Europäisches Beihilfenrecht Blog

State Aid Uncovered by Prof Phedon Nicolaides

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 ×

14. Juni 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Territoriality and the Tax Treatment of Intra-group Transactions
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 11
A special tax rule can constitute the reference or normal system of taxation if it is “severable” from other tax rules and has its own legal logic. Introduction The application of State aid rules to the tax treatment of transactions between companies that belong to the same multinational group is contentious. During the past three years or so, the Commission […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
18. Januar 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

A Non-Selective Financial Tax with a Narrow Scope
State Aid Blogs - Social Media posts 3
The scope of a tax must be objectively defined in order for those excluded from the tax not to benefit from a selective advantage. Introduction Taxes are burdens, so they fall outside the scope of Article 107(1) TFEU which prohibits selective benefits funded with state resources. Normally, Article 107(1) applies to benefits from tax exemptions or tax derogations which result […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
3. Januar 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

How to Determine Selectivity
State Aid Blogs - Social Media posts
A measure is selective when it excludes undertakings that are equally capable of contributing to the achievement of its objectives. Introduction Since no two undertakings are exactly the same, how can it be determined whether they are in a comparable situation? Differences in their features such as size or the type of technology they use do not necessarily mean that […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
16. November 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Selectivity and Tax Measures
The reference system for determining the selectivity of a tax measure must have its own logic and be autonomous and its identification depends on the content, structure and specific effects of the applicable rules. A measure that does not exclude any particular undertaking can be selective if it treats differently undertakings which are in similar situations. Introduction On 6 October […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
9. November 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Compensatory Payments and State Resources
State Aid Blogs - blog 45 KV
Funds used in compensation mechanisms mandated by the state become state resources Introduction The Court of Justice has stressed repeatedly that any resource over which the state can exercise control becomes a state resource, regardless of whether it is managed by a public authority or a private entity. Member States, however, keep inventing novel and complicated arrangements in which mandated […]
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
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
11. Mai 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid Measures May not be Funded through Discriminatory Taxes
A tax that is levied on both imported and domestic products but its revenue finances only domestic products infringes fundamental provisions of the EU Treaty. Introduction Member States finance the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources [RES] with revenue they raise through levies or charges on consumers of electricity. On 14 April 2021, the General Court in judgment in […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
4. Mai 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Turnover Taxes Can Be Progressive without Being Selective
State Aid Blogs - Taxes
Progressive rates can be part of a reference tax system. The reference tax system is, in principle, made up of the tax base, the tax rates and the taxable events. Introduction Progressive turnover taxes were thought to be selective because they are levied on gross revenue before costs are deducted and larger volumes of revenue are taxed at higher rates. […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
10. November 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

What is the Value of Informal Commission Communications?
State Aid Blogs - freighter 315201 1280
An official’s statement can be imputed to his authority if it can be reasonably assumed that the official speaks on behalf of the authority. Introduction It is often asked by national officials how much credence they should give to assurances by Commission officials in the absence of a formal Commission decision and what is the legal value of such assurances. […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
« Vorherige SeiteNächste Seite »

State Aid Uncovered ×

14. Juni 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Territoriality and the Tax Treatment of Intra-group Transactions
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 11
A special tax rule can constitute the reference or normal system of taxation if it is “severable” from other tax rules and has its own legal logic. Introduction The application of State aid rules to the tax treatment of transactions between companies that belong to the same multinational group is contentious. During the past three years or so, the Commission […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
18. Januar 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

A Non-Selective Financial Tax with a Narrow Scope
State Aid Blogs - Social Media posts 3
The scope of a tax must be objectively defined in order for those excluded from the tax not to benefit from a selective advantage. Introduction Taxes are burdens, so they fall outside the scope of Article 107(1) TFEU which prohibits selective benefits funded with state resources. Normally, Article 107(1) applies to benefits from tax exemptions or tax derogations which result […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
3. Januar 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

