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 ×

18. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Imposition of Public Service Obligations through Extension of a Concession
State Aid Blogs - hhhhhhhh
Introduction It has recently been confirmed in the case law that Member States are not obliged to implement a procurement procedure when they grant State aid. This means, of course, that the public funds they provide do confer an advantage on their recipient undertakings. Compliance with public procurement procedures affects the compatibility of the aid with the internal market. Indeed, […]
read more
No Comments
11. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Update of Commission Guiding Templates on Funding by the Recovery and Resilience Facility
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 3
Introduction In December 2020, the European Commission published “templates” to help Member States in the design of their plans that were to be financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility [RRF]. The purpose of the templates was to identify whether those plans contained State aid and, if they did, whether the aid had to be notified or not. Soon afterwards […]
read more
No Comments
4. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Damage Caused by COVID-19 Combined with Rescue Aid
State Aid Blogs - dddddddddd
Introduction Member States are allowed to grant state to compensate undertakings for damage they suffer as a result of a natural disaster or exceptional occurrence. But, it is not always easy or possible to disentangle the damage caused by such an unforeseen event from losses caused by mismanagement or changes of market conditions. The art and science of calculating the […]
read more
No Comments
28. March 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A More Comprehensive and Generous GBER
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 1 3
Introduction In a Communication that was published on 9 March 2023, the Commission announced extensive amendments to the GBER.[1] A 100-page annex to the Communication provided the legal text of the draft regulation that would revise Regulation 651/2014.[2] The amendments aim to: Ensure consistency between the GBER and new State aid guidelines. Bring the GBER in line with the EU […]
read more
No Comments
21. March 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 1 2
Introduction As part of the EU’s Green Deal and the transition to a greener and most sustainable economy, the European Commission’s guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy [CEEAG] also allow public support for the construction of energy infrastructures. In a recent decision, the Commission approved a German State aid scheme [SA.104749] for high-power charging infrastructure for […]
read more
No Comments
14. March 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for the Resolution of a Polish bank
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 1
Introduction Whenever a bank seeks State aid, it must be considered as “failing or likely to fail”. A failing bank must be liquidated or resolved. Resolution means that the critical functions of the bank are preserved while the rest are wound down. Critical functions are those that impact significantly the real economy such as deposits, loans to SMEs or payments. […]
read more
No Comments
7. March 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Tax Advantages and Competitive Bidding
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 9
Introduction Award of contracts or sale of state assets through competitive bidding procedures or tenders are presumed to result in a market prices and to confer no advantage to the winner in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU. However, on 25 January 2023, the General Court ruled, in case T-666/21, Società Navigazione Siciliana v European Commission, that certain tax advantages […]
read more
No Comments
28. February 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Discretion of Public Authorities and Selectivity
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 30
Introduction On 2 February 2023, the Court of justice, in case C649/20 P, Spain and Others v European Commission, clarified the extent to which public authorities can implement general measures without in practice favouring any undertaking. The exercise of administrative discretion can turn a general measure into selective. The Court made a distinction between what may be called “related” or […]
read more
No Comments
21. February 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Selectivity and Profitability of Agreements between Airports and Airlines
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 27
Introduction Selectivity is a tricky issue. Even a measure that appears not to favour or exclude any undertaking may in practice prove to be selective if its effects favour certain undertakings over others that are in a comparable situation. In order to determine whether they are comparable it necessary to examine the objective of the measure. This is what the […]
read more
No Comments
8. February 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid May Have an Incentive Effect Even After the Start of Work: But Would it Favour Inefficient Operators?
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 11
Introduction Perhaps the most important aspect of the compatibility of State aid with the internal market is the presence of incentive effect. That is, the aid is capable of changing the behaviour of the recipient. If it does not, then public money is wasted because it has no effect on what happens on the market anyway. In principle, in order […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

State Aid Uncovered ×

18. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Imposition of Public Service Obligations through Extension of a Concession
State Aid Blogs - hhhhhhhh
Introduction It has recently been confirmed in the case law that Member States are not obliged to implement a procurement procedure when they grant State aid. This means, of course, that the public funds they provide do confer an advantage on their recipient undertakings. Compliance with public procurement procedures affects the compatibility of the aid with the internal market. Indeed, […]
read more
No Comments
11. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Update of Commission Guiding Templates on Funding by the Recovery and Resilience Facility
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 3
Introduction In December 2020, the European Commission published “templates” to help Member States in the design of their plans that were to be financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility [RRF]. The purpose of the templates was to identify whether those plans contained State aid and, if they did, whether the aid had to be notified or not. Soon afterwards […]
read more
No Comments
4. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Damage Caused by COVID-19 Combined with Rescue Aid
State Aid Blogs - dddddddddd
Introduction Member States are allowed to grant state to compensate undertakings for damage they suffer as a result of a natural disaster or exceptional occurrence. But, it is not always easy or possible to disentangle the damage caused by such an unforeseen event from losses caused by mismanagement or changes of market conditions. The art and science of calculating the […]
read more
No Comments
28. March 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A More Comprehensive and Generous GBER
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 1 3
Introduction In a Communication that was published on 9 March 2023, the Commission announced extensive amendments to the GBER.[1] A 100-page annex to the Communication provided the legal text of the draft regulation that would revise Regulation 651/2014.[2] The amendments aim to: Ensure consistency between the GBER and new State aid guidelines. Bring the GBER in line with the EU […]
read more
No Comments
21. March 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 1 2
Introduction As part of the EU’s Green Deal and the transition to a greener and most sustainable economy, the European Commission’s guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy [CEEAG] also allow public support for the construction of energy infrastructures. In a recent decision, the Commission approved a German State aid scheme [SA.104749] for high-power charging infrastructure for […]
read more
No Comments
14. March 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for the Resolution of a Polish bank
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 1
Introduction Whenever a bank seeks State aid, it must be considered as “failing or likely to fail”. A failing bank must be liquidated or resolved. Resolution means that the critical functions of the bank are preserved while the rest are wound down. Critical functions are those that impact significantly the real economy such as deposits, loans to SMEs or payments. […]
read more
No Comments
7. March 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Tax Advantages and Competitive Bidding
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 9
Introduction Award of contracts or sale of state assets through competitive bidding procedures or tenders are presumed to result in a market prices and to confer no advantage to the winner in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU. However, on 25 January 2023, the General Court ruled, in case T-666/21, Società Navigazione Siciliana v European Commission, that certain tax advantages […]
read more
No Comments
28. February 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Discretion of Public Authorities and Selectivity
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 30
Introduction On 2 February 2023, the Court of justice, in case C649/20 P, Spain and Others v European Commission, clarified the extent to which public authorities can implement general measures without in practice favouring any undertaking. The exercise of administrative discretion can turn a general measure into selective. The Court made a distinction between what may be called “related” or […]
read more
No Comments
21. February 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Selectivity and Profitability of Agreements between Airports and Airlines
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 27
Introduction Selectivity is a tricky issue. Even a measure that appears not to favour or exclude any undertaking may in practice prove to be selective if its effects favour certain undertakings over others that are in a comparable situation. In order to determine whether they are comparable it necessary to examine the objective of the measure. This is what the […]
read more
No Comments
8. February 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid May Have an Incentive Effect Even After the Start of Work: But Would it Favour Inefficient Operators?
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 11
Introduction Perhaps the most important aspect of the compatibility of State aid with the internal market is the presence of incentive effect. That is, the aid is capable of changing the behaviour of the recipient. If it does not, then public money is wasted because it has no effect on what happens on the market anyway. In principle, in order […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

