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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State Aid Uncovered ×

21. March 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Support for Illiquid but Solvent Banks
State Aid Blogs - m 27
State aid may be granted to solvent banks which face temporary liquidity difficulties.   Introduction State aid rules have their own logic and are applied independently of other policy areas. However, in certain situations, the Commission enforces State aid rules in conjunction with linked provisions in other fields. A typical example is taxes levied on agricultural products to raise revenue […]
read more
No Comments
14. March 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

PART II: Ex Ante Assessment and Ex Post Evaluation of Risk Finance Measures
State Aid Blogs - 21.11.State resources State control
A well-designed State aid measure is preceded by a rigorous ex ante study that identifies market failure. The objectives of a well-designed measure address directly the nature and magnitude of the identified market failure. Read PART I: Ex Ante Assessment and Ex Post Evaluation of Risk Finance Measures from 7 March 2017. Ex Post Evaluation Plan Ex post evaluation focuses on i) […]
read more
No Comments
7. March 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

PART I: Ex Ante Assessment and Ex Post Evaluation of Risk Finance Measures
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost23
A well-designed State aid measure is preceded by a rigorous ex ante study that identifies market failure. The objectives of a well-designed measure address directly the nature and magnitude of the identified market failure.   Introduction The European Commission has approved, with decision SA.40991, amendments to two existing aid measures: Enterprise Investment Scheme [EIS] and Venture Capital Trust [VCT] in […]
read more
No Comments
1. March 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Lexxion Publisher

Court’s Diary – March 2017
State Aid Blogs - 117048243 7cc6bb0b87 z
Find below the court’s diary for all State aid cases this month. Would you like to write a comment on one of them? Please don’t hesitate and get in touch with us ([email protected]), we are happy to publish your comment on the blog.   Wednesday 01/03/2017Judgment in Case T-167/14 – France v Commission (General Court – Sixth Chamber)Judgment in Case T-454/13 – SNCM v […]
read more
No Comments
28. February 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for R&D: What Is Research?
State Aid Blogs - m 29
Adapting know-how for the needs of clients is not research. Aid for projects for which there is no demand is not in the common interest.   Introduction The purpose of research is to discover something new. But what is often difficult to define for public authorities that wish to stimulate more research activities is how new must be the outcome […]
read more
No Comments
21. February 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for R&D: How Intermediaries Pass on Aid to Third Parties
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost46 incompatible StateAid
Operators of research infrastructure do not benefit from State aid, if they fully pass on the aid to the users of the infrastructure. The amount of aid must be quantified. Introduction The beneficiaries of State aid to support R&D are normally those who carry out research. However, in the case of aid to research infrastructure there may be two categories […]
read more
1 Comment
14. February 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

How to Calculate a Transparent Amount of State Aid in Public Guarantees
State Aid Blogs - m 31
State aid granted in the form of public guarantees is transparent aid when it is calculated according to the methodology of the 2008 Commission notice or a methodology that is notified to and approved by the Commission.   Introduction Aid to farmers, small enterprises or revenue-generating projects is often given in the form of state guarantees. This is because what […]
read more
No Comments
7. February 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Scope of Public Service Obligations
State Aid Blogs - m 32
Public service obligations may cover both profitable and unprofitable segments of the market.   Introduction 18 January 2017, the General Court delivered its judgment in case T-92/11 RENV, Jørgen Andersen, v European Commission.[1] Mr Andersen appealed against Commission Decision 2011/3 which concluded that public service contracts between the Danish Ministry of Transport and Danske Statsbaner [DSB], the incumbent train operator, contained […]
read more
No Comments
31. January 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Financial Cooperatives
State Aid Blogs - m 33
National courts may not question Commission decisions but they may ask the Court of Justice for guidance on how to interpret Commission decisions. Protection of shareholders of a particular category of companies is a selective measure. Introduction This is the last article dealing with the judgments that were rendered by EU courts on 21 December 2016. This article reviews the reply […]
read more
No Comments
17. January 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Part II: Developments on the Concepts of Advantage and Selectivity
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost2 2019 lexxion stateaid airports
The advantage conferred by State aid is not necessarily equivalent to the economic benefit that is eventually enjoyed by aid recipients. Incompatible State aid has to be repaid regardless of whether it is passed on to the customers of the aid recipients. Undertakings derive an advantage when state intervention reduces the costs they would bear under “normal market conditions” whereby […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

