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 ×

1. June 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

How Injection of Public Capital Can Be Free of State Aid
State Aid Blogs - m 1 4
Injection of public capital in an undertaking conforms with the market economy investor principle when: The public investment is equal and concomitant to private investment. The public investment has economic significance and is not followed by disengagement of private investors. The recipient undertaking is in a healthy financial position. The recipient undertaking compares favourably to its peers. The investment is […]
read more
No Comments
27. May 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Restructuring Aid, Recovery of Aid and Procedural Rights
State Aid Blogs - m 13 2
Restructuring aid can finance any part of a restructuring plan. Compensatory measures initiated before the granting of restructuring aid can be taken into account as long as they are linked to the restructuring itself. Member States have to comply with the conditions defined in Commission decisions. They cannot justify non-compliance on the grounds of domestic institutional difficulties. Regional authorities that […]
read more
No Comments
19. May 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Public Service Obligations: A Few More Mistakes that Can Be Avoided
State Aid Blogs - m 14 2
Even efficient companies will fail the 4th Altmark criterion if their costs are not proven to be comparable to those of a typical and well-equipped undertaking. Public funding of infrastructure is not State aid to users only if access is open to all. Public funding for training to raise social awareness is still State aid if it relieves companies of […]
read more
No Comments
12. May 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A National Measure that Does Not Apply at Regional Level Is Not Necessarily Selective
State Aid Blogs - m 15 2
Where there is a constitutional division of tax competences, different authorities may tax similar activities at different rates.   Introduction This article examines Commission decision SA.34469 on differential tax rates for online and land-based gambling in Spain.[1] In the Spanish political system, regions that have the status of Autonomous Communities have powers of taxation. The issue at hand was which authority […]
read more
No Comments
6. May 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A Market Operator, unlike a Public Authority, Does not Have to Treat all Customers Equally
State Aid Blogs - m 16 2
In managing infrastructure, a public authority acts as a private operator when it seeks a reasonable return on its investment and also takes into account the alternative of not operating the infrastructure. The manager of an infrastructural project may charge different fees to different users to optimise usage and increase revenue.   Introduction This article reviews Commission decision 2015/506 concerning […]
read more
No Comments
29. April 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Do Free but Compulsory Tests Confer a Selective Advantage?
State Aid Blogs - m 27
State aid rules apply to measures which are either harmonised at EU level or are left to the discretion of Member States. The protection of public health is no sufficient reason for removing a public measure from the scope of Article 107(1). The fact that undertakings are obliged by law to comply with certain tests does not justify the subsidisation […]
read more
No Comments
20. April 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Land Development
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost47 Finance lexxion GBER SMEs
The sale of land and buildings owned by a public authority conforms with the market economy operator principle when i) it is profitable, ii) there is no alternative transaction that is economically more attractive, and iii) the sale is as profitable as similar transactions concluded at the same time.   Introduction The article examines Commission decision 2015/507 concerning the sale […]
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
7. April 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Green Electricity and Reduction of Energy Taxes for Energy-Intensive Users
State Aid Blogs - m 27 1
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 imported electricity. […]
read more
No Comments
1. April 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Guarantees
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost39 promotionalbank
The amount of State aid in a guarantee that makes possible the granting of a loan to a well-collateralised firm in difficulty is not the difference in premium but the difference in interest rates. Beneficiaries of guarantees not notified to the Commission do not have any remedy under EU law. Introduction   Last week’s article examined State aid in the […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