How to Determine Selectivity
State Aid Blogs - Social Media posts
A measure is selective when it excludes undertakings that are equally capable of contributing to the achievement of its objectives. Introduction Since no two undertakings are exactly the same, how can it be determined whether they are in a comparable situation? Differences in their features such as size or the type of technology they use do not necessarily mean that […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
16. November 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Selectivity and Tax Measures
The reference system for determining the selectivity of a tax measure must have its own logic and be autonomous and its identification depends on the content, structure and specific effects of the applicable rules. A measure that does not exclude any particular undertaking can be selective if it treats differently undertakings which are in similar situations. Introduction On 6 October […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
9. November 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Compensatory Payments and State Resources
State Aid Blogs - blog 45 KV
Funds used in compensation mechanisms mandated by the state become state resources Introduction The Court of Justice has stressed repeatedly that any resource over which the state can exercise control becomes a state resource, regardless of whether it is managed by a public authority or a private entity. Member States, however, keep inventing novel and complicated arrangements in which mandated […]
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
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
11. Mai 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid Measures May not be Funded through Discriminatory Taxes
A tax that is levied on both imported and domestic products but its revenue finances only domestic products infringes fundamental provisions of the EU Treaty. Introduction Member States finance the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources [RES] with revenue they raise through levies or charges on consumers of electricity. On 14 April 2021, the General Court in judgment in […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
4. Mai 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Turnover Taxes Can Be Progressive without Being Selective
State Aid Blogs - Taxes
Progressive rates can be part of a reference tax system. The reference tax system is, in principle, made up of the tax base, the tax rates and the taxable events. Introduction Progressive turnover taxes were thought to be selective because they are levied on gross revenue before costs are deducted and larger volumes of revenue are taxed at higher rates. […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
10. November 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

What is the Value of Informal Commission Communications?
State Aid Blogs - freighter 315201 1280
An official’s statement can be imputed to his authority if it can be reasonably assumed that the official speaks on behalf of the authority. Introduction It is often asked by national officials how much credence they should give to assurances by Commission officials in the absence of a formal Commission decision and what is the legal value of such assurances. […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
« Vorherige SeiteNächste Seite »

State Aid Uncovered ×

14. Juni 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Territoriality and the Tax Treatment of Intra-group Transactions
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 11
A special tax rule can constitute the reference or normal system of taxation if it is “severable” from other tax rules and has its own legal logic. Introduction The application of State aid rules to the tax treatment of transactions between companies that belong to the same multinational group is contentious. During the past three years or so, the Commission […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
18. Januar 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

A Non-Selective Financial Tax with a Narrow Scope
State Aid Blogs - Social Media posts 3
The scope of a tax must be objectively defined in order for those excluded from the tax not to benefit from a selective advantage. Introduction Taxes are burdens, so they fall outside the scope of Article 107(1) TFEU which prohibits selective benefits funded with state resources. Normally, Article 107(1) applies to benefits from tax exemptions or tax derogations which result […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
3. Januar 2022  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

How to Determine Selectivity
State Aid Blogs - Social Media posts
A measure is selective when it excludes undertakings that are equally capable of contributing to the achievement of its objectives. Introduction Since no two undertakings are exactly the same, how can it be determined whether they are in a comparable situation? Differences in their features such as size or the type of technology they use do not necessarily mean that […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
16. November 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Selectivity and Tax Measures
The reference system for determining the selectivity of a tax measure must have its own logic and be autonomous and its identification depends on the content, structure and specific effects of the applicable rules. A measure that does not exclude any particular undertaking can be selective if it treats differently undertakings which are in similar situations. Introduction On 6 October […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
9. November 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Compensatory Payments and State Resources
State Aid Blogs - blog 45 KV
Funds used in compensation mechanisms mandated by the state become state resources Introduction The Court of Justice has stressed repeatedly that any resource over which the state can exercise control becomes a state resource, regardless of whether it is managed by a public authority or a private entity. Member States, however, keep inventing novel and complicated arrangements in which mandated […]
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
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
11. Mai 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid Measures May not be Funded through Discriminatory Taxes
A tax that is levied on both imported and domestic products but its revenue finances only domestic products infringes fundamental provisions of the EU Treaty. Introduction Member States finance the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources [RES] with revenue they raise through levies or charges on consumers of electricity. On 14 April 2021, the General Court in judgment in […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
4. Mai 2021  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Turnover Taxes Can Be Progressive without Being Selective
State Aid Blogs - Taxes
Progressive rates can be part of a reference tax system. The reference tax system is, in principle, made up of the tax base, the tax rates and the taxable events. Introduction Progressive turnover taxes were thought to be selective because they are levied on gross revenue before costs are deducted and larger volumes of revenue are taxed at higher rates. […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
10. November 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

What is the Value of Informal Commission Communications?
State Aid Blogs - freighter 315201 1280
An official’s statement can be imputed to his authority if it can be reasonably assumed that the official speaks on behalf of the authority. Introduction It is often asked by national officials how much credence they should give to assurances by Commission officials in the absence of a formal Commission decision and what is the legal value of such assurances. […]
Mehr lesen
Keine Kommentare
« Vorherige SeiteNächste Seite »

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