State Aid Uncovered ×

21. March 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Support for Illiquid but Solvent Banks
State Aid Blogs - m 27
State aid may be granted to solvent banks which face temporary liquidity difficulties.   Introduction State aid rules have their own logic and are applied independently of other policy areas. However, in certain situations, the Commission enforces State aid rules in conjunction with linked provisions in other fields. A typical example is taxes levied on agricultural products to raise revenue […]
read more
No Comments
14. March 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

PART II: Ex Ante Assessment and Ex Post Evaluation of Risk Finance Measures
State Aid Blogs - 21.11.State resources State control
A well-designed State aid measure is preceded by a rigorous ex ante study that identifies market failure. The objectives of a well-designed measure address directly the nature and magnitude of the identified market failure. Read PART I: Ex Ante Assessment and Ex Post Evaluation of Risk Finance Measures from 7 March 2017. Ex Post Evaluation Plan Ex post evaluation focuses on i) […]
read more
No Comments
7. March 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

PART I: Ex Ante Assessment and Ex Post Evaluation of Risk Finance Measures
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost23
A well-designed State aid measure is preceded by a rigorous ex ante study that identifies market failure. The objectives of a well-designed measure address directly the nature and magnitude of the identified market failure.   Introduction The European Commission has approved, with decision SA.40991, amendments to two existing aid measures: Enterprise Investment Scheme [EIS] and Venture Capital Trust [VCT] in […]
read more
No Comments
1. March 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Lexxion Publisher

Court’s Diary – March 2017
State Aid Blogs - 117048243 7cc6bb0b87 z
Find below the court’s diary for all State aid cases this month. Would you like to write a comment on one of them? Please don’t hesitate and get in touch with us ([email protected]), we are happy to publish your comment on the blog.   Wednesday 01/03/2017Judgment in Case T-167/14 – France v Commission (General Court – Sixth Chamber)Judgment in Case T-454/13 – SNCM v […]
read more
No Comments
28. February 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for R&D: What Is Research?
State Aid Blogs - m 29
Adapting know-how for the needs of clients is not research. Aid for projects for which there is no demand is not in the common interest.   Introduction The purpose of research is to discover something new. But what is often difficult to define for public authorities that wish to stimulate more research activities is how new must be the outcome […]
read more
No Comments
21. February 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for R&D: How Intermediaries Pass on Aid to Third Parties
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost46 incompatible StateAid
Operators of research infrastructure do not benefit from State aid, if they fully pass on the aid to the users of the infrastructure. The amount of aid must be quantified. Introduction The beneficiaries of State aid to support R&D are normally those who carry out research. However, in the case of aid to research infrastructure there may be two categories […]
read more
1 Comment
14. February 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

How to Calculate a Transparent Amount of State Aid in Public Guarantees
State Aid Blogs - m 31
State aid granted in the form of public guarantees is transparent aid when it is calculated according to the methodology of the 2008 Commission notice or a methodology that is notified to and approved by the Commission.   Introduction Aid to farmers, small enterprises or revenue-generating projects is often given in the form of state guarantees. This is because what […]
read more
No Comments
7. February 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Scope of Public Service Obligations
State Aid Blogs - m 32
Public service obligations may cover both profitable and unprofitable segments of the market.   Introduction 18 January 2017, the General Court delivered its judgment in case T-92/11 RENV, Jørgen Andersen, v European Commission.[1] Mr Andersen appealed against Commission Decision 2011/3 which concluded that public service contracts between the Danish Ministry of Transport and Danske Statsbaner [DSB], the incumbent train operator, contained […]
read more
No Comments
31. January 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Financial Cooperatives
State Aid Blogs - m 33
National courts may not question Commission decisions but they may ask the Court of Justice for guidance on how to interpret Commission decisions. Protection of shareholders of a particular category of companies is a selective measure. Introduction This is the last article dealing with the judgments that were rendered by EU courts on 21 December 2016. This article reviews the reply […]
read more
No Comments
17. January 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Part II: Developments on the Concepts of Advantage and Selectivity
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost2 2019 lexxion stateaid airports
The advantage conferred by State aid is not necessarily equivalent to the economic benefit that is eventually enjoyed by aid recipients. Incompatible State aid has to be repaid regardless of whether it is passed on to the customers of the aid recipients. Undertakings derive an advantage when state intervention reduces the costs they would bear under “normal market conditions” whereby […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

