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

24. Mai 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Tax Exemptions Authorised by the Council of the EU

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State aid is an objective concept. When the Commission assesses a measure it has to examine its effects and cannot be bound by a decision of the Council. A beneficiary of State aid cannot entertain legitimate expectations simply because the Commission does not appear to object to the aid. Introduction On 22 April 2016, the General Court rendered its judgment […]

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18. Mai 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

PART II: Regional Development and i) Market Economy Operator Test ii) Services of General Economic Interest

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A market economy operator undertakes activities whose incremental revenue exceeds their incremental costs. A market economy operator ignores costs which are unaffected by those activities. A service of general economic interest has special characteristics that set it apart from other services with positive impact on the economy. Having a positive impact is not enough. Part II: Public tasks and […]

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10. Mai 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

PART I: Regional Development and i) Market Economy Operator Test, ii) Services of General Economic Interest

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A market economy operator undertakes activities whose incremental revenue exceeds their incremental costs. A market economy operator ignores costs which are unaffected by those activities. A service of general economic interest has special characteristics that set it apart from other services with positive impact on the economy. Having a positive impact is not enough. Introduction National and regional authorities […]

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3. Mai 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Calculation of State Aid in Guarantees

State Aid Blogs - 21.11.State resources State control

State guarantees can be used to support loans for working capital. The amount of State aid in guarantees can be calculated to remain below the de minimis threshold of EUR 200,000. Introduction With financial instruments being very much in vogue, there is much interest in the use of guarantees and loans as a means of granting State aid. Therefore, […]

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2. Mai 2016 | Guest State Aid Blog von Lexxion Publisher

Court’s Diary – May 2016

Judge gavel with law books

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. Tuesday 10/05/2016 Judgment in Case T-47/15 – Germany v Commission (General Court – Third Chamber) […]

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18. April 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Who is Aided when a Bank is Resolved?

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Bank resolution may involve State aid. However, the depositors do not normally benefit from State aid, nor do the buyers of the viable assets, if they pay a market price. Any aid normally goes to the remaining, non-performing, assets that are eventually liquidated. Introduction The new bank resolution regime that came into force on 1 January 2016 aims to […]

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12. April 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Private Creditor Test: All Options Must be Taken into Account

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A private investor always takes into account all available information before it makes any investment. Similarly, a private creditor takes into account all available options for recovering the largest possible amount of the money that is due. Such options may include different legal procedures. In assessing alternative options, a private creditor considers not only the amount that may be recovered, […]

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5. April 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Local Infrastructure

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost47 Finance lexxion GBER SMEs

Public funding of local infrastructure is not State aid when the responsibility for the infrastructure falls within the remit of public authorities, it is not commercially exploited, it is open to all users, it is not intended to support the needs of any particular undertaking and any benefits to any undertaking are incidental. Introduction Even since the adoption of […]

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4. April 2016 | Guest State Aid Blog von Lexxion Publisher

Court’s Diary – April 2016

Judge gavel with law books

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. Thursday 14/04/2016 Judgment in Case C-100/15 P – Netherlands Maritime Technology Association v Commission (Court of […]

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30. März 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Treatment of Advisory and Information Services under State Aid Rules: The Case of the German Milk Levy

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Public funding of advisory and information activities may constitute State aid. Public funding of industry associations may constitute State aid. Introduction An article that was published on this blog in January (view the article HERE) dealt with the issue of compulsory tests. If tests which are intended to safeguard public health are paid for by the state, is there any […]

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6. Mai 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

A Market Operator, unlike a Public Authority, Does not Have to Treat all Customers Equally

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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 […]

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29. April 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Do Free but Compulsory Tests Confer a Selective Advantage?

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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 […]

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20. April 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von 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 […]

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13. April 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

PART II: Green Electricity and Reduction of Energy Taxes for Energy-Intensive Users

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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 […]

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7. April 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Green Electricity and Reduction of Energy Taxes for Energy-Intensive Users

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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. […]

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1. April 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von 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 […]

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24. März 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Loans for SMEs

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Low-interest loans may be used to support investments. The granting of de minimis aid through loans is possible only if loans are secured against collateral. The 2008 Commission Communication on interest rates does not apply to subordinated, non-collateralised loans. Introduction “Investment for growth” is the slogan which seems to be on everybody’s lips in Brussels. Last Friday, the European […]

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16. März 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Relief from Pension Contributions and Reduction of Taxes

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost38 saleofbank

Compensation for structural disadvantages encumbering undertakings is still State aid. Compensation for structural disadvantages encumbering SGEI providers is not State aid only if it satisfies the Altmark criteria. Reductions of excise duties approved by the Council may still be subject to scrutiny by the Commission under State aid rules. Exception of fossil fuel from energy taxes when it is not […]

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10. März 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Non-Economic Activities

State Aid Blogs - 05.12.Imputability of Aid State aidz

Health insurance which is based on the principle of social solidarity is not economic in nature. Solidarity means that citizens have a right to the service in question and the quality of the service they obtain is not linked to the price they pay, if any. Health services which are provided privately for remuneration are economic in nature. Services provided […]

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2. März 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

A New but Dubious Concept of Advantage [1]

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When the Commission orders recovery of aid that is intended to be passed on to final consumers, it must first calculate the amount, if any, that has been retained by the direct recipients of the aid. If the calculation is too complex, the Commission can delegate that task to national authorities. Introduction On 5 February 2015, the General Court ruled […]

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