State Aid Uncovered ×

1. June 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

How Injection of Public Capital Can Be Free of State Aid
State Aid Blogs - m 1 4
Injection of public capital in an undertaking conforms with the market economy investor principle when: The public investment is equal and concomitant to private investment. The public investment has economic significance and is not followed by disengagement of private investors. The recipient undertaking is in a healthy financial position. The recipient undertaking compares favourably to its peers. The investment is […]
read more
No Comments
27. May 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Restructuring Aid, Recovery of Aid and Procedural Rights
State Aid Blogs - m 13 2
Restructuring aid can finance any part of a restructuring plan. Compensatory measures initiated before the granting of restructuring aid can be taken into account as long as they are linked to the restructuring itself. Member States have to comply with the conditions defined in Commission decisions. They cannot justify non-compliance on the grounds of domestic institutional difficulties. Regional authorities that […]
read more
No Comments
19. May 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Public Service Obligations: A Few More Mistakes that Can Be Avoided
State Aid Blogs - m 14 2
Even efficient companies will fail the 4th Altmark criterion if their costs are not proven to be comparable to those of a typical and well-equipped undertaking. Public funding of infrastructure is not State aid to users only if access is open to all. Public funding for training to raise social awareness is still State aid if it relieves companies of […]
read more
No Comments
12. May 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A National Measure that Does Not Apply at Regional Level Is Not Necessarily Selective
State Aid Blogs - m 15 2
Where there is a constitutional division of tax competences, different authorities may tax similar activities at different rates.   Introduction This article examines Commission decision SA.34469 on differential tax rates for online and land-based gambling in Spain.[1] In the Spanish political system, regions that have the status of Autonomous Communities have powers of taxation. The issue at hand was which authority […]
read more
No Comments
6. May 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A Market Operator, unlike a Public Authority, Does not Have to Treat all Customers Equally
State Aid Blogs - m 16 2
In managing infrastructure, a public authority acts as a private operator when it seeks a reasonable return on its investment and also takes into account the alternative of not operating the infrastructure. The manager of an infrastructural project may charge different fees to different users to optimise usage and increase revenue.   Introduction This article reviews Commission decision 2015/506 concerning […]
read more
No Comments
29. April 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Do Free but Compulsory Tests Confer a Selective Advantage?
State Aid Blogs - m 27
State aid rules apply to measures which are either harmonised at EU level or are left to the discretion of Member States. The protection of public health is no sufficient reason for removing a public measure from the scope of Article 107(1). The fact that undertakings are obliged by law to comply with certain tests does not justify the subsidisation […]
read more
No Comments
20. April 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Land Development
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost47 Finance lexxion GBER SMEs
The sale of land and buildings owned by a public authority conforms with the market economy operator principle when i) it is profitable, ii) there is no alternative transaction that is economically more attractive, and iii) the sale is as profitable as similar transactions concluded at the same time.   Introduction The article examines Commission decision 2015/507 concerning the sale […]
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
7. April 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Green Electricity and Reduction of Energy Taxes for Energy-Intensive Users
State Aid Blogs - m 27 1
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 imported electricity. […]
read more
No Comments
1. April 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Guarantees
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost39 promotionalbank
The amount of State aid in a guarantee that makes possible the granting of a loan to a well-collateralised firm in difficulty is not the difference in premium but the difference in interest rates. Beneficiaries of guarantees not notified to the Commission do not have any remedy under EU law. Introduction   Last week’s article examined State aid in the […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

State Aid Uncovered ×

1. June 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

How Injection of Public Capital Can Be Free of State Aid
State Aid Blogs - m 1 4
Injection of public capital in an undertaking conforms with the market economy investor principle when: The public investment is equal and concomitant to private investment. The public investment has economic significance and is not followed by disengagement of private investors. The recipient undertaking is in a healthy financial position. The recipient undertaking compares favourably to its peers. The investment is […]
read more
No Comments
27. May 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Restructuring Aid, Recovery of Aid and Procedural Rights
State Aid Blogs - m 13 2
Restructuring aid can finance any part of a restructuring plan. Compensatory measures initiated before the granting of restructuring aid can be taken into account as long as they are linked to the restructuring itself. Member States have to comply with the conditions defined in Commission decisions. They cannot justify non-compliance on the grounds of domestic institutional difficulties. Regional authorities that […]
read more
No Comments
19. May 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Public Service Obligations: A Few More Mistakes that Can Be Avoided
State Aid Blogs - m 14 2
Even efficient companies will fail the 4th Altmark criterion if their costs are not proven to be comparable to those of a typical and well-equipped undertaking. Public funding of infrastructure is not State aid to users only if access is open to all. Public funding for training to raise social awareness is still State aid if it relieves companies of […]
read more
No Comments
12. May 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A National Measure that Does Not Apply at Regional Level Is Not Necessarily Selective
State Aid Blogs - m 15 2
Where there is a constitutional division of tax competences, different authorities may tax similar activities at different rates.   Introduction This article examines Commission decision SA.34469 on differential tax rates for online and land-based gambling in Spain.[1] In the Spanish political system, regions that have the status of Autonomous Communities have powers of taxation. The issue at hand was which authority […]
read more
No Comments
6. May 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A Market Operator, unlike a Public Authority, Does not Have to Treat all Customers Equally
State Aid Blogs - m 16 2
In managing infrastructure, a public authority acts as a private operator when it seeks a reasonable return on its investment and also takes into account the alternative of not operating the infrastructure. The manager of an infrastructural project may charge different fees to different users to optimise usage and increase revenue.   Introduction This article reviews Commission decision 2015/506 concerning […]
read more
No Comments
29. April 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Do Free but Compulsory Tests Confer a Selective Advantage?
State Aid Blogs - m 27
State aid rules apply to measures which are either harmonised at EU level or are left to the discretion of Member States. The protection of public health is no sufficient reason for removing a public measure from the scope of Article 107(1). The fact that undertakings are obliged by law to comply with certain tests does not justify the subsidisation […]
read more
No Comments
20. April 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Land Development
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost47 Finance lexxion GBER SMEs
The sale of land and buildings owned by a public authority conforms with the market economy operator principle when i) it is profitable, ii) there is no alternative transaction that is economically more attractive, and iii) the sale is as profitable as similar transactions concluded at the same time.   Introduction The article examines Commission decision 2015/507 concerning the sale […]
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
7. April 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Green Electricity and Reduction of Energy Taxes for Energy-Intensive Users
State Aid Blogs - m 27 1
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 imported electricity. […]
read more
No Comments
1. April 2015  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Guarantees
State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost39 promotionalbank
The amount of State aid in a guarantee that makes possible the granting of a loan to a well-collateralised firm in difficulty is not the difference in premium but the difference in interest rates. Beneficiaries of guarantees not notified to the Commission do not have any remedy under EU law. Introduction   Last week’s article examined State aid in the […]
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