Europäisches Beihilfenrecht Blog

State Aid Uncovered Blog

In Lexxions Blog „State Aid Uncovered” veröffentlicht Prof. Phedon Nicolaides wöchentlich kritische Analysen zu den neuesten Urteilen und Entscheidungen zu staatlichen Beihilfen. Jeder Beitrag stellt die wichtigsten Punkte eines Gerichtsurteils oder einer EU-Kommissionsentscheidung vor, ordnet sie in den Kontext ähnlicher Rechtsprechung oder Praxis ein, bewertet die zugrundeliegende Argumentation und zeigt etwaige Ungereimtheiten oder Widersprüche auf.

In loser Folge werden auf diesem Blog auch Gastbeiträge von anderen Experten für staatliche Beihilfen veröffentlicht, welche die Inhalte der Blogbeiträge ergänzen.

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

23. März 2021 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Exclusive Rights and State Aid

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost12 Poste Italiane

Exclusive rights may constitute State aid if they mandate payments with resources over which the state can exercise control. Compensation for the cost of public service obligations may be granted only if the obligations are clear and define a service that is different from market services. Introduction Article 106(1) TFEU requires Member States not to distort competition when they grant […]

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16. März 2021 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Pan-European Guarantee Fund: The First State Aid Instrument at EU Level

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost11 Funds

The Fund managed by the EIB constitutes State aid granted collectively by participating Member States. Introduction One of the many responses of the European Union to the economic harm wreaked by the pandemic was the establishment of the Pan-European Guarantee Fund [the Fund] by the European Investment Bank. Member States were invited to contribute to the Fund. This is both […]

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9. März 2021 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Can the Decision of a Private Entity be Imputed to the State?

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost7 Bank Italy

A measure is imputable to the state whenever the state is involved in its adoption or shapes the decision that leads to its adoption. Introduction One of the trickiest aspects of determining whether a financial transaction involves State aid is its attribution or imputation to a decision of the state, especially when the entity providing the funding is private. Private […]

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2. März 2021 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid May be Limited to Undertakings with Close Links with the National Economy (Part II)

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. [In case you have missed part I, you can access it here.] 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 […]

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23. Februar 2021 | State Aid Uncovered von 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 […]

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16. Februar 2021 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Liquidity Assistance to Banks to Counter the Effects of Covid-19

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost7 Bank Italy

Any direct public support of financial institutions affected by covid-19 has to comply with both State aid rules and the rules of the banking union. Introduction The Temporary Framework for State aid to combat covid-19 excludes financial institutions. But it does not mean that banks do not benefit indirectly from State aid granted to other sectors of the economy. This […]

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9. Februar 2021 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The State Acting as a Regulator

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost6 NL gambling

When the state acts as a regulator, it does not have to charge a licence fee that maximises its revenue. Introduction Governments can influence the allocation of resources with at least three instruments: subsidisation, taxation and regulation. All three may contain State aid; if subsidies are selective, if taxes allow for exemptions and if regulation involves charges which are not […]

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2. Februar 2021 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Helsinki Busses, Loans, Article 93 and Indemnification

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost5 Helsinki bus

Bus transportation provided by public authorities constitutes economic activity. Loans given by a public authority to its transport unit have to be priced at market rates. The market value of public assets sold to third parties has to reflect any state indemnities. Temporary Framework The European Commission announced on 28 January 2021 a fifth amendment to the Temporary Framework. [1] […]

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26. Januar 2021 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Training and State Resources

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost4 training

The definition of quality indicators and the establishment of certificates of quality do not amount to control by the state over the resources belonging to non-state entities. Introduction Consider the case of a public university which decides to finance the proposal of one of its researchers to launch a research project in collaboration with a private company. For sure the […]

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19. Januar 2021 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Funding of Public Hospitals

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost3 Hospitals

Public healthcare provided in accordance with the principle of social solidarity is not economic in nature. Introduction There are two sectors where economic and non-economic activities mix and cause potential State aid problems: healthcare and education. Healthcare and education provided by public institutions do not differ much from healthcare and education provided by private institutions. The critical difference is not […]

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19. Mai 2020 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

No New Aid to Undertakings that Have not Yet Repaid Incompatible Aid

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost20 Incompatible Aid

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 […]

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12. Mai 2020 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Advantage Must be Proven, Not Assumed

Road sign "Wrong Way"

The European Commission has to consider whether the private investor principle is applicable in cases of state investments. It is for Member States to prove that their investments conform with the private investor principle. Temporary Framework As of 9 May 2020, the European Commission had approved 113 State aid measures to combat covid-19. Their legal basis was: Article 107(2)(b): 10; […]

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5. Mai 2020 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Non-recovery of Incompatible State aid Is Costly

corona virus poster

Legal and practical difficulties in the recovery of incompatible State aid do not constitute justifiable “absolute impossibility”. Temporary Framework On 1 May, the total number of State aid measures to combat covid-19 approved by the European Commission reached 102. Their legal basis was: Article 107(2)(b): 9; Article 107(3)(b): 86; Article 107(3)(c): 7 Introduction The 2020 Temporary Framework for State […]

2 Kommentare

27. April 2020 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Identification of Undertakings in Difficulty

corona virus poster

A company is in difficulty if, in practice, its accumulated net losses exceed 50% of its subscribed capital, regardless of whether the subscribed capital is formally written down. The classification of a company as being in difficulty is independent of the sector in which it operates and of whether a private investor would be willing to invest in it. Temporary […]

4 Kommentare

20. April 2020 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

How to Price a Guarantee

Football ball on a field

The pricing of a guarantee must take into account not only the financial situation of the borrower but also the value of any collateral. Temporary Framework As of 17 April 2020, the European Commission authorised 61 State aid measures from 23 Member States and the UK to combat covid-19. Introduction State guarantees on loans make up the largest category […]

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14. April 2020 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Errors in State aid Procedures Need not Result in Annulment of a Commission Decision

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost15 airport 2

Interested parties have a right to know how the compatibility of aid with the internal market is assessed. Temporary Framework developments As of 13 April 2020, the European Commission had authorised 51 measures adopted by 23 Member States. According to the statement of the Eurozone finance ministers of 9 April 2020, Member States had provided liquidity in the form of […]

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7. April 2020 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

EU Decisions Override National Decisions on Compensation for Public Service Obligations

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost14 Public Service Obligations 1

The principle of res judicata cannot be used to avoid recovery of incompatible State aid. An update on State aid measures to counter the impact of COVID-19 As of 3 April 2020, the Commission has approved 29 measures submitted by 16 Member States. Article 107(3)(b) is the legal basis for 26 of those measures, while Article 107(2)(b) is the […]

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31. März 2020 | State Aid Uncovered von 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 […]

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20. März 2020 | State Aid Uncovered von 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 […]

6 Kommentare

17. März 2020 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Has an Economic Myth Become a Legal Fact? The Case of Turnover Taxes

State Aid Blogs - Turnover

Progressive turnover taxes are not contrary to the freedom of establishment or the right of equal treatment. Introduction Recent cases involving “turnover” taxes have sparked a debate in the literature and on the conference circuit not only because they raise novel issues but also because of their implications for other taxes which are being mooted by European governments. As Advocate-General […]

2 Kommentare

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