State Aid Uncovered ×

21. March 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Support for Illiquid but Solvent Banks
State Aid Blogs - m 27
State aid may be granted to solvent banks which face temporary liquidity difficulties.   Introduction State aid rules have their own logic and are applied independently of other policy areas. However, in certain situations, the Commission enforces State aid rules in conjunction with linked provisions in other fields. A typical example is taxes levied on agricultural products to raise revenue […]
read more
No Comments
14. March 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

PART II: Ex Ante Assessment and Ex Post Evaluation of Risk Finance Measures
State Aid Blogs - 21.11.State resources State control
A well-designed State aid measure is preceded by a rigorous ex ante study that identifies market failure. The objectives of a well-designed measure address directly the nature and magnitude of the identified market failure. Read PART I: Ex Ante Assessment and Ex Post Evaluation of Risk Finance Measures from 7 March 2017. Ex Post Evaluation Plan Ex post evaluation focuses on i) […]
read more
No Comments
7. March 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

PART I: Ex Ante Assessment and Ex Post Evaluation of Risk Finance Measures
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost23
A well-designed State aid measure is preceded by a rigorous ex ante study that identifies market failure. The objectives of a well-designed measure address directly the nature and magnitude of the identified market failure.   Introduction The European Commission has approved, with decision SA.40991, amendments to two existing aid measures: Enterprise Investment Scheme [EIS] and Venture Capital Trust [VCT] in […]
read more
No Comments
1. March 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Lexxion Publisher

Court’s Diary – March 2017
State Aid Blogs - 117048243 7cc6bb0b87 z
Find below the court’s diary for all State aid cases this month. Would you like to write a comment on one of them? Please don’t hesitate and get in touch with us ([email protected]), we are happy to publish your comment on the blog.   Wednesday 01/03/2017Judgment in Case T-167/14 – France v Commission (General Court – Sixth Chamber)Judgment in Case T-454/13 – SNCM v […]
read more
No Comments
28. February 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for R&D: What Is Research?
State Aid Blogs - m 29
Adapting know-how for the needs of clients is not research. Aid for projects for which there is no demand is not in the common interest.   Introduction The purpose of research is to discover something new. But what is often difficult to define for public authorities that wish to stimulate more research activities is how new must be the outcome […]
read more
No Comments
21. February 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for R&D: How Intermediaries Pass on Aid to Third Parties
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost46 incompatible StateAid
Operators of research infrastructure do not benefit from State aid, if they fully pass on the aid to the users of the infrastructure. The amount of aid must be quantified. Introduction The beneficiaries of State aid to support R&D are normally those who carry out research. However, in the case of aid to research infrastructure there may be two categories […]
read more
1 Comment
14. February 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

How to Calculate a Transparent Amount of State Aid in Public Guarantees
State Aid Blogs - m 31
State aid granted in the form of public guarantees is transparent aid when it is calculated according to the methodology of the 2008 Commission notice or a methodology that is notified to and approved by the Commission.   Introduction Aid to farmers, small enterprises or revenue-generating projects is often given in the form of state guarantees. This is because what […]
read more
No Comments
7. February 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Scope of Public Service Obligations
State Aid Blogs - m 32
Public service obligations may cover both profitable and unprofitable segments of the market.   Introduction 18 January 2017, the General Court delivered its judgment in case T-92/11 RENV, Jørgen Andersen, v European Commission.[1] Mr Andersen appealed against Commission Decision 2011/3 which concluded that public service contracts between the Danish Ministry of Transport and Danske Statsbaner [DSB], the incumbent train operator, contained […]
read more
No Comments
31. January 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Financial Cooperatives
State Aid Blogs - m 33
National courts may not question Commission decisions but they may ask the Court of Justice for guidance on how to interpret Commission decisions. Protection of shareholders of a particular category of companies is a selective measure. Introduction This is the last article dealing with the judgments that were rendered by EU courts on 21 December 2016. This article reviews the reply […]
read more
No Comments
17. January 2017  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Part II: Developments on the Concepts of Advantage and Selectivity
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost2 2019 lexxion stateaid airports
The advantage conferred by State aid is not necessarily equivalent to the economic benefit that is eventually enjoyed by aid recipients. Incompatible State aid has to be repaid regardless of whether it is passed on to the customers of the aid recipients. Undertakings derive an advantage when state intervention reduces the costs they would bear under “normal market conditions” whereby […]
read more
No Comments
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