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

4. März 2016 | Guest State Aid Blog von G. Guðmundsson

Being a Competition and State Aid Trainee at the EFTA Surveillance Authority

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We are happy to welcome two young professionals on the State Aid Blog today. Guðmundur Guðmundsson and Amie Eliassen are trainees at EFTA Surveillance Authority in the Competition and State Aid Directorate and give their insights on working in this dynamic and multicultural work environment. You want to apply for a traineeship yourself? Read on for more information. The […]

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3. März 2016 | Guest State Aid Blog von Lexxion Publisher

Court’s Diary – March 2016

Judge gavel with law books

Find below the court’s diary for all State aid cases. 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 01/03/2016 Judgment in Case T-79/14 – Secop v Commission (General Court – First Chamber) Thursday 03/03/2016 Judgment […]

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1. März 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

How to Apply the Market Economy Investor Principle and what Mistakes to Avoid: The Long-running Case of EDF

State Aid Blogs - 17.10. imputability stateaid

A market investor carries out a thorough ex ante analysis of the prospects of an investment before it commits any money. Introduction In 2004, the European Commission concluded, in decision 2005/145, that France granted incompatible aid to Electricite de France [EDF]. The French government had converted tax liability into share capital in EDF. The Commission was of the […]

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23. Februar 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

How to Determine the Selectivity of a Tax Measure

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A tax exception is normally a selective measure. However, exceptions which are open to all undertakings are not selective, even if they deviate from the standard tax rate or base. Exceptions which are open only to a few undertakings escape from being classified as selective only when the beneficiary undertakings are in a different legal or factual situation than non-beneficiaries. […]

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16. Februar 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Boundaries of Non-Economic Infrastructure and the Limits of the Funding Gap Method

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Public funding of assets which are used exclusively by certain undertakings constitutes State aid. If the state chooses to fund certain assets or activities, then it must do so consistently in all regions and in relation to all affected undertakings. Introduction A typical mission of the state is to provide public goods. Normally public funding of public goods is […]

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9. Februar 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Connecting Public and Private Infrastructure

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Public funding of public infrastructure is not State aid. Public funding of connections between public and private infrastructure is not State aid as long as it is open to all users and no fee is charged. Introduction Last week’s article examined the use of a port facility. This week the focus is on a related issue: investment in port […]

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2. Februar 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Possible Advantage from the Exclusive Use of Public-Funded Infrastructure

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The exclusive use of a public asset or an asset funded by public money may confer an advantage in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU if several competitors express their interest to use the same asset. Introduction As public authorities are becoming more aware that placing public assets at the disposal of undertakings can involve State aid, they increasingly […]

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1. Februar 2016 | Guest State Aid Blog von Lexxion Publisher

Court’s Diary – February 2016

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Find below the court’s diary for all State aid cases. 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 04/02/2016 Judgment in Case T-287/11 – Heitkamp BauHolding v Commission (General Court – Ninth Chamber) Judgment in […]

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26. Januar 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Nature Conservation as a Service of General Economic Interest

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Public funding of non-economic activities does not create State aid problems when any related economic activities are clearly separated. The 2012 SGEI package can apply retroactively. Introduction Member States of the European Union are free to designate the services they consider to be in the general economic interest. However, the wide discretion they enjoy in this respect falls under […]

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19. Januar 2016 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Is there an Advantage when the State Pays for Compulsory Milk Tests?

