheus R&D project which concerned the development of solid-state batteries [SSB] for electric vehicles. ProLogium is a large enterprise with 758 employees. The Commission approved the measure in decision SA.106740.[1] The aid measure has several unusual features. First, ProLogium committed to disseminate the scientific […]
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.
- funding gap ×
5. November 2024 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
24. September 2024 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction The Commission recently approved State aid granted by Czech Republic for the construction of a multifunctional arena in Brno, with a capacity of 13300 visitors [see SA.58891]. The aid measure was unusual because it foresaw possible future public funding to cover certain financial costs in case the net operating revenue would not be enough. However, the Commission approved possible […]
9. April 2024 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction The Commission, in decision SA.102163, authorised State aid for the construction of a terminal for liquefied natural gas [LNG] in Brunsbüttel, Germany.1 The project consists of an LNG import, storage and distribution facility with annual capacity of about 10 billion m3. The project is carried out by the German LNG Terminal GmbH [GLNG] which has three shareholders: the Dutch […]
26. March 2024 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction On 28 February 2024, the General Court delivered an important judgment in case T-390/20, Scandlines v Commission.(1) The judgment is important because it interpreted the Commission guidelines on Important Projects of Common European Interest [IPCEI], the funding gap methodology for determining the necessary amount of aid and the 2008 Commission Notice on state guarantees. Scandlines sought annulment of Commission […]
19. March 2024 |
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction On 28 February 2024, the General Court delivered an important judgment in case T-390/20, Scandlines v Commission.(1) The judgment is important because it interpreted the Commission guidelines on Important Projects of Common European Interest [IPCEI], the funding gap methodology for determining the necessary amount of aid and the 2008 Commission Notice on state guarantees. Scandlines sought annulment of Commission […]
12. September 2023 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction The Netherlands intends to reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses [GHG] by 55% by the year 2050. For this reason, in June 2023 it notified to the Commission a new version of a scheme, called the “Stimulering Duurzame Energieproductie en Klimaattransitie” [SDE++] which loosely translated means incentivising sustainable production of energy and climate transition. Its purpose is to fund […]
29. August 2023 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction As indicated by its title, the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework [TCTF] allows for State aid whose purpose goes beyond the immediate relief of the costs of the market disruption caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Europe’s energy policy does not only aim to reduce dependence on Russian gas, but also to shift to low or zero carbon […]
7. August 2023 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction Many, perhaps the majority, of notifications on the basis of the Guidelines on Climate, Environmental Protection and Energy [CEEAG] concern decarbonisation of production processes. In this context, large amounts of State aid have been funnelled to the decarbonisation of steel production. ArcelorMittal has been a major beneficiary. In February 2023, Spain granted EUR 460 million to support ArcelorMittal to […]
4. January 2022 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
State aid up to 100% of the funding gap of a project can be compatible with the internal market. Introduction The European Commission approved investment aid for a Liquefied Natural Gas [LNG] terminal in Alexandroupolis in northern Greece [case SA.55526]. The project involves the following: A Floating Storage Regasification Unit [FSRU] for the storage and regasification of LNG. The construction […]
13. April 2021 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
A state guarantee can bridge the funding gap of an infrastructure project. Introduction State aid rules allow energy infrastructure projects to be supported by as much aid as is necessary to bridge their “funding gap”; i.e. the difference between the initial investment cost and the present value of their expected net operating revenue which is the future gross revenue minus […]
- funding gap ×
5. November 2024 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction France notified a measure to grant State aid to ProLogium for the implementation of the Promotheus R&D project which concerned the development of solid-state batteries [SSB] for electric vehicles. ProLogium is a large enterprise with 758 employees. The Commission approved the measure in decision SA.106740.[1] The aid measure has several unusual features. First, ProLogium committed to disseminate the scientific […]
24. September 2024 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction The Commission recently approved State aid granted by Czech Republic for the construction of a multifunctional arena in Brno, with a capacity of 13300 visitors [see SA.58891]. The aid measure was unusual because it foresaw possible future public funding to cover certain financial costs in case the net operating revenue would not be enough. However, the Commission approved possible […]
9. April 2024 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction The Commission, in decision SA.102163, authorised State aid for the construction of a terminal for liquefied natural gas [LNG] in Brunsbüttel, Germany.1 The project consists of an LNG import, storage and distribution facility with annual capacity of about 10 billion m3. The project is carried out by the German LNG Terminal GmbH [GLNG] which has three shareholders: the Dutch […]
26. March 2024 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction On 28 February 2024, the General Court delivered an important judgment in case T-390/20, Scandlines v Commission.(1) The judgment is important because it interpreted the Commission guidelines on Important Projects of Common European Interest [IPCEI], the funding gap methodology for determining the necessary amount of aid and the 2008 Commission Notice on state guarantees. Scandlines sought annulment of Commission […]
19. March 2024 |
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction On 28 February 2024, the General Court delivered an important judgment in case T-390/20, Scandlines v Commission.(1) The judgment is important because it interpreted the Commission guidelines on Important Projects of Common European Interest [IPCEI], the funding gap methodology for determining the necessary amount of aid and the 2008 Commission Notice on state guarantees. Scandlines sought annulment of Commission […]
