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

5. Juni 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Extent of the Discretion of Member States to Define Services of General Economic Interest (SGEI)

State Aid Blogs - SAH Blogpost 22 SGEI

A service is classified as an SGEI not only when it is important for citizens but also when the market does not adequately supply it and one or more undertakings are compelled to provide it to specified consumers, in specified areas and on specified terms. Introduction The Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and the case law […]

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29. Mai 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Exemptions from Product-Specific Taxes

State Aid Blogs - SAH Blogpost 21 Product Tax

Tax exemptions do not constitute State aid when they aim to induce change in the behaviour of consumers, when they distinguish between harmful products and non-harmful products and for reasons of administrative simplicity. Introduction In the past two weeks, an article was published in two parts criticising the judgments of the Court of Justice in three cases of […]

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22. Mai 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Exemption from Taxes that Protect the Environment May not be Selective – Part II

State Aid Blogs - victor xok gFjGZ2qRZOo unsplash

Member States have discretion to impose taxes that penalise environmentally harmful activities. Exemption of undertakings whose activities do not harm the environment does not constitute State aid whenever the exempted undertakings are not in a comparable situation. Application of Article 107(1) to the Asturias tax In this case, exempted establishments were those with sales area less than 4000m2 or […]

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15. Mai 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Exemption from Taxes that Protect the Environment May not be Selective – Part I

State Aid Blogs - 14.05.18 Part1 Blog19 Spain Regional Tax

Member States have discretion to impose taxes that penalise environmentally harmful activities. Exemption of undertakings whose activities do not harm the environment does not constitute State aid whenever the exempted undertakings are not in a comparable situation. Application of Article 107(1) to the Asturias tax In this case, exempted establishments were those with sales area less than 4000m2 or […]

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8. Mai 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Dealing with Problematic Banks

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost14 StateAid Lexxion Money Eu Commission Bank Financial

The sale of a bank through a fair, open, competitive and transparent procedure that maximises the value of the assets and liabilities is free of State aid. Introduction This week’s article returns to the theme of State aid to banks and examines a case of “precautionary” recapitalisation and a case of sale of a bank, that was linked to […]

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2. Mai 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Public Service Obligations

State Aid Blogs - 02.05.2018 SA POL UK SGEI

Compensation for public service obligations may be fixed at less than the net extra costs of the provider of the public service to induce it to become more efficient. Introduction Every three years the UK determines the compensation it provides to the Post Office Limited (POL) for the extra costs of the public services it provides. Commission decision […]

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24. April 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Liquidity Support to Banks

State Aid Blogs - 24.04.2018 StateAid Banks MPS

Banks that receive State aid are considered to be failing banks, except when the aid is granted to solvent banks for the purpose of precautionary recapitalisation or temporary liquidity. Introduction During the past decade, large amounts of public funds have been committed to shore up failing or illiquid banks. Under current banking rules, the mere fact that a […]

2 Kommentare

17. April 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Complaints about Billboards and Welfare Services

State Aid Blogs - 17.04.2018 State aid Billboard

A regulatory measure may affect competition but it does not constitute State aid. Administrative changes to existing aid measures do not result in new State aid. Introduction This article reviews two Commission decisions: one concerning a Czech regulatory measure and another concerning existing aid to German social organisations. Both decisions dealt with complaints about alleged illegal State aid. […]

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10. April 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

What Makes a Public Health Care System Non-economic?

State Aid Blogs - 10.04.18 HealthCare StateAid Economic

Health services are not economic in nature when they are funded by the state through taxation, they are provided for free or at a nominal fee which is the same for all patients and they are available to all citizens on a universal basis and on the same terms. Introduction After the judgment of the General Court of […]

2 Kommentare

3. April 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Advantage through Contracts

State Aid Blogs - ah life rd2jRzEum9g unsplash

A price below the regulated normal price confers an advantage. Competition is distorted even when the aid recipient does not expand its operations. Introduction An undertaking can obtain an advantage without receiving an outright grant. The advantage may be hidden in a contract for the supply of an essential input at reduced prices. This is the issue tackled by […]

