State Aid Law Blog

State Aid Uncovered Blog

In Lexxion’s State Aid Uncovered blog, Prof. Phedon Nicolaides publishes weekly critical analyses of recent State aid judgments and decisions. Each post presents the key points of a court judgment or EU Commission decision, places it in the context of similar case law or practice, assesses the underlying reasoning and highlights any inconsistencies or contradictions.

Guest contributions from other State aid experts will also be published on the blog at irregular intervals to complement the content of the blog posts.

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State Aid Uncovered ×

10. January 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Value of Land
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 19
Different valuation methods do not confer a selective advantage if they generate similar results. Introduction Land or immovable property has no intrinsic value. Its value depends on how the land or property is used. In turn, how it is used is determined by several factors such as its location, and the applicable zoning rules. A plot of land in an […]
read more
No Comments
3. January 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Link between State Aid and Environmental Provisions of EU Law
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 17
Introduction It is an established principle in the case law that the Commission may not authorise State aid that infringes other provisions of EU law, both primary and secondary. Now consider the following case. A Member State notifies to the Commission regional investment aid to support the construction of a mega factory. The factory will produce its own energy and […]
read more
No Comments
13. December 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Guarantees for Undertakings in Difficulty
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 12
In order to detect State aid in a state guarantee, it is necessary to carry out a search to identify the market rate, if it exists. There is no general presumption that an undertaking in difficulty cannot obtain a guarantee from the market. It is necessary to consider the risk of default. The calculation of the amount of aid must […]
read more
No Comments
6. December 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Compliance with State Aid Guidelines
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 10
For aid to be declared compatible with the internal market, all of the formal and substantive provisions of the relevant guidelines must be satisfied. State aid is granted the moment the right to a selective advantage is conferred, even if the actual benefit materialises at a future point in time. Introduction On 26 October 2022, the General Court reiterated, in […]
read more
No Comments
15. November 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

No Effect on Trade
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 6
A public measure of purely local character and which does not induce cross-border movement of investors or clients is unlikely to affect trade between Member States. Introduction It is rare to find a judgment that confirms that a particular public measure is not liable to affect trade between Member States. The General Court did so in its judgment of 19 […]
read more
No Comments
8. November 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Natural Disasters and State Aid
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 4
Compensation for damage suffered by undertakings as a result of a natural disaster constitutes State aid. The compensation is compatible with the internal market only if, first, there is a causal relationship between the natural disaster and the damage and, second, the amount of compensation does not exceed the amount of the damage. Introduction Financial assistance in the form of […]
read more
No Comments
1. November 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Research Organisations, their Primary Objectives and their Shareholders
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 38
A research organisation is not required to reinvest any revenue it may generate into its non-economic activities. The fact that the shareholders of a research entity are profit seeking has no decisive impact on its classification as a research organisation. Introduction As governments push universities to engage in more collaborative research with industry, the question increasingly arises where to draw […]
read more
No Comments
27. September 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Compliance with Public Service Obligations Does Not Necessarily Entitle the Providers of Public Services to Compensation
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 32
In the field of bus or rail transportation, Member States may impose either public service obligations through a contract or regulate prices through general rules. Providers of transport services are entitled to compensation only if they are financially worse off as a result of compliance with public service obligations. Introduction It is now a well-established principle in the case law […]
read more
No Comments
20. September 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

An Innovative Scheme to Support Individual Borrowers
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 31
Individuals and households are not undertakings. However, any public funding of individuals or households may constitute indirect aid to undertakings. Such aid may be exempted on the basis of Article 107(2)(a) TFEU. Introduction Article 107(1) TFEU applies to indirect State aid as well as to direct aid. Since all State aid has both primary effects [i.e. the benefits that go […]
read more
No Comments
13. September 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for External Transport Costs
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 1
State aid may be granted to reduce the difference in “external” costs caused by different modes of transport. Introduction Member States have used money from the Recovery and Resilience Fund [RRF] to support the development of less polluting and more energy efficient activities and technologies. A case in point is Spain’s scheme that incentivises the transfer of freight traffic from […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

State Aid Uncovered ×

10. January 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Value of Land
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 19
Different valuation methods do not confer a selective advantage if they generate similar results. Introduction Land or immovable property has no intrinsic value. Its value depends on how the land or property is used. In turn, how it is used is determined by several factors such as its location, and the applicable zoning rules. A plot of land in an […]
read more
No Comments
3. January 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Link between State Aid and Environmental Provisions of EU Law
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 17
Introduction It is an established principle in the case law that the Commission may not authorise State aid that infringes other provisions of EU law, both primary and secondary. Now consider the following case. A Member State notifies to the Commission regional investment aid to support the construction of a mega factory. The factory will produce its own energy and […]
read more
No Comments
13. December 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Guarantees for Undertakings in Difficulty
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 12
In order to detect State aid in a state guarantee, it is necessary to carry out a search to identify the market rate, if it exists. There is no general presumption that an undertaking in difficulty cannot obtain a guarantee from the market. It is necessary to consider the risk of default. The calculation of the amount of aid must […]
read more
No Comments
6. December 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Compliance with State Aid Guidelines
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 10
For aid to be declared compatible with the internal market, all of the formal and substantive provisions of the relevant guidelines must be satisfied. State aid is granted the moment the right to a selective advantage is conferred, even if the actual benefit materialises at a future point in time. Introduction On 26 October 2022, the General Court reiterated, in […]
read more
No Comments
15. November 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

