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

State Aid Uncovered ×

31. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Public Funding of an Undertaking in a Closed Sector
State Aid Blogs - 35 ivan bandura Ac97OqAWDvg unsplash
Public funding of undertaking in a closed sector [legal monopoly] does not distort competition and therefore does not constitute State aid. A legal monopoly has to conform with internal market rules. Introduction In July 2017, the Commission received a complaint by “C” [the complainant] alleging that Germany had granted State aid to two companies, RVV and Nordwasser, which supplied fresh […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
24. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

It is Difficult to Challenge a Commission Decision Opening the Formal Investigation Procedure
State Aid Blogs - pablo hermoso 8It1EzstbfI unsplash
The assessment of the Commission in an “opening decision” is only provisional. The Commission is not required to prioritise its investigations or to extend them to anyone who may be in a similar situation. The right of non-discrimination is not violated when the Commission chooses to investigate some instead of all possible cases of State aid. An individual measure that […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
17. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Problem of Multiple Awards of Aid to the Undertaking and to the Same Group
State Aid Blogs - 33 jc gellidon 1g3qVp7ynX4 unsplash
Multiple awards of aid to the same undertaking are allowed as long as they cover different costs. Multiple awards of aid to the same group are allowed as long as aid does not leak from one undertaking in the group to another. Introduction In the first half of 2021, the General Court ruled in ten cases of appeal lodged by […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
10. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

When Do Legal Exemptions Constitute State Aid?
State Aid Blogs - 32 ibrahim boran r0zrjWheW2g unsplash 1
Exemption from a fine does not constitute State aid when it is based on transparent and pre-determined criteria. Infringement of EU law determines the compatibility of State aid, not the existence of State aid. Introduction An exemption from legal requirements that confers a selective advantage does not necessarily amount to State aid. In most cases, when beneficiaries are found not […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
3. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Methods for Determining Property Value
State Aid Blogs - luke thornton yRo4KoUSBBw unsplash
Member States may use different methods for determining the value of property as long as they produce similar results. Introduction The base for property taxation is normally the value of the property, not size or location. The difficulty in determining the value of property is that land or buildings have no intrinsic value. It all depends on the purpose for […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
27. Juli 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

A Rare Commission Decision on an SGEI Measure that Could Have Been Exempted from Notification
State Aid Blogs - juliana malta Uy0Bq8vYjk4 unsplash
A public service obligation must be imposed by an act of entrustment that describes in detail the terms of the obligation, identifies the undertaking that offers the service and lays down procedures for preventing over-compensation. Introduction The purpose of Commission Decision 2012/21 on services of general economic interest [SGEI] is, like the GBER, to exempt certain aid measures from prior […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
20. Juli 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Italian Health System Is not Economic in Nature
State Aid Blogs - 29 camilo jimenez vGu08RYjO s unsplash 1
Certain elements of competition that raise efficiency do not undermine the social solidarity foundations of a health care system. Introduction A question that has been addressed by the Court of Justice but not in sufficient detail is whether the providers of non-economic health services can compete with each other. The answer is conditionally affirmative. Competition that does not undermine the […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
13. Juli 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Existing Aid, New Aid and Retroactive Application of a Block Exemption Regulation
State Aid Blogs - 28 reuben teo XvxFqD3uUEk unsplash 16.9
Changes to approved aid measures result in new aid. Only purely formal or administrative changes do not turn existing aid into new. Prolongation of an existing aid measure is not purely formal or administrative. Introduction Any change to an approved aid measure that affects its compatibility with the internal market turns it into a new aid that has to be […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
6. Juli 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Disentangling the Impact of Covid-19 from other Business Problems
State Aid Blogs - 27 jan rosolino MlNcS rrU6k unsplash 1
State aid may only compensate for the direct damage caused by covid-19. Introduction Aid that compensates for damage caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences is declared by Article 107(2)(b) TFEU to be compatible with the internal market. That is why Article 1(4)(c) of the GBER does not exclude, as is normally the practice, undertakings in difficulty from schemes that […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
29. Juni 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Amazon and the Difficulty of Finding a Comparable Tax Payer
State Aid Blogs - 26 christian wiediger rymh7EZPqRs unsplash
To apply the Arm’s Length Principle to transactions between two related companies, the Commission must identify the less complex company of the two and compare it to a similar independent company. Methodological errors in the application of the Arm’s Length Principle by national authorities does not necessarily prove the existence of advantage. Introduction On 12 May 2021 the Commission suffered […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
« Vorherige SeiteNächste Seite »