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Undertakings obtain an advantage when the state pays for their normal costs. Normal costs are costs which are inherent in the operations of undertakings. The costs of meeting legal obligations are normal. Introduction The case law on advantage in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU says that aid confers an advantage to undertakings when they obtain a benefit that […]

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3. Februar 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

i) Environmental Harm Does Not Make State Aid Incompatible with the Internal Market ii) the Market Economy Investor Principle Applied to Monopolies

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Security of energy supply can be a service of general economic interest. Avoiding harm to the environment is not one of the principles that underpin the internal market and which may not be violated by State aid measures. Determining whether competition is distorted does not require definition of the relevant markets. This article examines two apparently different but in […]

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26. Januar 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Non-Commercial Public Infrastructure: Another Judgment, More Questions

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Public infrastructure which is not exploited for commercial purposes does not result in an advantage for its users. Undertakings which are subject to different regulatory requirements can be treated differently. Cross-border trade can be affected even when there is no direct provision of cross-border services. Introduction The Leipzig-Halle judgment of 2011 was a shock to public funding of infrastructure […]

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19. Januar 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Use of Publicly-Funded Infrastructure without State Aid

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Public funding of infrastructure which is open to any user does not constitute State aid. Public funding for the upgrading/extension of infrastructure in view of expected increase in the number of users is not State aid as long as it is not designed for the specific needs of certain users.Fees charged to users of publicly-funded infrastructure must cover incremental costs […]

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12. Januar 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

“Good” Procedures Make “Good” State Aid: Ex Ante Conditionality for Effective Application of EU State Aid Rules

State Aid Blogs - 21.11.State resources State control

Structural fund rules for the period 2014-2020 define ex ante conditionalities that have to be satisfied by Managing Authorities that use EU funds to grant State aid. The ex ante conditionalities aim to strengthen the administrative capacity of Managing Authorities to grant State aid correctly. The European Commission has issued guidance on arrangements that can lead to improved administrative capacity. […]

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5. Januar 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Tax Measures with Specific Objectives Can still Be General

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A tax measure that applies to certain transactions is not selective if it does not preclude any company or type of asset. Conditions for the application of a tax measure may be justified by the logic of the tax system. The Commission may not use Article 107(3) to assess the compatibility with the internal market of a tax measure that […]

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29. Dezember 2014 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Another Measure that Cannot Be Justified by the Logic of the Tax System

airplanes on the airport

The granting of a tax exception is often found to constitute State aid. But the non-levying of a tax may also fall within the scope of Article 107(1). Competitors have more rights when the Commission does not open the formal investigation procedure. IntroductionOn 25 November 2014, the Court of Justice, in case T-512/11, Ryanair v European Commission, annulled Commission […]

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23. Dezember 2014 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

An Important Project of Common European Interest

State Aid Blogs - An Important Project of Common European Interest

Infrastructure projects which are economic in nature are subject to State aid scrutiny regardless of their importance. However, public funding of transport networks which are open to all users does not constitute State aid. Introduction State aid approval of important projects of common European interest is very rare. The joint Commission decisions SA.36558 and SA.38371 [Denmark] and SA.36662 [Sweden] concerning the […]

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15. Dezember 2014 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Application of the Market Economy Investor Principle to a Company Processing Agricultural Products

State Aid Blogs - Application of the Market Economy Investor Principle to a Company Processing Agricultural Products

When a public entity injects fresh capital in a company in which it is already a shareholder, the new capital does not constitute State aid when it satisfies three conditions: i) all shareholders contribute in proportion to the shares they own, ii) the private participation is simultaneous and iii) the private participation is economically significant. Introduction In this article […]

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9. Dezember 2014 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

A Surprising Interpretation of the Concept of Selectivity

State Aid Blogs - A Surprising Interpretation of the Concept of Selectivity

Tax measures are selective when they constitute an exception or deviation from the normal or common system of taxation. In addition, the exception must be open only to a pre-defined category of undertakings. IntroductionOften, the decisive element in whether a tax measure constitutes State aid is the existence of selectivity. On 7 November 2014, the General Court ruled on two […]

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1. Dezember 2014 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The First Application of the New GBER to Sport Infrastructure

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Public funding of local sport infrastructure may constitute State aid. The granting of a concession contract for the construction and/or operation of the infrastructure may not exclude State aid for the concessionaire. Measures based on the new GBER have to satisfy both its general and specific provisions. The funding gap method can be used in the context of the GBER. […]

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