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 ×

11. March 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Financial Transactions between the State and Banks with No State aid
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost10 state guarantees
Capital injections, state guarantees and loans granted to banks can be free of State aid if they are priced at market rates which reflect the risk borne by the state. Introduction If banks can obtain capital, loans and guarantees from the state at market rates why don’t they go directly to the market? No one has yet given a satisfactory […]
read more
No Comments
3. March 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Public Funding of Infrastructure without State Aid
State Aide_Infrastructure
The existence of State aid must be checked at the level of both the direct and indirect beneficiaries who are the owners and users of infrastructure, respectively. If payments to private land owners are to be free of State aid, they must be calculated on the basis of an objective formula that takes into account the size and value of […]
read more
No Comments
25. February 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Environmental Remediation and State Liability
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost8 environmental remediation
Liability assumed by the state for the actions of an undertaking constitutes a selective advantage that may result in potential transfer of state resources in the future. Introduction On 16 January 2020 the General Court delivered its judgment in case T‑257/18, Iberpotash v European Commission.[1] Iberpotash, a Spanish company, appealed against Commission decision 2018/118. Iberpotash owns and operates potash mines […]
read more
No Comments
21. February 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

From Waste to Energy
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost7 waste to energy
State aid to incentivise the use of waste to produce energy must be individually notified. Introduction Waste management is an increasingly important aspect of policies aiming to prevent environmental degradation and slow down climate change. As the market for recycling expands and waste management becomes more profitable, there is also a higher risk of harm to competition by State aid. […]
read more
No Comments
12. February 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

An Important (and so far, Unique) Project of Common European Interest
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost6 microplastics IPCEI
State aid for important R&D projects of common European interest can cover different costs than the RDI Framework and at different rates of intensity. Introduction Several Member States have demanded a more active industrial policy to counteract perceived unfair foreign competition. The Commission’s response has partly been that current rules do allow cross-border cooperation for the development of innovative products. […]
read more
No Comments
4. February 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

How to Compensate for the Extra Cost of Public Service Obligations: Step-by-Step Guidance on a Complex Calculation
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost5 SGEI
The “net avoided cost methodology” takes into account only incremental costs. Introduction The two most difficult issues in the design of State aid measures to support services of general economic interest [SGEI] are the proper definition of the public service obligation [PSO] and the identification of the “counterfactual” on the basis of which the public service compensation [PSC] is calculated. […]
read more
No Comments
28. January 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid Rules in the UK after Brexit: Alignment or Divergence?
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost4 Brexit
The current rules will apply at least until 31 December 2020. Introduction On Saturday, 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom will no longer be a Member of the European Union. Will it then have to abide by EU State aid rules? According to the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, the whole of the UK will […]
read more
No Comments
23. January 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Public Subsidies to Households Can Be State aid
State Aid Blogs - m 44
Support for individual borrowers can be indirect State aid to banks.   Introduction The fact that a public measure has social objectives and aims to help poor households or disadvantaged persons instead of undertakings does not necessarily remove it from the reach of State aid rules. During the past decade, in response to the economic crisis, a number of Member […]
read more
No Comments
14. January 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Exclusive Rights and Legal Monopolies
StateAidHub_LegalMonopolies
State aid rules can apply to sectors which are legal monopolies. Introduction The fact that a company enjoys exclusive rights and operates in a sector covered by a legal monopoly does not necessarily insulate it from State aid rules. This has been confirmed by the Court of Justice in its judgment of 19 December 2019, in case C-385/18, Arriva Italia […]
read more
No Comments
7. January 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Bail-in Is the Responsibility of Member States
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost1 Bail In 2
Commission approval of State aid to bail-out a bank does not give rise to right for compensation for creditors who are bailed-in. Introduction Investors in banks who lost their money have sought compensation both at EU and national level. So far, claims for damages at EU level have been unsuccessful. In some instances, the cases before EU and national courts […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

