State Aid Law Blog

State Aid Uncovered Blog

On a weekly basis Phedon Nicolaides posts critical analysis pieces on the latest State aid judgments and decisions on his blog State Aid Uncovered. Each article presents the main points of a court ruling or Commission‘s decision, places them in the context of similar case law or practice, assesses the underlying reasoning, and identifies any inconsistencies or contradictions.
Occasional guest blog posts by other State aid experts complement the State aid knowledge hub.

Join the debate now!

Professor at Maastricht University; Professor at University of Nicosia, and Academic Director at Lexxion Training

Guest State Aid Blog ×

12. June 2018  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for the Deployment of Broadband Networks
State Aid Blogs - SAZ Blogpost 23 Broadband
Most State aid for the development of broadband networks is approved by the Commission. But the aid must be limited only to areas where market-based investments are unlikely to be made without aid.   Introduction   This article reviews a recent Commission decision authorising State aid for broadband development in the Netherlands which is one of the most networked countries […]
read more
No Comments
22. May 2018  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Exemption from Taxes that Protect the Environment May not be Selective – Part II
State Aid Blogs - victor xok gFjGZ2qRZOo unsplash
Member States have discretion to impose taxes that penalise environmentally harmful activities. Exemption of undertakings whose activities do not harm the environment does not constitute State aid whenever the exempted undertakings are not in a comparable situation.   Application of Article 107(1) to the Asturias tax   In this case, exempted establishments were those with sales area less than 4000m2 or […]
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No Comments
15. May 2018  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Exemption from Taxes that Protect the Environment May not be Selective – Part I
State Aid Blogs - 14.05.18 Part1 Blog19 Spain Regional Tax
Member States have discretion to impose taxes that penalise environmentally harmful activities. Exemption of undertakings whose activities do not harm the environment does not constitute State aid whenever the exempted undertakings are not in a comparable situation.   Application of Article 107(1) to the Asturias tax   In this case, exempted establishments were those with sales area less than 4000m2 or […]
read more
No Comments
27. March 2018  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Correct Pricing for the Use of Publicly Funded Infrastructure
State Aid Blogs - m 6
Publicly funded infrastructure must be made available to users at prices that correspond to its market value.   Introduction   When publicly-funded infrastructure is placed at the disposal of an undertaking, that undertaking must pay a market price, otherwise it derives an advantage in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU. But what is the market price? Is it the price […]
read more
1 Comment
27. June 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Is there any Advantage for Owners, Operators or Users of Publicly Funded Ports?
State Aid Blogs - m 12
Public funding of ports confers an advantage to their owners, but not for operators chosen competitively or users who pay a market price.   Introduction Few issues have exercised public authorities more than the funding of infrastructure which is used for commercial purposes. This is because State aid may benefit the owner and/or the operator and/or the users of the […]
read more
No Comments
30. March 2016  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Treatment of Advisory and Information Services under State Aid Rules: The Case of the German Milk Levy
State Aid Blogs - m 32 1
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 […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous Page

Guest State Aid Blog ×

12. June 2018  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for the Deployment of Broadband Networks
State Aid Blogs - SAZ Blogpost 23 Broadband
Most State aid for the development of broadband networks is approved by the Commission. But the aid must be limited only to areas where market-based investments are unlikely to be made without aid.   Introduction   This article reviews a recent Commission decision authorising State aid for broadband development in the Netherlands which is one of the most networked countries […]
read more
No Comments
22. May 2018  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Exemption from Taxes that Protect the Environment May not be Selective – Part II
State Aid Blogs - victor xok gFjGZ2qRZOo unsplash
Member States have discretion to impose taxes that penalise environmentally harmful activities. Exemption of undertakings whose activities do not harm the environment does not constitute State aid whenever the exempted undertakings are not in a comparable situation.   Application of Article 107(1) to the Asturias tax   In this case, exempted establishments were those with sales area less than 4000m2 or […]
read more
No Comments
15. May 2018  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Exemption from Taxes that Protect the Environment May not be Selective – Part I
State Aid Blogs - 14.05.18 Part1 Blog19 Spain Regional Tax
Member States have discretion to impose taxes that penalise environmentally harmful activities. Exemption of undertakings whose activities do not harm the environment does not constitute State aid whenever the exempted undertakings are not in a comparable situation.   Application of Article 107(1) to the Asturias tax   In this case, exempted establishments were those with sales area less than 4000m2 or […]
read more
No Comments
27. March 2018  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Correct Pricing for the Use of Publicly Funded Infrastructure
State Aid Blogs - m 6
Publicly funded infrastructure must be made available to users at prices that correspond to its market value.   Introduction   When publicly-funded infrastructure is placed at the disposal of an undertaking, that undertaking must pay a market price, otherwise it derives an advantage in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU. But what is the market price? Is it the price […]
read more
1 Comment
27. June 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Is there any Advantage for Owners, Operators or Users of Publicly Funded Ports?
State Aid Blogs - m 12
Public funding of ports confers an advantage to their owners, but not for operators chosen competitively or users who pay a market price.   Introduction Few issues have exercised public authorities more than the funding of infrastructure which is used for commercial purposes. This is because State aid may benefit the owner and/or the operator and/or the users of the […]
read more
No Comments
30. March 2016  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Treatment of Advisory and Information Services under State Aid Rules: The Case of the German Milk Levy
State Aid Blogs - m 32 1
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 […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous Page

