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.

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

22. Mai 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Exemption from Taxes that Protect the Environment May not be Selective – Part II

State Aid Blogs - victor xok gFjGZ2qRZOo unsplash

State Aid Blogs - victor xok gFjGZ2qRZOo unsplash

Member States have discretion to impose taxes that penalise environmentally harmful activities. Exemption of undertakings whose activities do not harm the environment does not constitute State aid whenever the exempted undertakings are not in a comparable situation. Application of Article 107(1) to the Asturias tax In this case, exempted establishments were those with sales area less than 4000m2 or […]

Keine Kommentare

15. Mai 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Exemption from Taxes that Protect the Environment May not be Selective – Part I

State Aid Blogs - 14.05.18 Part1 Blog19 Spain Regional Tax

State Aid Blogs - 14.05.18 Part1 Blog19 Spain Regional Tax

Member States have discretion to impose taxes that penalise environmentally harmful activities. Exemption of undertakings whose activities do not harm the environment does not constitute State aid whenever the exempted undertakings are not in a comparable situation. Application of Article 107(1) to the Asturias tax In this case, exempted establishments were those with sales area less than 4000m2 or […]

Keine Kommentare

8. Mai 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Dealing with Problematic Banks

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost14 StateAid Lexxion Money Eu Commission Bank Financial

State Aid Blogs - StateAidHub blogpost14 StateAid Lexxion Money Eu Commission Bank Financial

The sale of a bank through a fair, open, competitive and transparent procedure that maximises the value of the assets and liabilities is free of State aid. Introduction This week’s article returns to the theme of State aid to banks and examines a case of “precautionary” recapitalisation and a case of sale of a bank, that was linked to […]

Keine Kommentare

2. Mai 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Public Service Obligations

State Aid Blogs - 02.05.2018 SA POL UK SGEI

State Aid Blogs - 02.05.2018 SA POL UK SGEI

Compensation for public service obligations may be fixed at less than the net extra costs of the provider of the public service to induce it to become more efficient. Introduction Every three years the UK determines the compensation it provides to the Post Office Limited (POL) for the extra costs of the public services it provides. Commission decision […]

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24. April 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Liquidity Support to Banks

State Aid Blogs - 24.04.2018 StateAid Banks MPS

State Aid Blogs - 24.04.2018 StateAid Banks MPS

Banks that receive State aid are considered to be failing banks, except when the aid is granted to solvent banks for the purpose of precautionary recapitalisation or temporary liquidity. Introduction During the past decade, large amounts of public funds have been committed to shore up failing or illiquid banks. Under current banking rules, the mere fact that a […]

2 Kommentare

17. April 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Complaints about Billboards and Welfare Services

State Aid Blogs - 17.04.2018 State aid Billboard

State Aid Blogs - 17.04.2018 State aid Billboard

A regulatory measure may affect competition but it does not constitute State aid. Administrative changes to existing aid measures do not result in new State aid. Introduction This article reviews two Commission decisions: one concerning a Czech regulatory measure and another concerning existing aid to German social organisations. Both decisions dealt with complaints about alleged illegal State aid. […]

Keine Kommentare

10. April 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

What Makes a Public Health Care System Non-economic?

State Aid Blogs - 10.04.18 HealthCare StateAid Economic

State Aid Blogs - 10.04.18 HealthCare StateAid Economic

Health services are not economic in nature when they are funded by the state through taxation, they are provided for free or at a nominal fee which is the same for all patients and they are available to all citizens on a universal basis and on the same terms. Introduction After the judgment of the General Court of […]

2 Kommentare

3. April 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Advantage through Contracts

State Aid Blogs - ah life rd2jRzEum9g unsplash

State Aid Blogs - ah life rd2jRzEum9g unsplash

A price below the regulated normal price confers an advantage. Competition is distorted even when the aid recipient does not expand its operations. Introduction An undertaking can obtain an advantage without receiving an outright grant. The advantage may be hidden in a contract for the supply of an essential input at reduced prices. This is the issue tackled by […]

4 Kommentare

27. März 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Correct Pricing for the Use of Publicly Funded Infrastructure

State Aid Blogs - m 6

State Aid Blogs - m 6

Publicly funded infrastructure must be made available to users at prices that correspond to its market value. Introduction When publicly-funded infrastructure is placed at the disposal of an undertaking, that undertaking must pay a market price, otherwise it derives an advantage in the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU. But what is the market price? Is it the price […]

Ein Kommentar

20. März 2018 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Private Creditor v Private Investor

State Aid Blogs - m 4

State Aid Blogs - m 4

A private investor never agrees to an unprofitable transaction while a private creditor may agree to a loss in order to avoid a bigger loss from non-recovery of debt owed to it. A public authority acting as a private operator must disregard any losses it may incur from State aid it granted in the past. Introduction A question […]

