On 8 July 2024, the European Court of Auditors published its Overview of the Assurance Framework and the Key Factors Contributing to Errors in 2014-2020 Cohesion Spending, (Review 3, 2024) The main findings of the ECA concerning compliance with State aid rules can be summarised in the following two tables. 1) Most frequent errors [2018-22] (% of all errors) and […]
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.
- State Aid Rules ×
5. December 2019 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
The Financial Times reported on Friday, 29 November 2019, that the Conservative party in the UK announced that it would establish a different state aid system to “protect British industry after Brexit”. The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, was quoted to have said at a press conference on the same date that the new state aid system would make it “faster […]
22. October 2019 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Member States may reduce the amount of State aid they grant and companies may not claim they have a right to State aid. Introduction Close to 60% of all aid granted to industry and services in the EU goes to support environmental protection, energy efficiency and the generation of electricity from renewable sources of energy. However, as technology improves, the […]
1. October 2019 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Private enforcement has increased, but damages for illegal granting of State aid have been successfully claimed in just one case. Introduction According to the annual competition report that was published in July, Member States use the GBER to implement 96% of their new aid measures.[1] This impressive outcome should be seen in conjunction with the recent rulings of the Court […]
28. May 2019 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
A tax refund may not be granted, if it constitutes non-notified State aid. Introduction It is a well-established principle that restrictions on internal market rights or freedoms may not be attached to a State aid measure. Indeed, current State aid rules [e.g. GBER, guidelines] explicitly exclude from their scope any aid measure which is inseparably linked to a […]
21. May 2019 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Non-economic activities have to be accounted separately from economic activities. The exercise of public tasks assigned by the state cannot protect an undertaking from State aid rules. State aid distorts competition even when it aims to remedy distortions. Introduction Ports, like other transport infrastructures, may operate under public obligations some of which may be of economic and some of non-economic […]
12. September 2017 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Awards of concession contracts should follow a procedure which is open, transparent, non-discriminatory and unconditional. Prices may be regulated to prevent excessive prices and profits. But, the concession fee may be adjusted to enable the concessionaire to earn a sufficient return. Introduction This article examines the link between State aid and concession agreements. In decision SA.44259, the Commission considered […]
18. July 2017 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Purely religious activities and education funded by the state are not economic in nature. Read the I. part of the article, here. Selective economic advantage The Court proceeded to examine the possible existence of a selective economic advantage. It first recalled, in paragraph 65, that the concept of State aid covers only those public measures which favour certain undertakings “or” […]
9. May 2017 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Insurance funds contributed by banks become state resources if they are managed by public agencies. Sale of non-performing loans at market prices does not involve State aid. Introduction Since 1 January 2016, the resolution financial institutions in Europe has been subject to stricter rules. The institutions which are established in the Eurozone fall with the jurisdiction of the Single […]
30. March 2016 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Public funding of advisory and information activities may constitute State aid. Public funding of industry associations may constitute State aid. Introduction An article that was published on this blog in January (view the article HERE) dealt with the issue of compulsory tests. If tests which are intended to safeguard public health are paid for by the state, is there any […]
- State Aid Rules ×
18. July 2024 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
On 8 July 2024, the European Court of Auditors published its Overview of the Assurance Framework and the Key Factors Contributing to Errors in 2014-2020 Cohesion Spending, (Review 3, 2024) The main findings of the ECA concerning compliance with State aid rules can be summarised in the following two tables. 1) Most frequent errors [2018-22] (% of all errors) and […]
5. December 2019 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
The Financial Times reported on Friday, 29 November 2019, that the Conservative party in the UK announced that it would establish a different state aid system to “protect British industry after Brexit”. The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, was quoted to have said at a press conference on the same date that the new state aid system would make it “faster […]
22. October 2019 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Member States may reduce the amount of State aid they grant and companies may not claim they have a right to State aid. Introduction Close to 60% of all aid granted to industry and services in the EU goes to support environmental protection, energy efficiency and the generation of electricity from renewable sources of energy. However, as technology improves, the […]
1. October 2019 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Private enforcement has increased, but damages for illegal granting of State aid have been successfully claimed in just one case. Introduction According to the annual competition report that was published in July, Member States use the GBER to implement 96% of their new aid measures.[1] This impressive outcome should be seen in conjunction with the recent rulings of the Court […]
28. May 2019 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
A tax refund may not be granted, if it constitutes non-notified State aid. Introduction It is a well-established principle that restrictions on internal market rights or freedoms may not be attached to a State aid measure. Indeed, current State aid rules [e.g. GBER, guidelines] explicitly exclude from their scope any aid measure which is inseparably linked to a […]
