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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- non-discrimination ×

25. March 2025  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Measures to Support Electricity Prices Must Conform with the Principles of Non-discrimination and Proportionality
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered photos 43
Introduction On 12 March 2025, the General Court delivered its judgment in case T-596/22, PGI Spain, & Others v Commission.[1] PGI and the other applicants sought the annulment of Commission decision on SA.102454 and SA.102569 concerning a joint Spanish and Portuguese measure on the reduction of the electricity wholesale price in the Iberian peninsula. In May 2022, Spain and Portugal […]
read more
No Comments
28. September 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A Faulty Sale Procedure Can Lead to Presumption of State Aid and Annulment of a State Aid Decision
State Aid Blogs - stateaid39
A sale of public assets cannot be presumed to be free of State aid when bidders are not treated equally. Introduction When the state sells a company it owns, there is a presumption that no State aid benefits either the buyer or the company that is sold if the sale is open transparent, non-discriminatory, unconditional and the chosen buyer is […]
read more
No Comments
17. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Problem of Multiple Awards of Aid to the Undertaking and to the Same Group
State Aid Blogs - 33 jc gellidon 1g3qVp7ynX4 unsplash
Multiple awards of aid to the same undertaking are allowed as long as they cover different costs. Multiple awards of aid to the same group are allowed as long as aid does not leak from one undertaking in the group to another. Introduction In the first half of 2021, the General Court ruled in ten cases of appeal lodged by […]
read more
No Comments
22. June 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Is State Aid for Locally Established Undertakings Compatible with the Internal Market?
State Aid Blogs - flight 4454342 1920
Limitation of State aid to companies which have a durable link with the local economy can be compatible with the internal market. Introduction By prohibiting barriers to free movement and establishment in the internal market, the EU seeks to make the choice of location of a company largely irrelevant. All companies should be treated the same regardless of where they […]
read more
No Comments
27. April 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Individual Aid Measures to Combat Covid-19
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost17 airline
Aid to remedy a serious economic disturbance may be granted to a single company that is important for the national economy. EU law does not extend to competitors a right to the same aid. Introduction Between March 2020 and April 2021, the European Commission has authorised aid totalling more than EUR 2.5 trillion to remedy the serious economic disturbance caused […]
read more
No Comments
9. February 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The State Acting as a Regulator
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost6 NL gambling
When the state acts as a regulator, it does not have to charge a licence fee that maximises its revenue. Introduction Governments can influence the allocation of resources with at least three instruments: subsidisation, taxation and regulation. All three may contain State aid; if subsidies are selective, if taxes allow for exemptions and if regulation involves charges which are not […]
read more
No Comments

