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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- Article 49 TFEU ×

17. March 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Has an Economic Myth Become a Legal Fact? The Case of Turnover Taxes
State Aid Blogs - Turnover
Progressive turnover taxes are not contrary to the freedom of establishment or the right of equal treatment. Introduction Recent cases involving “turnover” taxes have sparked a debate in the literature and on the conference circuit not only because they raise novel issues but also because of their implications for other taxes which are being mooted by European governments. As Advocate-General […]
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16. April 2019  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Spanish Football Clubs Score against the Commission: a) Linked Advantages and Disadvantages Must be Assessed Together b) In Determining the Existence of an Advantage, the Commission Must Explain both what it Takes into Account and what it Ignores
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost15 Soccer loans Lexxion Spain EU Commission
State measures which are linked and produce both positive and negative effects, must be considered together to determine whether they confer a net advantage to undertakings. Counter-guarantees must be taken into account to determine the existence of advantage even if they are provisional.   Introduction Member States have in a number of cases tried to defend tax reductions or tax […]
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27. October 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Perennial Altmark Questions
State Aid Blogs - m 5 2
A SGEI provider does not have to be efficient by industry standards in order to receive compensation for its next extra costs. Although the conditions for compatibility of public service compensation under Article 106(2) TFEU appear to be similar to the Altmark criteria, they have very different objectives.   Introduction Even since the Altmark judgment of July 2003, public authorities […]
read more
No Comments

- Article 49 TFEU ×

17. March 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Has an Economic Myth Become a Legal Fact? The Case of Turnover Taxes
State Aid Blogs - Turnover
Progressive turnover taxes are not contrary to the freedom of establishment or the right of equal treatment. Introduction Recent cases involving “turnover” taxes have sparked a debate in the literature and on the conference circuit not only because they raise novel issues but also because of their implications for other taxes which are being mooted by European governments. As Advocate-General […]
read more
No Comments
16. April 2019  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Spanish Football Clubs Score against the Commission: a) Linked Advantages and Disadvantages Must be Assessed Together b) In Determining the Existence of an Advantage, the Commission Must Explain both what it Takes into Account and what it Ignores
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost15 Soccer loans Lexxion Spain EU Commission
State measures which are linked and produce both positive and negative effects, must be considered together to determine whether they confer a net advantage to undertakings. Counter-guarantees must be taken into account to determine the existence of advantage even if they are provisional.   Introduction Member States have in a number of cases tried to defend tax reductions or tax […]
read more
No Comments
27. October 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Perennial Altmark Questions
State Aid Blogs - m 5 2
A SGEI provider does not have to be efficient by industry standards in order to receive compensation for its next extra costs. Although the conditions for compatibility of public service compensation under Article 106(2) TFEU appear to be similar to the Altmark criteria, they have very different objectives.   Introduction Even since the Altmark judgment of July 2003, public authorities […]
read more
No Comments

- Article 49 TFEU ×

17. March 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Has an Economic Myth Become a Legal Fact? The Case of Turnover Taxes
State Aid Blogs - Turnover
Progressive turnover taxes are not contrary to the freedom of establishment or the right of equal treatment. Introduction Recent cases involving “turnover” taxes have sparked a debate in the literature and on the conference circuit not only because they raise novel issues but also because of their implications for other taxes which are being mooted by European governments. As Advocate-General […]
read more
No Comments
16. April 2019  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Spanish Football Clubs Score against the Commission: a) Linked Advantages and Disadvantages Must be Assessed Together b) In Determining the Existence of an Advantage, the Commission Must Explain both what it Takes into Account and what it Ignores
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost15 Soccer loans Lexxion Spain EU Commission
State measures which are linked and produce both positive and negative effects, must be considered together to determine whether they confer a net advantage to undertakings. Counter-guarantees must be taken into account to determine the existence of advantage even if they are provisional.   Introduction Member States have in a number of cases tried to defend tax reductions or tax […]
read more
No Comments
27. October 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Perennial Altmark Questions
State Aid Blogs - m 5 2
A SGEI provider does not have to be efficient by industry standards in order to receive compensation for its next extra costs. Although the conditions for compatibility of public service compensation under Article 106(2) TFEU appear to be similar to the Altmark criteria, they have very different objectives.   Introduction Even since the Altmark judgment of July 2003, public authorities […]
read more
No Comments

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