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

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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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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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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24. November 2014 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Land Transactions: Commercial Deals v Regulatory Acts

State Aid Blogs - Land Transactions Commercial Deals v Regulatory Acts

Regulation on land use or changes in such regulations do not constitute State aid. Administrative methods for calculating the value of public land do not necessarily prevent the granting of State aid if they do not reflect the evolution in market valuations. IntroductionMany local authorities own land or regulate the use of land. They also sell or buy land. […]

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18. November 2014 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Recovery of State Aid and Penalty for Failing to Recover Incompatible Aid

State Aid Blogs - Recovery of State Aid and Penalty for Failing to Recover Incompatible Aid

Extension of an existing aid measure results in the granting of new aid. Only conditions of absolute impossibility can justify non-recovery of incompatible aid. Member States have to exhaust all possible options to recover incompatible aid and, if necessary, have to force the closure of the recipient of the aid. IntroductionIn this article I examine two recent judgments both of […]

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11. November 2014 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Reduction of Property Taxes and Electricity Tariffs

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Relief from property tax is State aid even when the user of the property is involved in defence contracts. Providing cheaper electricity to a few manufacturers cannot be considered to be an appropriate measure for regional development. Introduction This article summarises several judgments which were delivered in October 2014. They concern a tax exemption in Spain and reduction of electricity […]

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