4 Kommentare

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4. Oktober 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Necessity and Proportionality of Regional Aid

State Aid Blogs - m 5 1

The Commission must open the formal investigation procedure when it has serious doubts about the compatibility of State aid. The aid that is necessary to induce a company to locate its investment in an assisted region is the amount that covers the difference in costs between the assisted region and the best alternative location. This amount is also proportional. […]

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26. September 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Odysseus and the Sirens: A Rational Market Operator Can Agree to be Bound by the Ruling of an Arbitration Tribunal

State Aid Blogs - m 6 1

A rational market operator can agree to arbitration if there is no reasonable prospect of a better outcome. However, a rational operator would ensure that the terms according to which an arbitration decision can be taken would be defined in advance and would not be prejudicial to the operator. Introduction Is it rational for a market operator to agree […]

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19. September 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Calculating the Amount of State Aid in a 100% Public Guarantee

State Aid Blogs - CCH tate aid infratructure

The proxy rates in the Commission Notice on Guarantees cannot be used in cases of state guarantees that cover 100% of the underlying loans. Introduction Last week’s article reviewed the terms of the operation of regional airports in Greece. (View it here). This week’s article continues with the theme of management of public infrastructure and examines Commission decision SA.42545 on […]

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12. September 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Concession Agreements Free of State Aid

State Aid Blogs - concessions State aid airports

Awards of concession contracts should follow a procedure which is open, transparent, non-discriminatory and unconditional. Prices may be regulated to prevent excessive prices and profits. But, the concession fee may be adjusted to enable the concessionaire to earn a sufficient return. Introduction This article examines the link between State aid and concession agreements. In decision SA.44259, the Commission considered […]

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5. September 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Sale, Liquidation and Other Options for Private Investors

State Aid Blogs - m 33

A private investor chooses the less costly option between selling a company at a loss and liquidating it. In addition to avoiding losses, a private investor also cares for its image, quantifies its value and factors it in the sale or liquidation option. Introduction On 6 July 2017, the General Court ruled in two closely related cases: T-74/14, France […]

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29. August 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Bank Recapitalisation that Conforms to the Market Economy Investor Principle

State Aid Blogs - m 7

A public authority acts like a private investor when it injects capital in a stricken bank if there is a realistic prospect of sufficient return that compensates it for the risk it bears. Introduction Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) is the largest bank in Portugal and is now fully owned by the State. In June 2012, Portugal notified to […]

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22. August 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid Is Not Compatible With the Internal Market when it Contravenes other EU Rules

State Aid Blogs - m 4 1

Relief from a penalty imposed by EU rules is State aid that is incompatible with the internal market. Introduction EU rules contain a standard exclusion: State aid cannot be declared compatible with the internal market when it is non-severable [i.e. cannot be separated] from a violation of EU law. Yet, cases involving non-severable violations of EU law are rare. […]

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15. August 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Exceptions to the Exceptional Nature of State Aid for Banks

State Aid Blogs - m 4

State aid for banks can be granted without triggering resolution in cases of precautionary recapitalisation and liquidation. Introduction A primary objective of the European response to the financial crisis was to sever the link between troubled banks and indebted sovereign. The principle now is that if a bank needs money to meet the capital adequacy ratio required by banking […]

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8. August 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Sale of State-Owned Bank

State Aid Blogs - 01.11.17 State aid

The sale of a public asset is free of State aid when it is open, transparent, non-discriminatory, unconditional and the award is made to the highest binding and credible offer. Introduction The rules on State aid to financial institutions and banks have become very strict. Owners and creditors have to be bailed in [the so-called burden sharing] and the […]

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1. August 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Collective Insolvency and the GBER

State Aid Blogs - m 8

The eligibility of an aid applicant and the legality of the aid are determined at the point when the aid is granted. If afterwards the aid recipient ceases to be an SME or enters in financial difficulties it is not a relevant issue. Introduction When Member States grant aid on the basis of the General Block Exemption Regulation [Regulation […]

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