State Aid Uncovered ×

11. March 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Financial Transactions between the State and Banks with No State aid
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost10 state guarantees
Capital injections, state guarantees and loans granted to banks can be free of State aid if they are priced at market rates which reflect the risk borne by the state. Introduction If banks can obtain capital, loans and guarantees from the state at market rates why don’t they go directly to the market? No one has yet given a satisfactory […]
read more
No Comments
3. March 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Public Funding of Infrastructure without State Aid
State Aide_Infrastructure
The existence of State aid must be checked at the level of both the direct and indirect beneficiaries who are the owners and users of infrastructure, respectively. If payments to private land owners are to be free of State aid, they must be calculated on the basis of an objective formula that takes into account the size and value of […]
read more
No Comments
25. February 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Environmental Remediation and State Liability
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost8 environmental remediation
Liability assumed by the state for the actions of an undertaking constitutes a selective advantage that may result in potential transfer of state resources in the future. Introduction On 16 January 2020 the General Court delivered its judgment in case T‑257/18, Iberpotash v European Commission.[1] Iberpotash, a Spanish company, appealed against Commission decision 2018/118. Iberpotash owns and operates potash mines […]
read more
No Comments
21. February 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

From Waste to Energy
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost7 waste to energy
State aid to incentivise the use of waste to produce energy must be individually notified. Introduction Waste management is an increasingly important aspect of policies aiming to prevent environmental degradation and slow down climate change. As the market for recycling expands and waste management becomes more profitable, there is also a higher risk of harm to competition by State aid. […]
read more
No Comments
12. February 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

An Important (and so far, Unique) Project of Common European Interest
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost6 microplastics IPCEI
State aid for important R&D projects of common European interest can cover different costs than the RDI Framework and at different rates of intensity. Introduction Several Member States have demanded a more active industrial policy to counteract perceived unfair foreign competition. The Commission’s response has partly been that current rules do allow cross-border cooperation for the development of innovative products. […]
read more
No Comments
4. February 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

How to Compensate for the Extra Cost of Public Service Obligations: Step-by-Step Guidance on a Complex Calculation
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost5 SGEI
The “net avoided cost methodology” takes into account only incremental costs. Introduction The two most difficult issues in the design of State aid measures to support services of general economic interest [SGEI] are the proper definition of the public service obligation [PSO] and the identification of the “counterfactual” on the basis of which the public service compensation [PSC] is calculated. […]
read more
No Comments
28. January 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid Rules in the UK after Brexit: Alignment or Divergence?
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost4 Brexit
The current rules will apply at least until 31 December 2020. Introduction On Saturday, 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom will no longer be a Member of the European Union. Will it then have to abide by EU State aid rules? According to the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, the whole of the UK will […]
read more
No Comments
23. January 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Public Subsidies to Households Can Be State aid
State Aid Blogs - m 44
Support for individual borrowers can be indirect State aid to banks.   Introduction The fact that a public measure has social objectives and aims to help poor households or disadvantaged persons instead of undertakings does not necessarily remove it from the reach of State aid rules. During the past decade, in response to the economic crisis, a number of Member […]
read more
No Comments
14. January 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Exclusive Rights and Legal Monopolies
StateAidHub_LegalMonopolies
State aid rules can apply to sectors which are legal monopolies. Introduction The fact that a company enjoys exclusive rights and operates in a sector covered by a legal monopoly does not necessarily insulate it from State aid rules. This has been confirmed by the Court of Justice in its judgment of 19 December 2019, in case C-385/18, Arriva Italia […]
read more
No Comments
7. January 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Bail-in Is the Responsibility of Member States
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost1 Bail In 2
Commission approval of State aid to bail-out a bank does not give rise to right for compensation for creditors who are bailed-in. Introduction Investors in banks who lost their money have sought compensation both at EU and national level. So far, claims for damages at EU level have been unsuccessful. In some instances, the cases before EU and national courts […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

