State Aid Law Blog

State Aid Uncovered by Prof Phedon Nicolaides

On a weekly basis Phedon Nicolaides posts critical analysis pieces on the latest State aid judgments and decisions on his blog State Aid Uncovered. Each article presents the main points of a court ruling or Commission‘s decision, places them in the context of similar case law or practice, assesses the underlying reasoning, and identifies any inconsistencies or contradictions.
Occasional guest blog posts by other State aid experts complement the State aid knowledge hub.

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Professor at Maastricht University; Professor at University of Nicosia, and Academic Director at Lexxion Training

State Aid Uncovered ×

27. June 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Transactions at Market Rates Can still Confer an Advantage that Constitutes State aid (PART I)
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 3 1
Introduction When public authorities buy goods and services for themselves, they have to pay a market price, otherwise they confer an abnormal advantage to the sellers. On 14 June 2023, the General Court, in case T-79/21, Ryanair & Airport Marketing Services v European Commission, ruled that public authorities still confer an abnormal advantage by buying good and services that they […]
read more
No Comments
20. June 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Regulatory Measures Are not State aid & Trade Unions Are not “Interested Party”
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 3
Introduction This article reviews two recent judgments dealing with the concept of state resources and the meaning of “interested party”, respectively. State resources On 8 June 2023, the Court of Justice clarified, by its judgment in case C-50/21, Prestige and Limousine SL, that purely regulatory measures may confer and advantage without, however, granting State aid.1 The Court was responding to […]
read more
No Comments
13. June 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

How the Infringement of Non-State aid Rules Can Affect the Compatibility of State aid
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 2
Introduction  It is now well-established that if a State aid measure is inherently or indissolubly linked to a an infringement of EU law outside the field of State aid it cannot be found to be compatible with the internal market.  As a result of the judgment of the General Court on 24 May 2023, in case T-268/21, Ryanair v European […]
read more
No Comments
6. June 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A First Case of “Significant Market Power”
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 1
Introduction On the same day that the General Court ruled on the recapitalisation of SAS, it also ruled on the recapitalisation of Lufthansa in case T-34/21, Ryanair v European Commission.1 In the latter case, Ryanair sought the annulment of Commission decision SA.57153 of June 2020 by which the Commission approved injection of capital in Deutsche Lufthansa [DLH] of the amount […]
read more
No Comments
30. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The 2020 Temporary State aid Framework and Recapitalisation of Undertakings
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 16
Introduction Ryanair has challenged many Commission decisions authorising State aid for its rivals. In 2021 and 2022, the General Court delivered 12 judgments concerning covid-19-related aid granted to other airlines. Of those 12 judgments, Ryanair temporarily won only three. Its wins were transient because the General Court suspended the annulment of the relevant Commission decisions, on the grounds that the […]
read more
No Comments
23. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Temporary Framework Allows Member States to Grant Aid only to SMEs 
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design
Introduction  Although discrimination is in general prohibited in the EU, the fact remains that in the field of State aid Member States may grant State aid only to certain companies and may also decide how much aid to grant.  That the granting of State aid relies solely on the discretion of Member States has recently been re-confirmed by the General […]
read more
No Comments
16. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Support for the Decarbonisation of the Electricity Sector through Storage Capacity
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 1
Introduction Romania notified a scheme to support investment in large-scale electricity storage. The Commission approved it in decision SA.102761.[1] The scheme was part of the national Recovery and Resilience Plan [RRP] of Romania and was co-financed by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. By supporting investment in electricity storage, Romania aimed to reduce carbon emissions generated by the energy sector, […]
read more
No Comments
9. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Development of Affordable Housing
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 15
Introduction The provision of social housing can be designated as a service of general economic interest and can be publicly funded under the Commission decision 2021/21. Member States have to show that there is a real social need and limit access to social housing to those persons who cannot afford what the market provides; i.e. low-income or vulnerable persons such […]
read more
No Comments
2. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State aid Scoreboard, 2022
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 14
Introduction On 24 April 2023, the Commission released the 2022 version of the State aid Scoreboard which this year runs to a record 226 pages.[1] It covers the State aid that was granted in 2021 and contains information on both covid-19 measures and non-pandemic aid. Covid-19 related aid reached EUR 191 billion, or 57% of total aid expenditure. Non-crisis aid […]
read more
No Comments
25. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

German Risk Finance
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 13
Introduction Relatively few risk finance measures are notified to the Commission as Member States use Articles 21 and 22 of the GBER to support investments in SMEs and start-ups. However, the GBER excludes from its scope tax incentives for investments by undertakings. Tax incentives are possible only for investments by private investors. For this reason, Germany recently notified an aid […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

