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

Guest State Aid Blog ×

20. November 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

State Guarantees

State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 14

Introduction Public authorities often grant guarantees to undertakings so that the latter can borrow commercial loans at lower rates of interest. The 2008 Commission Notice on guarantees sets out four cumulative conditions that create a presumption that a state guarantee is free of State aid: 1. The borrower is not in financial difficulty. 2. The guarantee must be linked to […]

Keine Kommentare

17. Oktober 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Damage

State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 10

Introduction On 28 September 2023, the Court of Justice, in case C-320/21 P, Ryanair v European Commission, delivered its first judgment in a series of appeals brought by Ryanair challenging the dismissal by the General Court of its action in multiple cases seeking the annulment of various Commission decisions authorising aid to airlines during the covid-19 pandemic. Both before the […]

Keine Kommentare

10. Oktober 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Advance Tax Rulings

State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 26

Introduction In 2016, the Commission found, in decision 2016/1699, that advance tax rulings [ATRs] that had been provided by Belgium to multi-national companies [MNCs] with establishments in Belgium constituted State aid because the ATRs set the taxable income of those companies according to a hypothetical average income rather than their actual income. The profit that exceeded that hypothetical average was […]

Keine Kommentare

26. September 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Non-imposition of Fines on Non-illegal Behaviour

State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 9

Introduction Advantage is any benefit that an undertaking obtains from the intervention of the state. In some situations, however, an undertaking may derive an advantage the non-intervention of the state or, more broadly, from the failure of the state to act. This would be the case where the state does not charge a fee to a user of a state […]

Keine Kommentare

3. Juli 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Transactions at Market Rates Can still Confer an Advantage that Constitutes State aid (PART II)

State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 17

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 […]

Keine Kommentare

27. Juni 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von 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 […]

Keine Kommentare

14. März 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von 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. […]

Keine Kommentare

7. März 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von 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 […]

Keine Kommentare

17. Januar 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Private Acquirer Test: An Illuminating and also Puzzling Judgment

State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 22

A public authority may act as a market operator and acquire services through a private third party without conferring an advantage to the provider of those services. Introduction When a public authority buys a service and pays the market price it does not confer an advantage to the seller in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU. Even if it pursues […]

Keine Kommentare

10. Januar 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von 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 […]

Keine Kommentare

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Guest State Aid Blog ×

20. November 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

State Guarantees

State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 14

Introduction Public authorities often grant guarantees to undertakings so that the latter can borrow commercial loans at lower rates of interest. The 2008 Commission Notice on guarantees sets out four cumulative conditions that create a presumption that a state guarantee is free of State aid: 1. The borrower is not in financial difficulty. 2. The guarantee must be linked to […]

Keine Kommentare

17. Oktober 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Damage

State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 10

Introduction On 28 September 2023, the Court of Justice, in case C-320/21 P, Ryanair v European Commission, delivered its first judgment in a series of appeals brought by Ryanair challenging the dismissal by the General Court of its action in multiple cases seeking the annulment of various Commission decisions authorising aid to airlines during the covid-19 pandemic. Both before the […]

Keine Kommentare

10. Oktober 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Advance Tax Rulings

State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 26

Introduction In 2016, the Commission found, in decision 2016/1699, that advance tax rulings [ATRs] that had been provided by Belgium to multi-national companies [MNCs] with establishments in Belgium constituted State aid because the ATRs set the taxable income of those companies according to a hypothetical average income rather than their actual income. The profit that exceeded that hypothetical average was […]

Keine Kommentare

26. September 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Non-imposition of Fines on Non-illegal Behaviour

State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 9

Introduction Advantage is any benefit that an undertaking obtains from the intervention of the state. In some situations, however, an undertaking may derive an advantage the non-intervention of the state or, more broadly, from the failure of the state to act. This would be the case where the state does not charge a fee to a user of a state […]

Keine Kommentare

3. Juli 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Transactions at Market Rates Can still Confer an Advantage that Constitutes State aid (PART II)

State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 17

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 […]

Keine Kommentare

27. Juni 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von 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 […]

Keine Kommentare

14. März 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von 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. […]

Keine Kommentare

7. März 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von 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 […]

Keine Kommentare

17. Januar 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Private Acquirer Test: An Illuminating and also Puzzling Judgment

State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 22

A public authority may act as a market operator and acquire services through a private third party without conferring an advantage to the provider of those services. Introduction When a public authority buys a service and pays the market price it does not confer an advantage to the seller in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU. Even if it pursues […]

Keine Kommentare

10. Januar 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von 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 […]

Keine Kommentare

« Vorherige Seite Nächste Seite »

Guest State Aid Blog ×

20. November 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

State Guarantees

State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 14

Introduction Public authorities often grant guarantees to undertakings so that the latter can borrow commercial loans at lower rates of interest. The 2008 Commission Notice on guarantees sets out four cumulative conditions that create a presumption that a state guarantee is free of State aid: 1. The borrower is not in financial difficulty. 2. The guarantee must be linked to […]

Keine Kommentare

17. Oktober 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Damage

State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 10

Introduction On 28 September 2023, the Court of Justice, in case C-320/21 P, Ryanair v European Commission, delivered its first judgment in a series of appeals brought by Ryanair challenging the dismissal by the General Court of its action in multiple cases seeking the annulment of various Commission decisions authorising aid to airlines during the covid-19 pandemic. Both before the […]

Keine Kommentare

10. Oktober 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Advance Tax Rulings

State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 26

Introduction In 2016, the Commission found, in decision 2016/1699, that advance tax rulings [ATRs] that had been provided by Belgium to multi-national companies [MNCs] with establishments in Belgium constituted State aid because the ATRs set the taxable income of those companies according to a hypothetical average income rather than their actual income. The profit that exceeded that hypothetical average was […]

Keine Kommentare

26. September 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Non-imposition of Fines on Non-illegal Behaviour

State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 9

Introduction Advantage is any benefit that an undertaking obtains from the intervention of the state. In some situations, however, an undertaking may derive an advantage the non-intervention of the state or, more broadly, from the failure of the state to act. This would be the case where the state does not charge a fee to a user of a state […]

Keine Kommentare

3. Juli 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Transactions at Market Rates Can still Confer an Advantage that Constitutes State aid (PART II)

State Aid Blogs - Untitled design 17

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 […]

Keine Kommentare

27. Juni 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von 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 […]

Keine Kommentare

14. März 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von 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. […]

Keine Kommentare

7. März 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von 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 […]

Keine Kommentare

17. Januar 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Private Acquirer Test: An Illuminating and also Puzzling Judgment

State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 22

A public authority may act as a market operator and acquire services through a private third party without conferring an advantage to the provider of those services. Introduction When a public authority buys a service and pays the market price it does not confer an advantage to the seller in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU. Even if it pursues […]

Keine Kommentare

10. Januar 2023 | State Aid Uncovered von 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 […]

Keine Kommentare

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