State Aid Uncovered ×

11. March 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Financial Transactions between the State and Banks with No State aid
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost10 state guarantees
Capital injections, state guarantees and loans granted to banks can be free of State aid if they are priced at market rates which reflect the risk borne by the state. Introduction If banks can obtain capital, loans and guarantees from the state at market rates why don’t they go directly to the market? No one has yet given a satisfactory […]
read more
No Comments
3. March 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Public Funding of Infrastructure without State Aid
State Aide_Infrastructure
The existence of State aid must be checked at the level of both the direct and indirect beneficiaries who are the owners and users of infrastructure, respectively. If payments to private land owners are to be free of State aid, they must be calculated on the basis of an objective formula that takes into account the size and value of […]
read more
No Comments
25. February 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Environmental Remediation and State Liability
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost8 environmental remediation
Liability assumed by the state for the actions of an undertaking constitutes a selective advantage that may result in potential transfer of state resources in the future. Introduction On 16 January 2020 the General Court delivered its judgment in case T‑257/18, Iberpotash v European Commission.[1] Iberpotash, a Spanish company, appealed against Commission decision 2018/118. Iberpotash owns and operates potash mines […]
read more
No Comments
21. February 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

From Waste to Energy
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost7 waste to energy
State aid to incentivise the use of waste to produce energy must be individually notified. Introduction Waste management is an increasingly important aspect of policies aiming to prevent environmental degradation and slow down climate change. As the market for recycling expands and waste management becomes more profitable, there is also a higher risk of harm to competition by State aid. […]
read more
No Comments
12. February 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

An Important (and so far, Unique) Project of Common European Interest
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost6 microplastics IPCEI
State aid for important R&D projects of common European interest can cover different costs than the RDI Framework and at different rates of intensity. Introduction Several Member States have demanded a more active industrial policy to counteract perceived unfair foreign competition. The Commission’s response has partly been that current rules do allow cross-border cooperation for the development of innovative products. […]
read more
No Comments
4. February 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

How to Compensate for the Extra Cost of Public Service Obligations: Step-by-Step Guidance on a Complex Calculation
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost5 SGEI
The “net avoided cost methodology” takes into account only incremental costs. Introduction The two most difficult issues in the design of State aid measures to support services of general economic interest [SGEI] are the proper definition of the public service obligation [PSO] and the identification of the “counterfactual” on the basis of which the public service compensation [PSC] is calculated. […]
read more
No Comments
28. January 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid Rules in the UK after Brexit: Alignment or Divergence?
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost4 Brexit
The current rules will apply at least until 31 December 2020. Introduction On Saturday, 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom will no longer be a Member of the European Union. Will it then have to abide by EU State aid rules? According to the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, the whole of the UK will […]
read more
No Comments
23. January 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Public Subsidies to Households Can Be State aid
State Aid Blogs - m 44
Support for individual borrowers can be indirect State aid to banks.   Introduction The fact that a public measure has social objectives and aims to help poor households or disadvantaged persons instead of undertakings does not necessarily remove it from the reach of State aid rules. During the past decade, in response to the economic crisis, a number of Member […]
read more
No Comments
14. January 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Exclusive Rights and Legal Monopolies
StateAidHub_LegalMonopolies
State aid rules can apply to sectors which are legal monopolies. Introduction The fact that a company enjoys exclusive rights and operates in a sector covered by a legal monopoly does not necessarily insulate it from State aid rules. This has been confirmed by the Court of Justice in its judgment of 19 December 2019, in case C-385/18, Arriva Italia […]
read more
No Comments
7. January 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Bail-in Is the Responsibility of Member States
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost1 Bail In 2
Commission approval of State aid to bail-out a bank does not give rise to right for compensation for creditors who are bailed-in. Introduction Investors in banks who lost their money have sought compensation both at EU and national level. So far, claims for damages at EU level have been unsuccessful. In some instances, the cases before EU and national courts […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

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

Newsletter: Subscribe now