State Aid Uncovered ×

27. June 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Transactions at Market Rates Can still Confer an Advantage that Constitutes State aid (PART I)
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 3 1
Introduction When public authorities buy goods and services for themselves, they have to pay a market price, otherwise they confer an abnormal advantage to the sellers. On 14 June 2023, the General Court, in case T-79/21, Ryanair & Airport Marketing Services v European Commission, ruled that public authorities still confer an abnormal advantage by buying good and services that they […]
read more
No Comments
20. June 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Regulatory Measures Are not State aid & Trade Unions Are not “Interested Party”
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 3
Introduction This article reviews two recent judgments dealing with the concept of state resources and the meaning of “interested party”, respectively. State resources On 8 June 2023, the Court of Justice clarified, by its judgment in case C-50/21, Prestige and Limousine SL, that purely regulatory measures may confer and advantage without, however, granting State aid.1 The Court was responding to […]
read more
No Comments
13. June 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

How the Infringement of Non-State aid Rules Can Affect the Compatibility of State aid
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 2
Introduction  It is now well-established that if a State aid measure is inherently or indissolubly linked to a an infringement of EU law outside the field of State aid it cannot be found to be compatible with the internal market.  As a result of the judgment of the General Court on 24 May 2023, in case T-268/21, Ryanair v European […]
read more
No Comments
6. June 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A First Case of “Significant Market Power”
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 1
Introduction On the same day that the General Court ruled on the recapitalisation of SAS, it also ruled on the recapitalisation of Lufthansa in case T-34/21, Ryanair v European Commission.1 In the latter case, Ryanair sought the annulment of Commission decision SA.57153 of June 2020 by which the Commission approved injection of capital in Deutsche Lufthansa [DLH] of the amount […]
read more
No Comments
30. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The 2020 Temporary State aid Framework and Recapitalisation of Undertakings
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 16
Introduction Ryanair has challenged many Commission decisions authorising State aid for its rivals. In 2021 and 2022, the General Court delivered 12 judgments concerning covid-19-related aid granted to other airlines. Of those 12 judgments, Ryanair temporarily won only three. Its wins were transient because the General Court suspended the annulment of the relevant Commission decisions, on the grounds that the […]
read more
No Comments
23. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Temporary Framework Allows Member States to Grant Aid only to SMEs 
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design
Introduction  Although discrimination is in general prohibited in the EU, the fact remains that in the field of State aid Member States may grant State aid only to certain companies and may also decide how much aid to grant.  That the granting of State aid relies solely on the discretion of Member States has recently been re-confirmed by the General […]
read more
No Comments
16. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Support for the Decarbonisation of the Electricity Sector through Storage Capacity
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 1
Introduction Romania notified a scheme to support investment in large-scale electricity storage. The Commission approved it in decision SA.102761.[1] The scheme was part of the national Recovery and Resilience Plan [RRP] of Romania and was co-financed by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. By supporting investment in electricity storage, Romania aimed to reduce carbon emissions generated by the energy sector, […]
read more
No Comments
9. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Development of Affordable Housing
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 15
Introduction The provision of social housing can be designated as a service of general economic interest and can be publicly funded under the Commission decision 2021/21. Member States have to show that there is a real social need and limit access to social housing to those persons who cannot afford what the market provides; i.e. low-income or vulnerable persons such […]
read more
No Comments
2. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State aid Scoreboard, 2022
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 14
Introduction On 24 April 2023, the Commission released the 2022 version of the State aid Scoreboard which this year runs to a record 226 pages.[1] It covers the State aid that was granted in 2021 and contains information on both covid-19 measures and non-pandemic aid. Covid-19 related aid reached EUR 191 billion, or 57% of total aid expenditure. Non-crisis aid […]
read more
No Comments
25. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

German Risk Finance
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 13
Introduction Relatively few risk finance measures are notified to the Commission as Member States use Articles 21 and 22 of the GBER to support investments in SMEs and start-ups. However, the GBER excludes from its scope tax incentives for investments by undertakings. Tax incentives are possible only for investments by private investors. For this reason, Germany recently notified an aid […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