21. May 2019 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Non-economic activities have to be accounted separately from economic activities. The exercise of public tasks assigned by the state cannot protect an undertaking from State aid rules. State aid distorts competition even when it aims to remedy distortions. Introduction Ports, like other transport infrastructures, may operate under public obligations some of which may be of economic and some of non-economic […]
12. September 2017 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Awards of concession contracts should follow a procedure which is open, transparent, non-discriminatory and unconditional. Prices may be regulated to prevent excessive prices and profits. But, the concession fee may be adjusted to enable the concessionaire to earn a sufficient return. Introduction This article examines the link between State aid and concession agreements. In decision SA.44259, the Commission considered […]
18. July 2017 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Purely religious activities and education funded by the state are not economic in nature. Read the I. part of the article, here. Selective economic advantage The Court proceeded to examine the possible existence of a selective economic advantage. It first recalled, in paragraph 65, that the concept of State aid covers only those public measures which favour certain undertakings “or” […]
9. May 2017 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Insurance funds contributed by banks become state resources if they are managed by public agencies. Sale of non-performing loans at market prices does not involve State aid. Introduction Since 1 January 2016, the resolution financial institutions in Europe has been subject to stricter rules. The institutions which are established in the Eurozone fall with the jurisdiction of the Single […]
30. March 2016 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Public funding of advisory and information activities may constitute State aid. Public funding of industry associations may constitute State aid. Introduction An article that was published on this blog in January (view the article HERE) dealt with the issue of compulsory tests. If tests which are intended to safeguard public health are paid for by the state, is there any […]
- State Aid Rules ×
18. July 2024 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
On 8 July 2024, the European Court of Auditors published its Overview of the Assurance Framework and the Key Factors Contributing to Errors in 2014-2020 Cohesion Spending, (Review 3, 2024) The main findings of the ECA concerning compliance with State aid rules can be summarised in the following two tables. 1) Most frequent errors [2018-22] (% of all errors) and […]
5. December 2019 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
The Financial Times reported on Friday, 29 November 2019, that the Conservative party in the UK announced that it would establish a different state aid system to “protect British industry after Brexit”. The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, was quoted to have said at a press conference on the same date that the new state aid system would make it “faster […]
22. October 2019 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Member States may reduce the amount of State aid they grant and companies may not claim they have a right to State aid. Introduction Close to 60% of all aid granted to industry and services in the EU goes to support environmental protection, energy efficiency and the generation of electricity from renewable sources of energy. However, as technology improves, the […]
1. October 2019 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Private enforcement has increased, but damages for illegal granting of State aid have been successfully claimed in just one case. Introduction According to the annual competition report that was published in July, Member States use the GBER to implement 96% of their new aid measures.[1] This impressive outcome should be seen in conjunction with the recent rulings of the Court […]
28. May 2019 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
A tax refund may not be granted, if it constitutes non-notified State aid. Introduction It is a well-established principle that restrictions on internal market rights or freedoms may not be attached to a State aid measure. Indeed, current State aid rules [e.g. GBER, guidelines] explicitly exclude from their scope any aid measure which is inseparably linked to a […]
21. May 2019 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Non-economic activities have to be accounted separately from economic activities. The exercise of public tasks assigned by the state cannot protect an undertaking from State aid rules. State aid distorts competition even when it aims to remedy distortions. Introduction Ports, like other transport infrastructures, may operate under public obligations some of which may be of economic and some of non-economic […]
12. September 2017 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Awards of concession contracts should follow a procedure which is open, transparent, non-discriminatory and unconditional. Prices may be regulated to prevent excessive prices and profits. But, the concession fee may be adjusted to enable the concessionaire to earn a sufficient return. Introduction This article examines the link between State aid and concession agreements. In decision SA.44259, the Commission considered […]
18. July 2017 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Purely religious activities and education funded by the state are not economic in nature. Read the I. part of the article, here. Selective economic advantage The Court proceeded to examine the possible existence of a selective economic advantage. It first recalled, in paragraph 65, that the concept of State aid covers only those public measures which favour certain undertakings “or” […]
9. May 2017 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Insurance funds contributed by banks become state resources if they are managed by public agencies. Sale of non-performing loans at market prices does not involve State aid. Introduction Since 1 January 2016, the resolution financial institutions in Europe has been subject to stricter rules. The institutions which are established in the Eurozone fall with the jurisdiction of the Single […]
30. March 2016 |
State Aid Uncovered
by Phedon Nicolaides
Public funding of advisory and information activities may constitute State aid. Public funding of industry associations may constitute State aid. Introduction An article that was published on this blog in January (view the article HERE) dealt with the issue of compulsory tests. If tests which are intended to safeguard public health are paid for by the state, is there any […]