12. September 2023 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction The Netherlands intends to reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses [GHG] by 55% by the year 2050. For this reason, in June 2023 it notified to the Commission a new version of a scheme, called the “Stimulering Duurzame Energieproductie en Klimaattransitie” [SDE++] which loosely translated means incentivising sustainable production of energy and climate transition. Its purpose is to fund […]
29. August 2023 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction As indicated by its title, the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework [TCTF] allows for State aid whose purpose goes beyond the immediate relief of the costs of the market disruption caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Europe’s energy policy does not only aim to reduce dependence on Russian gas, but also to shift to low or zero carbon […]
7. August 2023 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction Many, perhaps the majority, of notifications on the basis of the Guidelines on Climate, Environmental Protection and Energy [CEEAG] concern decarbonisation of production processes. In this context, large amounts of State aid have been funnelled to the decarbonisation of steel production. ArcelorMittal has been a major beneficiary. In February 2023, Spain granted EUR 460 million to support ArcelorMittal to […]
4. January 2022 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
State aid up to 100% of the funding gap of a project can be compatible with the internal market. Introduction The European Commission approved investment aid for a Liquefied Natural Gas [LNG] terminal in Alexandroupolis in northern Greece [case SA.55526]. The project involves the following: A Floating Storage Regasification Unit [FSRU] for the storage and regasification of LNG. The construction […]
13. April 2021 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
A state guarantee can bridge the funding gap of an infrastructure project. Introduction State aid rules allow energy infrastructure projects to be supported by as much aid as is necessary to bridge their “funding gap”; i.e. the difference between the initial investment cost and the present value of their expected net operating revenue which is the future gross revenue minus […]
- funding gap ×
5. November 2024 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction France notified a measure to grant State aid to ProLogium for the implementation of the Promotheus R&D project which concerned the development of solid-state batteries [SSB] for electric vehicles. ProLogium is a large enterprise with 758 employees. The Commission approved the measure in decision SA.106740.[1] The aid measure has several unusual features. First, ProLogium committed to disseminate the scientific […]
24. September 2024 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction The Commission recently approved State aid granted by Czech Republic for the construction of a multifunctional arena in Brno, with a capacity of 13300 visitors [see SA.58891]. The aid measure was unusual because it foresaw possible future public funding to cover certain financial costs in case the net operating revenue would not be enough. However, the Commission approved possible […]
9. April 2024 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction The Commission, in decision SA.102163, authorised State aid for the construction of a terminal for liquefied natural gas [LNG] in Brunsbüttel, Germany.1 The project consists of an LNG import, storage and distribution facility with annual capacity of about 10 billion m3. The project is carried out by the German LNG Terminal GmbH [GLNG] which has three shareholders: the Dutch […]
26. March 2024 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction On 28 February 2024, the General Court delivered an important judgment in case T-390/20, Scandlines v Commission.(1) The judgment is important because it interpreted the Commission guidelines on Important Projects of Common European Interest [IPCEI], the funding gap methodology for determining the necessary amount of aid and the 2008 Commission Notice on state guarantees. Scandlines sought annulment of Commission […]
19. March 2024 |
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction On 28 February 2024, the General Court delivered an important judgment in case T-390/20, Scandlines v Commission.(1) The judgment is important because it interpreted the Commission guidelines on Important Projects of Common European Interest [IPCEI], the funding gap methodology for determining the necessary amount of aid and the 2008 Commission Notice on state guarantees. Scandlines sought annulment of Commission […]
12. September 2023 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction The Netherlands intends to reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses [GHG] by 55% by the year 2050. For this reason, in June 2023 it notified to the Commission a new version of a scheme, called the “Stimulering Duurzame Energieproductie en Klimaattransitie” [SDE++] which loosely translated means incentivising sustainable production of energy and climate transition. Its purpose is to fund […]
29. August 2023 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction As indicated by its title, the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework [TCTF] allows for State aid whose purpose goes beyond the immediate relief of the costs of the market disruption caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Europe’s energy policy does not only aim to reduce dependence on Russian gas, but also to shift to low or zero carbon […]
7. August 2023 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Introduction Many, perhaps the majority, of notifications on the basis of the Guidelines on Climate, Environmental Protection and Energy [CEEAG] concern decarbonisation of production processes. In this context, large amounts of State aid have been funnelled to the decarbonisation of steel production. ArcelorMittal has been a major beneficiary. In February 2023, Spain granted EUR 460 million to support ArcelorMittal to […]
4. January 2022 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
State aid up to 100% of the funding gap of a project can be compatible with the internal market. Introduction The European Commission approved investment aid for a Liquefied Natural Gas [LNG] terminal in Alexandroupolis in northern Greece [case SA.55526]. The project involves the following: A Floating Storage Regasification Unit [FSRU] for the storage and regasification of LNG. The construction […]
13. April 2021 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
A state guarantee can bridge the funding gap of an infrastructure project. Introduction State aid rules allow energy infrastructure projects to be supported by as much aid as is necessary to bridge their “funding gap”; i.e. the difference between the initial investment cost and the present value of their expected net operating revenue which is the future gross revenue minus […]