State Aid Uncovered ×

27. June 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Transactions at Market Rates Can still Confer an Advantage that Constitutes State aid (PART I)
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 3 1
Introduction When public authorities buy goods and services for themselves, they have to pay a market price, otherwise they confer an abnormal advantage to the sellers. On 14 June 2023, the General Court, in case T-79/21, Ryanair & Airport Marketing Services v European Commission, ruled that public authorities still confer an abnormal advantage by buying good and services that they […]
read more
No Comments
20. June 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Regulatory Measures Are not State aid & Trade Unions Are not “Interested Party”
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 3
Introduction This article reviews two recent judgments dealing with the concept of state resources and the meaning of “interested party”, respectively. State resources On 8 June 2023, the Court of Justice clarified, by its judgment in case C-50/21, Prestige and Limousine SL, that purely regulatory measures may confer and advantage without, however, granting State aid.1 The Court was responding to […]
read more
No Comments
13. June 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

How the Infringement of Non-State aid Rules Can Affect the Compatibility of State aid
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 2
Introduction  It is now well-established that if a State aid measure is inherently or indissolubly linked to a an infringement of EU law outside the field of State aid it cannot be found to be compatible with the internal market.  As a result of the judgment of the General Court on 24 May 2023, in case T-268/21, Ryanair v European […]
read more
No Comments
6. June 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A First Case of “Significant Market Power”
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 1
Introduction On the same day that the General Court ruled on the recapitalisation of SAS, it also ruled on the recapitalisation of Lufthansa in case T-34/21, Ryanair v European Commission.1 In the latter case, Ryanair sought the annulment of Commission decision SA.57153 of June 2020 by which the Commission approved injection of capital in Deutsche Lufthansa [DLH] of the amount […]
read more
No Comments
30. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The 2020 Temporary State aid Framework and Recapitalisation of Undertakings
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 16
Introduction Ryanair has challenged many Commission decisions authorising State aid for its rivals. In 2021 and 2022, the General Court delivered 12 judgments concerning covid-19-related aid granted to other airlines. Of those 12 judgments, Ryanair temporarily won only three. Its wins were transient because the General Court suspended the annulment of the relevant Commission decisions, on the grounds that the […]
read more
No Comments
23. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Temporary Framework Allows Member States to Grant Aid only to SMEs 
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design
Introduction  Although discrimination is in general prohibited in the EU, the fact remains that in the field of State aid Member States may grant State aid only to certain companies and may also decide how much aid to grant.  That the granting of State aid relies solely on the discretion of Member States has recently been re-confirmed by the General […]
read more
No Comments
16. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Support for the Decarbonisation of the Electricity Sector through Storage Capacity
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 1
Introduction Romania notified a scheme to support investment in large-scale electricity storage. The Commission approved it in decision SA.102761.[1] The scheme was part of the national Recovery and Resilience Plan [RRP] of Romania and was co-financed by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. By supporting investment in electricity storage, Romania aimed to reduce carbon emissions generated by the energy sector, […]
read more
No Comments
9. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Development of Affordable Housing
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 15
Introduction The provision of social housing can be designated as a service of general economic interest and can be publicly funded under the Commission decision 2021/21. Member States have to show that there is a real social need and limit access to social housing to those persons who cannot afford what the market provides; i.e. low-income or vulnerable persons such […]
read more
No Comments
2. May 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State aid Scoreboard, 2022
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 14
Introduction On 24 April 2023, the Commission released the 2022 version of the State aid Scoreboard which this year runs to a record 226 pages.[1] It covers the State aid that was granted in 2021 and contains information on both covid-19 measures and non-pandemic aid. Covid-19 related aid reached EUR 191 billion, or 57% of total aid expenditure. Non-crisis aid […]
read more
No Comments
25. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

German Risk Finance
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 13
Introduction Relatively few risk finance measures are notified to the Commission as Member States use Articles 21 and 22 of the GBER to support investments in SMEs and start-ups. However, the GBER excludes from its scope tax incentives for investments by undertakings. Tax incentives are possible only for investments by private investors. For this reason, Germany recently notified an aid […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

How to Submit a Blog Post

Do you want to share your analysis of a State aid law topic? We invite you to submit your post on, for example: recent European, national or international judgments or legislation with relevance to EU State aid law; new developments, publications, hot topics in EU State aid law. The recommended length of the post is 500-2,000 words incl. references (endnotes). Your analysis will be published under the category ‘Guest State Aid Blog’.

Here’s how you can publish a post on the Blog as a guest author:

Step 1: Submit your draft to Nelly Stratieva at stratieva@lexxion.eu.

Step 2: We at Lexxion will review your draft to make sure its content and quality fit the blog. If needed, they will suggest what improvements you should make.

Step 3: Once your draft has been finalised and accepted, we will publish your post.

Submit your guest blog post

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