- non-discrimination ×

25. March 2025  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Measures to Support Electricity Prices Must Conform with the Principles of Non-discrimination and Proportionality
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered photos 43
Introduction On 12 March 2025, the General Court delivered its judgment in case T-596/22, PGI Spain, & Others v Commission.[1] PGI and the other applicants sought the annulment of Commission decision on SA.102454 and SA.102569 concerning a joint Spanish and Portuguese measure on the reduction of the electricity wholesale price in the Iberian peninsula. In May 2022, Spain and Portugal […]
read more
No Comments
28. September 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A Faulty Sale Procedure Can Lead to Presumption of State Aid and Annulment of a State Aid Decision
State Aid Blogs - stateaid39
A sale of public assets cannot be presumed to be free of State aid when bidders are not treated equally. Introduction When the state sells a company it owns, there is a presumption that no State aid benefits either the buyer or the company that is sold if the sale is open transparent, non-discriminatory, unconditional and the chosen buyer is […]
read more
No Comments
17. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Problem of Multiple Awards of Aid to the Undertaking and to the Same Group
State Aid Blogs - 33 jc gellidon 1g3qVp7ynX4 unsplash
Multiple awards of aid to the same undertaking are allowed as long as they cover different costs. Multiple awards of aid to the same group are allowed as long as aid does not leak from one undertaking in the group to another. Introduction In the first half of 2021, the General Court ruled in ten cases of appeal lodged by […]
read more
No Comments
22. June 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Is State Aid for Locally Established Undertakings Compatible with the Internal Market?
State Aid Blogs - flight 4454342 1920
Limitation of State aid to companies which have a durable link with the local economy can be compatible with the internal market. Introduction By prohibiting barriers to free movement and establishment in the internal market, the EU seeks to make the choice of location of a company largely irrelevant. All companies should be treated the same regardless of where they […]
read more
No Comments
27. April 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Individual Aid Measures to Combat Covid-19
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost17 airline
Aid to remedy a serious economic disturbance may be granted to a single company that is important for the national economy. EU law does not extend to competitors a right to the same aid. Introduction Between March 2020 and April 2021, the European Commission has authorised aid totalling more than EUR 2.5 trillion to remedy the serious economic disturbance caused […]
read more
No Comments
9. February 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The State Acting as a Regulator
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost6 NL gambling
When the state acts as a regulator, it does not have to charge a licence fee that maximises its revenue. Introduction Governments can influence the allocation of resources with at least three instruments: subsidisation, taxation and regulation. All three may contain State aid; if subsidies are selective, if taxes allow for exemptions and if regulation involves charges which are not […]
read more
No Comments

- non-discrimination ×

25. March 2025  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Measures to Support Electricity Prices Must Conform with the Principles of Non-discrimination and Proportionality
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered photos 43
Introduction On 12 March 2025, the General Court delivered its judgment in case T-596/22, PGI Spain, & Others v Commission.[1] PGI and the other applicants sought the annulment of Commission decision on SA.102454 and SA.102569 concerning a joint Spanish and Portuguese measure on the reduction of the electricity wholesale price in the Iberian peninsula. In May 2022, Spain and Portugal […]
read more
No Comments
28. September 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A Faulty Sale Procedure Can Lead to Presumption of State Aid and Annulment of a State Aid Decision
State Aid Blogs - stateaid39
A sale of public assets cannot be presumed to be free of State aid when bidders are not treated equally. Introduction When the state sells a company it owns, there is a presumption that no State aid benefits either the buyer or the company that is sold if the sale is open transparent, non-discriminatory, unconditional and the chosen buyer is […]
read more
No Comments
17. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Problem of Multiple Awards of Aid to the Undertaking and to the Same Group
State Aid Blogs - 33 jc gellidon 1g3qVp7ynX4 unsplash
Multiple awards of aid to the same undertaking are allowed as long as they cover different costs. Multiple awards of aid to the same group are allowed as long as aid does not leak from one undertaking in the group to another. Introduction In the first half of 2021, the General Court ruled in ten cases of appeal lodged by […]
read more
No Comments
22. June 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Is State Aid for Locally Established Undertakings Compatible with the Internal Market?
State Aid Blogs - flight 4454342 1920
Limitation of State aid to companies which have a durable link with the local economy can be compatible with the internal market. Introduction By prohibiting barriers to free movement and establishment in the internal market, the EU seeks to make the choice of location of a company largely irrelevant. All companies should be treated the same regardless of where they […]
read more
No Comments
27. April 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Individual Aid Measures to Combat Covid-19
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost17 airline
Aid to remedy a serious economic disturbance may be granted to a single company that is important for the national economy. EU law does not extend to competitors a right to the same aid. Introduction Between March 2020 and April 2021, the European Commission has authorised aid totalling more than EUR 2.5 trillion to remedy the serious economic disturbance caused […]
read more
No Comments
9. February 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The State Acting as a Regulator
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost6 NL gambling
When the state acts as a regulator, it does not have to charge a licence fee that maximises its revenue. Introduction Governments can influence the allocation of resources with at least three instruments: subsidisation, taxation and regulation. All three may contain State aid; if subsidies are selective, if taxes allow for exemptions and if regulation involves charges which are not […]
read more
No Comments

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