Ein Kommentar

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1. November 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Activities Linked to State Prerogatives

State Aid Blogs - 01.11.17 State aid

State Aid Blogs - 01.11.17 State aid

Economic activities which cannot be separated from the exercise of public powers cease to be economic in nature. Introduction The dividing line between economic and non-economic activities is in a permanent state of flux. Although it is now clear that some activities fall within the powers and prerogatives of the state, while many others are carried out by the […]

Keine Kommentare

24. Oktober 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Private Creditor Test

State Aid Blogs - SAH Blog26 GBERd

State Aid Blogs - SAH Blog26 GBERd

The Commission must apply the private creditor test even if a Member State does not request it or believes that it is not relevant. Introduction Private investors always have two options: to invest or not to invest. They choose the option that generates the largest amount of profit or revenue. Similarly, private creditors also have two options: call in […]

Keine Kommentare

17. Oktober 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

State Resources and Imputability

State Aid Blogs - 17.10. imputability stateaid

State Aid Blogs - 17.10. imputability stateaid

When the state acts in its capacity as legislator it is not presumed to direct the resources of undertakings it owns and over which it can exercise dominant influence as a shareholder. Introduction On 13 September 2017, the Court of Justice replied to a request from a national court to advise it on the concept of state resources [case C‑329/15, […]

2 Kommentare

10. Oktober 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Pitfalls in the Use of De Minimis Aid

State Aid Blogs - 05.12.Imputability of Aid State aidz

State Aid Blogs - 05.12.Imputability of Aid State aidz

Calculating de minimis aid according to the average amount of aid received by undertakings is wrong. Introduction It appears that all Member States grant de minimis aid, even though some tend to grant it more easily than others. De minimis aid can be used to subsidise any costs, including those which are not eligible under other State aid rules. The […]

3 Kommentare

4. Oktober 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Necessity and Proportionality of Regional Aid

State Aid Blogs - m 5 1

State Aid Blogs - m 5 1

The Commission must open the formal investigation procedure when it has serious doubts about the compatibility of State aid. The aid that is necessary to induce a company to locate its investment in an assisted region is the amount that covers the difference in costs between the assisted region and the best alternative location. This amount is also proportional. […]

Keine Kommentare

26. September 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Odysseus and the Sirens: A Rational Market Operator Can Agree to be Bound by the Ruling of an Arbitration Tribunal

State Aid Blogs - m 6 1

State Aid Blogs - m 6 1

A rational market operator can agree to arbitration if there is no reasonable prospect of a better outcome. However, a rational operator would ensure that the terms according to which an arbitration decision can be taken would be defined in advance and would not be prejudicial to the operator. Introduction Is it rational for a market operator to agree […]

Keine Kommentare

19. September 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Calculating the Amount of State Aid in a 100% Public Guarantee

State Aid Blogs - CCH tate aid infratructure

State Aid Blogs - CCH tate aid infratructure

The proxy rates in the Commission Notice on Guarantees cannot be used in cases of state guarantees that cover 100% of the underlying loans. Introduction Last week’s article reviewed the terms of the operation of regional airports in Greece. (View it here). This week’s article continues with the theme of management of public infrastructure and examines Commission decision SA.42545 on […]

Keine Kommentare

12. September 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Concession Agreements Free of State Aid

State Aid Blogs - concessions State aid airports

State Aid Blogs - concessions State aid airports

Awards of concession contracts should follow a procedure which is open, transparent, non-discriminatory and unconditional. Prices may be regulated to prevent excessive prices and profits. But, the concession fee may be adjusted to enable the concessionaire to earn a sufficient return. Introduction This article examines the link between State aid and concession agreements. In decision SA.44259, the Commission considered […]

Keine Kommentare

5. September 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Sale, Liquidation and Other Options for Private Investors

State Aid Blogs - m 33

State Aid Blogs - m 33

A private investor chooses the less costly option between selling a company at a loss and liquidating it. In addition to avoiding losses, a private investor also cares for its image, quantifies its value and factors it in the sale or liquidation option. Introduction On 6 July 2017, the General Court ruled in two closely related cases: T-74/14, France […]

Keine Kommentare

29. August 2017 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Bank Recapitalisation that Conforms to the Market Economy Investor Principle

State Aid Blogs - m 7

State Aid Blogs - m 7

A public authority acts like a private investor when it injects capital in a stricken bank if there is a realistic prospect of sufficient return that compensates it for the risk it bears. Introduction Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) is the largest bank in Portugal and is now fully owned by the State. In June 2012, Portugal notified to […]

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