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. 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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23. März 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Compensatory Payments Can still Confer an Advantage

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Membership of a compulsory insurance scheme can still confer an advantage to participating undertakings. Private contributions can still become state resources if they are paid into a fund that is managed by the state. Member States always have the option to ask for a measure to be assessed directly on the basis of the Treaty but they have to justify […]

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15. März 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

a) Natural Disasters and b) Absolute Impossibility to Recover Incompatible State Aid

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Aid to remedy the damage caused by natural disasters can be granted only if the damage is the direct consequence of the disaster and the amount of aid must be limited to the actual damage suffered by each individual undertaking. Absence of documentary evidence can lead to absolute impossibility to recover incompatible aid. Introduction Article 107(2) TFEU declares three […]

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8. März 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

When Infrastructure is not Public: Dedicated, Project-Specific and Bespoke

State Aid Blogs - alex kalinin 8bs Kz8ACdM unsplash

Public funding of open and freely used infrastructure is not State aid. Public funding of project-specific, dedicated or bespoke infrastructure is State aid. Public funding of infrastructure connecting public and private parts may be State aid if the relevant national rules require developers to bear the cost. Introduction The Commission has recently examined an infrastructure project in the vicinity […]

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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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24. Februar 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Exclusive Rights

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The granting of exclusive rights may confer an advantage but does not in itself result in transfer of state resources. Private undertakings that hold exclusive rights are not utilising state resources by the mere fact that they operate under rights conferred by the state. Price regulation is a regulatory act which does not entail transfer of state resources. Introduction […]

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18. Februar 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Failure to Satisfy Ex Post the Altmark Criteria, but Compliance with the 2014 Aviation Guidelines

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost2 2019 lexxion stateaid airports

Public service obligations must be entrusted by an official act and defined with sufficient precision. Imprecise definition of public service obligations makes it impossible to identify the costs which are caused by such obligations. Consequently, imprecise definition of public service obligations makes it impossible to grant compensation because subsidisation of non-eligible costs cannot be excluded. Compensation may not be granted […]

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9. Februar 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Restructuring and the Market Economy Investor Principle

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Different interventions that aim to finance the same restructuring plan constitute a single measure. A private investor may consider a possible damage of its reputation from laying off workers but the damage has to be quantified. Finance support of employees provides an indirect benefit to the employer. Introduction In this article I review two similar cases: a judgment of […]

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