State Aid Uncovered ×

31. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Public Funding of an Undertaking in a Closed Sector
State Aid Blogs - 35 ivan bandura Ac97OqAWDvg unsplash
Public funding of undertaking in a closed sector [legal monopoly] does not distort competition and therefore does not constitute State aid. A legal monopoly has to conform with internal market rules. Introduction In July 2017, the Commission received a complaint by “C” [the complainant] alleging that Germany had granted State aid to two companies, RVV and Nordwasser, which supplied fresh […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
24. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

It is Difficult to Challenge a Commission Decision Opening the Formal Investigation Procedure
State Aid Blogs - pablo hermoso 8It1EzstbfI unsplash
The assessment of the Commission in an “opening decision” is only provisional. The Commission is not required to prioritise its investigations or to extend them to anyone who may be in a similar situation. The right of non-discrimination is not violated when the Commission chooses to investigate some instead of all possible cases of State aid. An individual measure that […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
17. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Problem of Multiple Awards of Aid to the Undertaking and to the Same Group
State Aid Blogs - 33 jc gellidon 1g3qVp7ynX4 unsplash
Multiple awards of aid to the same undertaking are allowed as long as they cover different costs. Multiple awards of aid to the same group are allowed as long as aid does not leak from one undertaking in the group to another. Introduction In the first half of 2021, the General Court ruled in ten cases of appeal lodged by […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
10. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

When Do Legal Exemptions Constitute State Aid?
State Aid Blogs - 32 ibrahim boran r0zrjWheW2g unsplash 1
Exemption from a fine does not constitute State aid when it is based on transparent and pre-determined criteria. Infringement of EU law determines the compatibility of State aid, not the existence of State aid. Introduction An exemption from legal requirements that confers a selective advantage does not necessarily amount to State aid. In most cases, when beneficiaries are found not […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
3. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Methods for Determining Property Value
State Aid Blogs - luke thornton yRo4KoUSBBw unsplash
Member States may use different methods for determining the value of property as long as they produce similar results. Introduction The base for property taxation is normally the value of the property, not size or location. The difficulty in determining the value of property is that land or buildings have no intrinsic value. It all depends on the purpose for […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
27. Juli 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

A Rare Commission Decision on an SGEI Measure that Could Have Been Exempted from Notification
State Aid Blogs - juliana malta Uy0Bq8vYjk4 unsplash
A public service obligation must be imposed by an act of entrustment that describes in detail the terms of the obligation, identifies the undertaking that offers the service and lays down procedures for preventing over-compensation. Introduction The purpose of Commission Decision 2012/21 on services of general economic interest [SGEI] is, like the GBER, to exempt certain aid measures from prior […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
20. Juli 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Italian Health System Is not Economic in Nature
State Aid Blogs - 29 camilo jimenez vGu08RYjO s unsplash 1
Certain elements of competition that raise efficiency do not undermine the social solidarity foundations of a health care system. Introduction A question that has been addressed by the Court of Justice but not in sufficient detail is whether the providers of non-economic health services can compete with each other. The answer is conditionally affirmative. Competition that does not undermine the […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
13. Juli 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Existing Aid, New Aid and Retroactive Application of a Block Exemption Regulation
State Aid Blogs - 28 reuben teo XvxFqD3uUEk unsplash 16.9
Changes to approved aid measures result in new aid. Only purely formal or administrative changes do not turn existing aid into new. Prolongation of an existing aid measure is not purely formal or administrative. Introduction Any change to an approved aid measure that affects its compatibility with the internal market turns it into a new aid that has to be […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
6. Juli 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Disentangling the Impact of Covid-19 from other Business Problems
State Aid Blogs - 27 jan rosolino MlNcS rrU6k unsplash 1
State aid may only compensate for the direct damage caused by covid-19. Introduction Aid that compensates for damage caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences is declared by Article 107(2)(b) TFEU to be compatible with the internal market. That is why Article 1(4)(c) of the GBER does not exclude, as is normally the practice, undertakings in difficulty from schemes that […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
29. Juni 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Amazon and the Difficulty of Finding a Comparable Tax Payer
State Aid Blogs - 26 christian wiediger rymh7EZPqRs unsplash
To apply the Arm’s Length Principle to transactions between two related companies, the Commission must identify the less complex company of the two and compare it to a similar independent company. Methodological errors in the application of the Arm’s Length Principle by national authorities does not necessarily prove the existence of advantage. Introduction On 12 May 2021 the Commission suffered […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
« Vorherige SeiteNächste Seite »