No Effect on Trade
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 6
A public measure of purely local character and which does not induce cross-border movement of investors or clients is unlikely to affect trade between Member States. Introduction It is rare to find a judgment that confirms that a particular public measure is not liable to affect trade between Member States. The General Court did so in its judgment of 19 […]
read more
No Comments
8. November 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Natural Disasters and State Aid
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 4
Compensation for damage suffered by undertakings as a result of a natural disaster constitutes State aid. The compensation is compatible with the internal market only if, first, there is a causal relationship between the natural disaster and the damage and, second, the amount of compensation does not exceed the amount of the damage. Introduction Financial assistance in the form of […]
read more
No Comments
1. November 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Research Organisations, their Primary Objectives and their Shareholders
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 38
A research organisation is not required to reinvest any revenue it may generate into its non-economic activities. The fact that the shareholders of a research entity are profit seeking has no decisive impact on its classification as a research organisation. Introduction As governments push universities to engage in more collaborative research with industry, the question increasingly arises where to draw […]
read more
No Comments
27. September 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Compliance with Public Service Obligations Does Not Necessarily Entitle the Providers of Public Services to Compensation
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 32
In the field of bus or rail transportation, Member States may impose either public service obligations through a contract or regulate prices through general rules. Providers of transport services are entitled to compensation only if they are financially worse off as a result of compliance with public service obligations. Introduction It is now a well-established principle in the case law […]
read more
No Comments
20. September 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

An Innovative Scheme to Support Individual Borrowers
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 31
Individuals and households are not undertakings. However, any public funding of individuals or households may constitute indirect aid to undertakings. Such aid may be exempted on the basis of Article 107(2)(a) TFEU. Introduction Article 107(1) TFEU applies to indirect State aid as well as to direct aid. Since all State aid has both primary effects [i.e. the benefits that go […]
read more
No Comments
13. September 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for External Transport Costs
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 1
State aid may be granted to reduce the difference in “external” costs caused by different modes of transport. Introduction Member States have used money from the Recovery and Resilience Fund [RRF] to support the development of less polluting and more energy efficient activities and technologies. A case in point is Spain’s scheme that incentivises the transfer of freight traffic from […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

State Aid Uncovered ×

10. January 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Value of Land
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 19
Different valuation methods do not confer a selective advantage if they generate similar results. Introduction Land or immovable property has no intrinsic value. Its value depends on how the land or property is used. In turn, how it is used is determined by several factors such as its location, and the applicable zoning rules. A plot of land in an […]
read more
No Comments
3. January 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Link between State Aid and Environmental Provisions of EU Law
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 17
Introduction It is an established principle in the case law that the Commission may not authorise State aid that infringes other provisions of EU law, both primary and secondary. Now consider the following case. A Member State notifies to the Commission regional investment aid to support the construction of a mega factory. The factory will produce its own energy and […]
read more
No Comments
13. December 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Guarantees for Undertakings in Difficulty
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 12
In order to detect State aid in a state guarantee, it is necessary to carry out a search to identify the market rate, if it exists. There is no general presumption that an undertaking in difficulty cannot obtain a guarantee from the market. It is necessary to consider the risk of default. The calculation of the amount of aid must […]
read more
No Comments
6. December 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Compliance with State Aid Guidelines
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 10
For aid to be declared compatible with the internal market, all of the formal and substantive provisions of the relevant guidelines must be satisfied. State aid is granted the moment the right to a selective advantage is conferred, even if the actual benefit materialises at a future point in time. Introduction On 26 October 2022, the General Court reiterated, in […]
read more
No Comments
15. November 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

No Effect on Trade
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 6
A public measure of purely local character and which does not induce cross-border movement of investors or clients is unlikely to affect trade between Member States. Introduction It is rare to find a judgment that confirms that a particular public measure is not liable to affect trade between Member States. The General Court did so in its judgment of 19 […]
read more
No Comments
8. November 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Natural Disasters and State Aid
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 4
Compensation for damage suffered by undertakings as a result of a natural disaster constitutes State aid. The compensation is compatible with the internal market only if, first, there is a causal relationship between the natural disaster and the damage and, second, the amount of compensation does not exceed the amount of the damage. Introduction Financial assistance in the form of […]
read more
No Comments
1. November 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Research Organisations, their Primary Objectives and their Shareholders
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 38
A research organisation is not required to reinvest any revenue it may generate into its non-economic activities. The fact that the shareholders of a research entity are profit seeking has no decisive impact on its classification as a research organisation. Introduction As governments push universities to engage in more collaborative research with industry, the question increasingly arises where to draw […]
read more
No Comments
27. September 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Compliance with Public Service Obligations Does Not Necessarily Entitle the Providers of Public Services to Compensation
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 32
In the field of bus or rail transportation, Member States may impose either public service obligations through a contract or regulate prices through general rules. Providers of transport services are entitled to compensation only if they are financially worse off as a result of compliance with public service obligations. Introduction It is now a well-established principle in the case law […]
read more
No Comments
20. September 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

An Innovative Scheme to Support Individual Borrowers
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 31
Individuals and households are not undertakings. However, any public funding of individuals or households may constitute indirect aid to undertakings. Such aid may be exempted on the basis of Article 107(2)(a) TFEU. Introduction Article 107(1) TFEU applies to indirect State aid as well as to direct aid. Since all State aid has both primary effects [i.e. the benefits that go […]
read more
No Comments
13. September 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for External Transport Costs
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 1
State aid may be granted to reduce the difference in “external” costs caused by different modes of transport. Introduction Member States have used money from the Recovery and Resilience Fund [RRF] to support the development of less polluting and more energy efficient activities and technologies. A case in point is Spain’s scheme that incentivises the transfer of freight traffic from […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

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