State Aid Uncovered ×

18. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Imposition of Public Service Obligations through Extension of a Concession
State Aid Blogs - hhhhhhhh
Introduction It has recently been confirmed in the case law that Member States are not obliged to implement a procurement procedure when they grant State aid. This means, of course, that the public funds they provide do confer an advantage on their recipient undertakings. Compliance with public procurement procedures affects the compatibility of the aid with the internal market. Indeed, […]
read more
No Comments
11. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Update of Commission Guiding Templates on Funding by the Recovery and Resilience Facility
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 3
Introduction In December 2020, the European Commission published “templates” to help Member States in the design of their plans that were to be financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility [RRF]. The purpose of the templates was to identify whether those plans contained State aid and, if they did, whether the aid had to be notified or not. Soon afterwards […]
read more
No Comments
4. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Damage Caused by COVID-19 Combined with Rescue Aid
State Aid Blogs - dddddddddd
Introduction Member States are allowed to grant state to compensate undertakings for damage they suffer as a result of a natural disaster or exceptional occurrence. But, it is not always easy or possible to disentangle the damage caused by such an unforeseen event from losses caused by mismanagement or changes of market conditions. The art and science of calculating the […]
read more
No Comments
28. March 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

A More Comprehensive and Generous GBER
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 1 3
Introduction In a Communication that was published on 9 March 2023, the Commission announced extensive amendments to the GBER.[1] A 100-page annex to the Communication provided the legal text of the draft regulation that would revise Regulation 651/2014.[2] The amendments aim to: Ensure consistency between the GBER and new State aid guidelines. Bring the GBER in line with the EU […]
read more
No Comments
21. March 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 1 2
Introduction As part of the EU’s Green Deal and the transition to a greener and most sustainable economy, the European Commission’s guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy [CEEAG] also allow public support for the construction of energy infrastructures. In a recent decision, the Commission approved a German State aid scheme [SA.104749] for high-power charging infrastructure for […]
read more
No Comments
14. March 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for the Resolution of a Polish bank
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 1
Introduction Whenever a bank seeks State aid, it must be considered as “failing or likely to fail”. A failing bank must be liquidated or resolved. Resolution means that the critical functions of the bank are preserved while the rest are wound down. Critical functions are those that impact significantly the real economy such as deposits, loans to SMEs or payments. […]
read more
No Comments
7. March 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Tax Advantages and Competitive Bidding
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 9
Introduction Award of contracts or sale of state assets through competitive bidding procedures or tenders are presumed to result in a market prices and to confer no advantage to the winner in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU. However, on 25 January 2023, the General Court ruled, in case T-666/21, Società Navigazione Siciliana v European Commission, that certain tax advantages […]
read more
No Comments
28. February 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Discretion of Public Authorities and Selectivity
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 30
Introduction On 2 February 2023, the Court of justice, in case C649/20 P, Spain and Others v European Commission, clarified the extent to which public authorities can implement general measures without in practice favouring any undertaking. The exercise of administrative discretion can turn a general measure into selective. The Court made a distinction between what may be called “related” or […]
read more
No Comments
21. February 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

The Selectivity and Profitability of Agreements between Airports and Airlines
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 27
Introduction Selectivity is a tricky issue. Even a measure that appears not to favour or exclude any undertaking may in practice prove to be selective if its effects favour certain undertakings over others that are in a comparable situation. In order to determine whether they are comparable it necessary to examine the objective of the measure. This is what the […]
read more
No Comments
8. February 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid May Have an Incentive Effect Even After the Start of Work: But Would it Favour Inefficient Operators?
State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 11
Introduction Perhaps the most important aspect of the compatibility of State aid with the internal market is the presence of incentive effect. That is, the aid is capable of changing the behaviour of the recipient. If it does not, then public money is wasted because it has no effect on what happens on the market anyway. In principle, in order […]
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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