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

3. April 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Advantage through Contracts

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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

27. März 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Correct Pricing for the Use of Publicly Funded Infrastructure

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Publicly funded infrastructure must be made available to users at prices that correspond to its market value. Introduction When publicly-funded infrastructure is placed at the disposal of an undertaking, that undertaking must pay a market price, otherwise it derives an advantage in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU. But what is the market price? Is it the price […]

1 Kommentar

20. März 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Private Creditor v Private Investor

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A private investor never agrees to an unprofitable transaction while a private creditor may agree to a loss in order to avoid a bigger loss from non-recovery of debt owed to it. A public authority acting as a private operator must disregard any losses it may incur from State aid it granted in the past. Introduction A question […]

1 Kommentar

13. März 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

What Is and What Is not Export Aid

State Aid Blogs - 13.03. Trade StateAid deminimis

The prohibition of export aid prevents distortions in the internal market. Therefore, it cannot be considered as restricting intra-EU trade. Aid is classified as export aid only if it has a direct impact on exports. The incidental and indirect effect on exports of investment aid is not sufficient to categorise it as export aid. Introduction On 28 February 2018, […]

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6. März 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for R&D

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A large amount of State aid can still be compatible with the internal market if it meets all of the requirements of the RDI Framework. Introduction Since the coming into force of the GBER, only very few cases of R&D have been notified to the Commission. This means that it is not so obvious how the State aid […]

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27. Februar 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Economic Activities in a System of Social Solidarity

State Aid Blogs - 27.02.18 Economic Activities HealthInsurance State Aid

Entities that pursue profit must be classified as undertakings. Introduction On 5 February 2018, the General Court annulled Commission decision 2015/248 concerning health insurance in Slovakia [see judgment in case T‑216/15, Dôvera zdravotná poist’ovňa et al v European Commission].[1] The Commission decision was reviewed here on 10 March 2015.(View article at http://stateaidhub.eu/blogs/stateaiduncovered/post/1707.)The Commission had concluded that the providers of health […]

5 Kommentare

20. Februar 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

What Happens when Things Go Wrong

State Aid Blogs - 20.02.18 StateAid

Only EU institutions can provide assurances that aid is granted legally. The amount of State aid in a state guarantee given to a company in difficulty can be equal to the amount of the guaranteed loan. The simultaneity of public and private investments is not enough to ensure that the public investment is at market terms. They must also be […]

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13. Februar 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Investment in Airport Infrastructure

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Public funding of infrastructure used for non-economic purposes does not constitute State aid. Public investment in infrastructure used for economic purposes does not constitute State aid if the investment can generate a return that is acceptable to a private investor. Introduction On 25 January 2018, the General Court ruled in case T-818/14, Brussels South Charleroi Airport v Commission.[1] Brussels […]

1 Kommentar

6. Februar 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

How a Private Investor Behaves: EDF v Commission

State Aid Blogs - 17.10. imputability stateaid

A private investor carries out an assessment of the prospective profitability of a company before it invests in it. Ex post assessment is not sufficient. Evidence that the investment is likely to be profitable is not enough. The return must be high enough to satisfy a private investor in a similar situation (by compensating it for the risk it assumes). […]

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30. Januar 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Puzzle of the State Acting as a Regulator

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When the state exercises its regulatory tasks, it does not have to demand fees and therefore it does not forgo potential state resources. Introduction A few weeks ago the Commission considered whether the regulatory actions of the state fell within the scope of Article 107(1) TFEU. In decision SA.42028 concerning aid to Yliopiston Apteekki Oy in Finland, the Commission […]

1 Kommentar

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1. März 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Lexxion Publisher

Court’s Diary – March 2017

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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 […]

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28. Februar 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for R&D: What Is Research?

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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 […]

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21. Februar 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von 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 […]

1 Kommentar

14. Februar 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

How to Calculate a Transparent Amount of State Aid in Public Guarantees

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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 […]

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7. Februar 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Scope of Public Service Obligations

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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 […]

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31. Januar 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Financial Cooperatives

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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 […]

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17. Januar 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Part II: Developments on the Concepts of Advantage and Selectivity

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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 […]

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10. Januar 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Developments on the Concepts of Advantage and Selectivity

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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 […]

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3. Januar 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Public Service Obligations and Award for Damages

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Providers of public services must keep separate accounts. The parameters for calculating the compensation for the extra costs of public services must be determined in advance. Awards for damages do not constitute State aid. However, no damages can be awarded as a substitute for incompatible State aid. Introduction It is often asked how compensation measures for public service obligations […]

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27. Dezember 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Funding of the Spanish Public Broadcaster and Hypothecation of Taxes

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Tax payers have grounds to object to a tax on the basis of Article 107(1) TFEU only when the tax is “asymmetrical” or when it is “hypothecated” to an aid measure. Introduction On 10 November 2016, the Court of Justice ruled in case C‑449/14 P, DTS v European Commission.[1] DTS, a Spanish television company, appealed against the judgment of the General […]

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