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.

Subscribe now!

State Aid Uncovered ×

23. February 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid May be Limited to Undertakings with Close Links with the National Economy (Part I)
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost8 9 Ryanair
State aid may be used to compensate airlines licensed by domestic authorities for losses incurred as a result of national travel restrictions. Introduction The European Commission acted swiftly to adopt a fairly accommodating and wide-ranging “Temporary Framework” to regulate State aid for the purposes of counter-acting the impact of covid-19. The Temporary Framework was welcomed by both Member States and […]
read more
No Comments
2. June 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

i) Investor-State Arbitration ii) Recovery of Incompatible State Aid iii) State Aid Scoreboard 2019
Euromünzen
Member States abolish bilateral investment treaties between themselves. When the Commission orders recovery of incompatible State aid, interest has to be added to the recoverable amount for the whole period of illegality regardless of any national limitation rules. In 2018, Member States granted EUR 121 billion to industry and services, EUR 6.3 billion to agriculture and EUR 50 billion to […]
read more
No Comments
19. May 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

No New Aid to Undertakings that Have not Yet Repaid Incompatible Aid
Money in Hands
There is no rule in EU law obliging Member States to grant State aid. The European Commission may refuse to authorise aid until previous aid that was found to be incompatible with the internal market is paid back. Temporary Framework: Number of approved covid-19 measures, as of 16 May 2020: 125* Legal basis: Article 107(2)(b): 10; Article 107(3)(b): 105; Article […]
read more
No Comments
31. March 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

How to Make Good the Damage Caused by a Natural Disaster
State Aid Blogs - sergio torres nUw2nIGeGYY unsplash
Compensation for costs incurred as a result of a natural disaster is State aid. The compensation must be for damage directly caused by the natural disaster. Introduction State aid to make good the damage caused by an “exceptional occurrence” such as the corona virus covid-19 is compatible with the internal market. The legal basis for exemption is Article 107(2)(b). Of […]
read more
No Comments
20. March 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A New Temporary State aid Framework to Fight the Effects of the Corona Virus
corona virus poster
Member States will be allowed to provide grants, guarantees and loans to companies to alleviate the effects of the corona virus. Introduction At the end of 2009, the European Commission adopted a Temporary Framework of State aid rules to enable Member States to support companies that were harmed by the outbreak of the financial crisis in 2008. Now, the corona […]
read more
No Comments
13. April 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

PART II: Green Electricity and Reduction of Energy Taxes for Energy-Intensive Users
State Aid Blogs - m 27 1
Part II: Support of electricity production from renewable energy sources is normally compatible with the internal market. Reduction of taxes on electricity used by energy-intensive industries is allowed only for certain sectors exposed to international trade and only when they bear a certain cost. Taxes on imported electricity normally infringe free-trade and non-discrimination provisions, unless commensurate benefits are extended to […]
read more
No Comments
23. December 2014  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

An Important Project of Common European Interest
State Aid Blogs - An Important Project of Common European Interest
Infrastructure projects which are economic in nature are subject to State aid scrutiny regardless of their importance. However, public funding of transport networks which are open to all users does not constitute State aid. Introduction State aid approval of important projects of common European interest is very rare. The joint Commission decisions SA.36558 and SA.38371 [Denmark] and SA.36662 [Sweden] concerning the […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous Page

State Aid Uncovered ×

23. February 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid May be Limited to Undertakings with Close Links with the National Economy (Part I)
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost8 9 Ryanair
State aid may be used to compensate airlines licensed by domestic authorities for losses incurred as a result of national travel restrictions. Introduction The European Commission acted swiftly to adopt a fairly accommodating and wide-ranging “Temporary Framework” to regulate State aid for the purposes of counter-acting the impact of covid-19. The Temporary Framework was welcomed by both Member States and […]
read more
No Comments
2. June 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

i) Investor-State Arbitration ii) Recovery of Incompatible State Aid iii) State Aid Scoreboard 2019
Euromünzen
Member States abolish bilateral investment treaties between themselves. When the Commission orders recovery of incompatible State aid, interest has to be added to the recoverable amount for the whole period of illegality regardless of any national limitation rules. In 2018, Member States granted EUR 121 billion to industry and services, EUR 6.3 billion to agriculture and EUR 50 billion to […]
read more
No Comments
19. May 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

No New Aid to Undertakings that Have not Yet Repaid Incompatible Aid
Money in Hands
There is no rule in EU law obliging Member States to grant State aid. The European Commission may refuse to authorise aid until previous aid that was found to be incompatible with the internal market is paid back. Temporary Framework: Number of approved covid-19 measures, as of 16 May 2020: 125* Legal basis: Article 107(2)(b): 10; Article 107(3)(b): 105; Article […]
read more
No Comments
31. March 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

