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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- discrimination ×

25. June 2024  |   by Phedon Nicolaides

Aid Measures with Limited Beneficiaries
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered photos 19 1
Introduction During the covid-19 pandemic Member States granted State aid to undertakings they considered important for their economies or for maintaining their connectivity with the rest of the world. Ryanair appealed against multiple Commission decisions authorising that aid. Ryanair succeeded in some of its challenges on technical issues. It lost all other cases on issues of principle. On 6 June […]
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11. June 2024  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Member States May Grant State Aid to Single Beneficiaries
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered photos 17
Introduction The European Court of Justice confirmed, once more, on 30 May 2024, in case C-353/21 P, Ryanair v Commission, that Member States do not have to grant State aid to all undertakings that may be affected by a serious economic disturbance such as a pandemic.2 This is because Member States do not have unlimited resources and because they may […]
read more
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23. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Temporary Framework Allows Member States to Grant Aid only to SMEs 
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design
Introduction  Although discrimination is in general prohibited in the EU, the fact remains that in the field of State aid Member States may grant State aid only to certain companies and may also decide how much aid to grant.  That the granting of State aid relies solely on the discretion of Member States has recently been re-confirmed by the General […]
read more
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4. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Damage Caused by COVID-19 Combined with Rescue Aid
State Aid Blogs - dddddddddd
Introduction Member States are allowed to grant state to compensate undertakings for damage they suffer as a result of a natural disaster or exceptional occurrence. But, it is not always easy or possible to disentangle the damage caused by such an unforeseen event from losses caused by mismanagement or changes of market conditions. The art and science of calculating the […]
read more
No Comments
28. June 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Individual Aid to Counter the Effects of Serious Economic Disturbance Is Legally Possible, but Is it Appropriate?
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 13
Individual aid need not be capable itself to remedy serious economic disturbance in the economy of a Member State. It is sufficient that it contributes to that effect. Introduction On 22 June 2022, in case T‑657/20, Ryanair v European Commission, the General Court confirmed once more that Member States have a right to grant State aid to the undertakings of […]
read more
No Comments

- discrimination ×

25. June 2024  |   by Phedon Nicolaides

Aid Measures with Limited Beneficiaries
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered photos 19 1
Introduction During the covid-19 pandemic Member States granted State aid to undertakings they considered important for their economies or for maintaining their connectivity with the rest of the world. Ryanair appealed against multiple Commission decisions authorising that aid. Ryanair succeeded in some of its challenges on technical issues. It lost all other cases on issues of principle. On 6 June […]
read more
No Comments
11. June 2024  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Member States May Grant State Aid to Single Beneficiaries
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered photos 17
Introduction The European Court of Justice confirmed, once more, on 30 May 2024, in case C-353/21 P, Ryanair v Commission, that Member States do not have to grant State aid to all undertakings that may be affected by a serious economic disturbance such as a pandemic.2 This is because Member States do not have unlimited resources and because they may […]
read more
No Comments
23. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Temporary Framework Allows Member States to Grant Aid only to SMEs 
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design
Introduction  Although discrimination is in general prohibited in the EU, the fact remains that in the field of State aid Member States may grant State aid only to certain companies and may also decide how much aid to grant.  That the granting of State aid relies solely on the discretion of Member States has recently been re-confirmed by the General […]
read more
No Comments
4. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Damage Caused by COVID-19 Combined with Rescue Aid
State Aid Blogs - dddddddddd
Introduction Member States are allowed to grant state to compensate undertakings for damage they suffer as a result of a natural disaster or exceptional occurrence. But, it is not always easy or possible to disentangle the damage caused by such an unforeseen event from losses caused by mismanagement or changes of market conditions. The art and science of calculating the […]
read more
No Comments
28. June 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Individual Aid to Counter the Effects of Serious Economic Disturbance Is Legally Possible, but Is it Appropriate?
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 13
Individual aid need not be capable itself to remedy serious economic disturbance in the economy of a Member State. It is sufficient that it contributes to that effect. Introduction On 22 June 2022, in case T‑657/20, Ryanair v European Commission, the General Court confirmed once more that Member States have a right to grant State aid to the undertakings of […]
read more
No Comments

- discrimination ×

25. June 2024  |   by Phedon Nicolaides

Aid Measures with Limited Beneficiaries
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered photos 19 1
Introduction During the covid-19 pandemic Member States granted State aid to undertakings they considered important for their economies or for maintaining their connectivity with the rest of the world. Ryanair appealed against multiple Commission decisions authorising that aid. Ryanair succeeded in some of its challenges on technical issues. It lost all other cases on issues of principle. On 6 June […]
read more
No Comments
11. June 2024  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Member States May Grant State Aid to Single Beneficiaries
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered photos 17
Introduction The European Court of Justice confirmed, once more, on 30 May 2024, in case C-353/21 P, Ryanair v Commission, that Member States do not have to grant State aid to all undertakings that may be affected by a serious economic disturbance such as a pandemic.2 This is because Member States do not have unlimited resources and because they may […]
read more
No Comments
23. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Temporary Framework Allows Member States to Grant Aid only to SMEs 
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design
Introduction  Although discrimination is in general prohibited in the EU, the fact remains that in the field of State aid Member States may grant State aid only to certain companies and may also decide how much aid to grant.  That the granting of State aid relies solely on the discretion of Member States has recently been re-confirmed by the General […]
read more
No Comments
4. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Damage Caused by COVID-19 Combined with Rescue Aid
State Aid Blogs - dddddddddd
Introduction Member States are allowed to grant state to compensate undertakings for damage they suffer as a result of a natural disaster or exceptional occurrence. But, it is not always easy or possible to disentangle the damage caused by such an unforeseen event from losses caused by mismanagement or changes of market conditions. The art and science of calculating the […]
read more
No Comments
28. June 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Individual Aid to Counter the Effects of Serious Economic Disturbance Is Legally Possible, but Is it Appropriate?
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 13
Individual aid need not be capable itself to remedy serious economic disturbance in the economy of a Member State. It is sufficient that it contributes to that effect. Introduction On 22 June 2022, in case T‑657/20, Ryanair v European Commission, the General Court confirmed once more that Member States have a right to grant State aid to the undertakings of […]
read more
No Comments

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