State Aid Uncovered ×

31. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Public Funding of an Undertaking in a Closed Sector
State Aid Blogs - 35 ivan bandura Ac97OqAWDvg unsplash
Public funding of undertaking in a closed sector [legal monopoly] does not distort competition and therefore does not constitute State aid. A legal monopoly has to conform with internal market rules. Introduction In July 2017, the Commission received a complaint by “C” [the complainant] alleging that Germany had granted State aid to two companies, RVV and Nordwasser, which supplied fresh […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
24. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

It is Difficult to Challenge a Commission Decision Opening the Formal Investigation Procedure
State Aid Blogs - pablo hermoso 8It1EzstbfI unsplash
The assessment of the Commission in an “opening decision” is only provisional. The Commission is not required to prioritise its investigations or to extend them to anyone who may be in a similar situation. The right of non-discrimination is not violated when the Commission chooses to investigate some instead of all possible cases of State aid. An individual measure that […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
17. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Problem of Multiple Awards of Aid to the Undertaking and to the Same Group
State Aid Blogs - 33 jc gellidon 1g3qVp7ynX4 unsplash
Multiple awards of aid to the same undertaking are allowed as long as they cover different costs. Multiple awards of aid to the same group are allowed as long as aid does not leak from one undertaking in the group to another. Introduction In the first half of 2021, the General Court ruled in ten cases of appeal lodged by […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
10. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

When Do Legal Exemptions Constitute State Aid?
State Aid Blogs - 32 ibrahim boran r0zrjWheW2g unsplash 1
Exemption from a fine does not constitute State aid when it is based on transparent and pre-determined criteria. Infringement of EU law determines the compatibility of State aid, not the existence of State aid. Introduction An exemption from legal requirements that confers a selective advantage does not necessarily amount to State aid. In most cases, when beneficiaries are found not […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
3. August 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Methods for Determining Property Value
State Aid Blogs - luke thornton yRo4KoUSBBw unsplash
Member States may use different methods for determining the value of property as long as they produce similar results. Introduction The base for property taxation is normally the value of the property, not size or location. The difficulty in determining the value of property is that land or buildings have no intrinsic value. It all depends on the purpose for […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
27. Juli 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

A Rare Commission Decision on an SGEI Measure that Could Have Been Exempted from Notification
State Aid Blogs - juliana malta Uy0Bq8vYjk4 unsplash
A public service obligation must be imposed by an act of entrustment that describes in detail the terms of the obligation, identifies the undertaking that offers the service and lays down procedures for preventing over-compensation. Introduction The purpose of Commission Decision 2012/21 on services of general economic interest [SGEI] is, like the GBER, to exempt certain aid measures from prior […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
20. Juli 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Italian Health System Is not Economic in Nature
State Aid Blogs - 29 camilo jimenez vGu08RYjO s unsplash 1
Certain elements of competition that raise efficiency do not undermine the social solidarity foundations of a health care system. Introduction A question that has been addressed by the Court of Justice but not in sufficient detail is whether the providers of non-economic health services can compete with each other. The answer is conditionally affirmative. Competition that does not undermine the […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
13. Juli 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Existing Aid, New Aid and Retroactive Application of a Block Exemption Regulation
State Aid Blogs - 28 reuben teo XvxFqD3uUEk unsplash 16.9
Changes to approved aid measures result in new aid. Only purely formal or administrative changes do not turn existing aid into new. Prolongation of an existing aid measure is not purely formal or administrative. Introduction Any change to an approved aid measure that affects its compatibility with the internal market turns it into a new aid that has to be […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
6. Juli 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Disentangling the Impact of Covid-19 from other Business Problems
State Aid Blogs - 27 jan rosolino MlNcS rrU6k unsplash 1
State aid may only compensate for the direct damage caused by covid-19. Introduction Aid that compensates for damage caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences is declared by Article 107(2)(b) TFEU to be compatible with the internal market. That is why Article 1(4)(c) of the GBER does not exclude, as is normally the practice, undertakings in difficulty from schemes that […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
29. Juni 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Amazon and the Difficulty of Finding a Comparable Tax Payer
State Aid Blogs - 26 christian wiediger rymh7EZPqRs unsplash
To apply the Arm’s Length Principle to transactions between two related companies, the Commission must identify the less complex company of the two and compare it to a similar independent company. Methodological errors in the application of the Arm’s Length Principle by national authorities does not necessarily prove the existence of advantage. Introduction On 12 May 2021 the Commission suffered […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
« Vorherige SeiteNächste Seite »

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