How to Make Good the Damage Caused by a Natural Disaster
State Aid Blogs - sergio torres nUw2nIGeGYY unsplash
Compensation for costs incurred as a result of a natural disaster is State aid. The compensation must be for damage directly caused by the natural disaster. Introduction State aid to make good the damage caused by an “exceptional occurrence” such as the corona virus covid-19 is compatible with the internal market. The legal basis for exemption is Article 107(2)(b). Of […]
read more
No Comments
20. March 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A New Temporary State aid Framework to Fight the Effects of the Corona Virus
corona virus poster
Member States will be allowed to provide grants, guarantees and loans to companies to alleviate the effects of the corona virus. Introduction At the end of 2009, the European Commission adopted a Temporary Framework of State aid rules to enable Member States to support companies that were harmed by the outbreak of the financial crisis in 2008. Now, the corona […]
read more
No Comments
13. April 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

PART II: Green Electricity and Reduction of Energy Taxes for Energy-Intensive Users
State Aid Blogs - m 27 1
Part II: Support of electricity production from renewable energy sources is normally compatible with the internal market. Reduction of taxes on electricity used by energy-intensive industries is allowed only for certain sectors exposed to international trade and only when they bear a certain cost. Taxes on imported electricity normally infringe free-trade and non-discrimination provisions, unless commensurate benefits are extended to […]
read more
No Comments
23. December 2014  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

An Important Project of Common European Interest
State Aid Blogs - An Important Project of Common European Interest
Infrastructure projects which are economic in nature are subject to State aid scrutiny regardless of their importance. However, public funding of transport networks which are open to all users does not constitute State aid. Introduction State aid approval of important projects of common European interest is very rare. The joint Commission decisions SA.36558 and SA.38371 [Denmark] and SA.36662 [Sweden] concerning the […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous Page

State Aid Uncovered ×

23. February 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid May be Limited to Undertakings with Close Links with the National Economy (Part I)
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost8 9 Ryanair
State aid may be used to compensate airlines licensed by domestic authorities for losses incurred as a result of national travel restrictions. Introduction The European Commission acted swiftly to adopt a fairly accommodating and wide-ranging “Temporary Framework” to regulate State aid for the purposes of counter-acting the impact of covid-19. The Temporary Framework was welcomed by both Member States and […]
read more
No Comments
2. June 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

i) Investor-State Arbitration ii) Recovery of Incompatible State Aid iii) State Aid Scoreboard 2019
Euromünzen
Member States abolish bilateral investment treaties between themselves. When the Commission orders recovery of incompatible State aid, interest has to be added to the recoverable amount for the whole period of illegality regardless of any national limitation rules. In 2018, Member States granted EUR 121 billion to industry and services, EUR 6.3 billion to agriculture and EUR 50 billion to […]
read more
No Comments
19. May 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

No New Aid to Undertakings that Have not Yet Repaid Incompatible Aid
Money in Hands
There is no rule in EU law obliging Member States to grant State aid. The European Commission may refuse to authorise aid until previous aid that was found to be incompatible with the internal market is paid back. Temporary Framework: Number of approved covid-19 measures, as of 16 May 2020: 125* Legal basis: Article 107(2)(b): 10; Article 107(3)(b): 105; Article […]
read more
No Comments
31. March 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

How to Make Good the Damage Caused by a Natural Disaster
State Aid Blogs - sergio torres nUw2nIGeGYY unsplash
Compensation for costs incurred as a result of a natural disaster is State aid. The compensation must be for damage directly caused by the natural disaster. Introduction State aid to make good the damage caused by an “exceptional occurrence” such as the corona virus covid-19 is compatible with the internal market. The legal basis for exemption is Article 107(2)(b). Of […]
read more
No Comments
20. March 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A New Temporary State aid Framework to Fight the Effects of the Corona Virus
corona virus poster
Member States will be allowed to provide grants, guarantees and loans to companies to alleviate the effects of the corona virus. Introduction At the end of 2009, the European Commission adopted a Temporary Framework of State aid rules to enable Member States to support companies that were harmed by the outbreak of the financial crisis in 2008. Now, the corona […]
read more
No Comments
13. April 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

PART II: Green Electricity and Reduction of Energy Taxes for Energy-Intensive Users
State Aid Blogs - m 27 1
Part II: Support of electricity production from renewable energy sources is normally compatible with the internal market. Reduction of taxes on electricity used by energy-intensive industries is allowed only for certain sectors exposed to international trade and only when they bear a certain cost. Taxes on imported electricity normally infringe free-trade and non-discrimination provisions, unless commensurate benefits are extended to […]
read more
No Comments
23. December 2014  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

An Important Project of Common European Interest
State Aid Blogs - An Important Project of Common European Interest
Infrastructure projects which are economic in nature are subject to State aid scrutiny regardless of their importance. However, public funding of transport networks which are open to all users does not constitute State aid. Introduction State aid approval of important projects of common European interest is very rare. The joint Commission decisions SA.36558 and SA.38371 [Denmark] and SA.36662 [Sweden] concerning the […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous Page

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on legal developments, upcoming conferences, workshops, and publications in your areas of interest.

Newsletter: Subscribe now