Guest State Aid Blog ×

12. June 2018  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for the Deployment of Broadband Networks
State Aid Blogs - SAZ Blogpost 23 Broadband
Most State aid for the development of broadband networks is approved by the Commission. But the aid must be limited only to areas where market-based investments are unlikely to be made without aid.   Introduction   This article reviews a recent Commission decision authorising State aid for broadband development in the Netherlands which is one of the most networked countries […]
read more
No Comments
22. May 2018  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Exemption from Taxes that Protect the Environment May not be Selective – Part II
State Aid Blogs - victor xok gFjGZ2qRZOo unsplash
Member States have discretion to impose taxes that penalise environmentally harmful activities. Exemption of undertakings whose activities do not harm the environment does not constitute State aid whenever the exempted undertakings are not in a comparable situation.   Application of Article 107(1) to the Asturias tax   In this case, exempted establishments were those with sales area less than 4000m2 or […]
read more
No Comments
15. May 2018  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Exemption from Taxes that Protect the Environment May not be Selective – Part I
State Aid Blogs - 14.05.18 Part1 Blog19 Spain Regional Tax
Member States have discretion to impose taxes that penalise environmentally harmful activities. Exemption of undertakings whose activities do not harm the environment does not constitute State aid whenever the exempted undertakings are not in a comparable situation.   Application of Article 107(1) to the Asturias tax   In this case, exempted establishments were those with sales area less than 4000m2 or […]
read more
No Comments
27. March 2018  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Correct Pricing for the Use of Publicly Funded Infrastructure
State Aid Blogs - m 6
Publicly funded infrastructure must be made available to users at prices that correspond to its market value.   Introduction   When publicly-funded infrastructure is placed at the disposal of an undertaking, that undertaking must pay a market price, otherwise it derives an advantage in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU. But what is the market price? Is it the price […]
read more
1 Comment
27. June 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Is there any Advantage for Owners, Operators or Users of Publicly Funded Ports?
State Aid Blogs - m 12
Public funding of ports confers an advantage to their owners, but not for operators chosen competitively or users who pay a market price.   Introduction Few issues have exercised public authorities more than the funding of infrastructure which is used for commercial purposes. This is because State aid may benefit the owner and/or the operator and/or the users of the […]
read more
No Comments
30. March 2016  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Treatment of Advisory and Information Services under State Aid Rules: The Case of the German Milk Levy
State Aid Blogs - m 32 1
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 […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous Page

How to Submit a Blog Post

Do you want to share your analysis of a State aid law topic? We invite you to submit your post on, for example: recent European, national or international judgments or legislation with relevance to EU State aid law; new developments, publications, hot topics in EU State aid law. The recommended length of the post is 500-2,000 words incl. references (endnotes). Your analysis will be published under the category ‘Guest State Aid Blog’.

Here’s how you can publish a post on the Blog as a guest author:

Step 1: Submit your draft to Nelly Stratieva at stratieva@lexxion.eu.

Step 2: We at Lexxion will review your draft to make sure its content and quality fit the blog. If needed, they will suggest what improvements you should make.

Step 3: Once your draft has been finalised and accepted, we will publish your post.

Submit your guest blog post

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