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

26. Januar 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Non-Commercial Public Infrastructure: Another Judgment, More Questions

State Aid Blogs - m 23 2

State Aid Blogs - m 23 2

Public infrastructure which is not exploited for commercial purposes does not result in an advantage for its users. Undertakings which are subject to different regulatory requirements can be treated differently. Cross-border trade can be affected even when there is no direct provision of cross-border services. Introduction The Leipzig-Halle judgment of 2011 was a shock to public funding of infrastructure […]

3 Kommentare

22. Januar 2015 | Guest State Aid Blog von Dimitrios Kyriazis

Luxembourg, Amazon, and the State aid connection

amazon package

amazon package

The Commission’s opening decision: What should we make of Amazon’s ‘advance pricing agreement’ (APA) and its alleged (non-) compliance with the ‘arm’s length principle’ (ALP)? In early October 2014, the European Commission notified Luxembourg of its decision to open a state aid investigation in relation to the tax treatment of the Amazon group by the Luxembourgish tax authorities. This opening […]

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19. Januar 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Use of Publicly-Funded Infrastructure without State Aid

State Aid Blogs - m 22 2

State Aid Blogs - m 22 2

Public funding of infrastructure which is open to any user does not constitute State aid. Public funding for the upgrading/extension of infrastructure in view of expected increase in the number of users is not State aid as long as it is not designed for the specific needs of certain users.Fees charged to users of publicly-funded infrastructure must cover incremental costs […]

4 Kommentare

16. Januar 2015 | Guest State Aid Blog von Emma Linklater

In Brief: Case C-518/13 Eventech and Case T-1/12 France v Commission

Lady Justice

Lady Justice

A quick look at the two new rulings this week. This post gives a preliminary overview of the two new judgments this week (more in depth posts with analysis will be online soon!): On Wednesday 14th January the CJEU passed its ruling in the hotly awaited Eventech case (Case C-518/13), while a day later the General Court gave its word on […]

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12. Januar 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

“Good” Procedures Make “Good” State Aid: Ex Ante Conditionality for Effective Application of EU State Aid Rules

State Aid Blogs - 21.11.State resources State control

State Aid Blogs - 21.11.State resources State control

Structural fund rules for the period 2014-2020 define ex ante conditionalities that have to be satisfied by Managing Authorities that use EU funds to grant State aid. The ex ante conditionalities aim to strengthen the administrative capacity of Managing Authorities to grant State aid correctly. The European Commission has issued guidance on arrangements that can lead to improved administrative capacity. […]

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9. Januar 2015 | Guest State Aid Blog von Emma Linklater

In Brief: Case T-58/13, Club Hotel Loutraki AE and Others v Commission (judgment of 08.01.2015)

hotel pool

hotel pool

On Thursday the 8th January the GC dismissed all four pleas in the action for annulment of the Commission Decision finding that the exclusive rights granted to operate 35 000 Video Lottery Terminals and 13 games of chance were not State aid. The case is can be accessed here (English and French versions currently available) and the press release here.Background to the […]

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5. Januar 2015 | Guest State Aid Blog von Emma Linklater

State aid in 2015 – Court’s diary and events

gavel

gavel

Wishing all our readers and contributors a very happy 2015, this post takes look at the Court’s diary for January and some events in coming months. This is a quick post firstly to thank everybody who has been part of the StateAidHub for their support so far and to wish all our readers an excellent year ahead. If you are interested […]

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5. Januar 2015 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Tax Measures with Specific Objectives Can still Be General

State Aid Blogs - m 24 2

State Aid Blogs - m 24 2

A tax measure that applies to certain transactions is not selective if it does not preclude any company or type of asset. Conditions for the application of a tax measure may be justified by the logic of the tax system. The Commission may not use Article 107(3) to assess the compatibility with the internal market of a tax measure that […]

Keine Kommentare

29. Dezember 2014 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Another Measure that Cannot Be Justified by the Logic of the Tax System

airplanes on the airport

airplanes on the airport

The granting of a tax exception is often found to constitute State aid. But the non-levying of a tax may also fall within the scope of Article 107(1). Competitors have more rights when the Commission does not open the formal investigation procedure. IntroductionOn 25 November 2014, the Court of Justice, in case T-512/11, Ryanair v European Commission, annulled Commission […]

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23. Dezember 2014 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

An Important Project of Common European Interest

State Aid Blogs - An Important Project of Common European Interest

State Aid Blogs - An Important Project of Common European Interest

Infrastructure projects which are economic in nature are subject to State aid scrutiny regardless of their importance. However, public funding of transport networks which are open to all users does not constitute State aid. Introduction State aid approval of important projects of common European interest is very rare. The joint Commission decisions SA.36558 and SA.38371 [Denmark] and SA.36662 [Sweden] concerning the […]

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30. März 2013 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Airport Operators and Budget Airlines [Commission Decision SA.23324: Finavia, Airpro and Ryanair at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport

people on the airport

people on the airport

During the past 18 months or so, the European Commission has launched more than 20 investigations in the funding of regional airports and the arrangements that these airports have concluded with budget airlines such as Ryanair. This posting analyses a very recent Commission decision which found that no State aid was granted to either the airport operator or Ryanair. This […]

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25. März 2013 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Where is the Money? The Link between Advantage and Transfer of State Resources

100 euro detail

100 euro detail

On 19 March 2013, the Court of Justice delivered an important judgment in case C-399/10 P, Bouygues v European Commission concerning aid that was granted by France to France Telecom. The case was an appeal to an earlier ruling of the General Court in case T 425/04 France and Others v Commission which annulled Article 1 of Commission Decision 2006/621 […]

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16. März 2013 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Loans, Guarantees and Credit Worthiness

contract signing

contract signing

This post examines the two latest judgments of EU courts on State aid. They do not introduce any novel approaches to the interpretation of Article 107(1) TFEU but they confirm and clarify the obligations of the State in its dealings with undertakings. T-387/11, Nitrogenmuvek Vegyipari v European Commission On 27 February 2013, the General Court rendered its judgment in […]

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8. März 2013 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

An “Alternative” Method of Valuation for State-Aid-Free Sale of Public Land

construction site

construction site

The obligation of the state to act as a private vendor When a public authority sells an asset to an undertaking, it must sell it at market price. The case law is clear on this point, especially with respect to the sale of public land or a building. Such a sale may constitute state aid “where it is not […]

Keine Kommentare

1. März 2013 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Market Economy Vendor Principle: Sale of Public Land by the Dutch Municipality of Leidschendam-Voorburg [Commission Decision SA.24123]

Cadastre

Cadastre

The previous posting examined a case where the European Commission applied the Market Economy Investor Principle [MEIP]. This is the principle that is used to determine whether there is state aid in commercial transactions between public authorities and undertakings. According to Article 345 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union [TFEU], the European Union is neutral with […]

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18. Februar 2013 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Curious Case of Applying the Market Economy Investor Principle to a Monopoly

monopoly game

monopoly game

On 3 October 2012, the European Commission concluded, in case SA.33988, that OPAP, the Greek operator of games of chance received no state aid because the Market Economy Investor Principle applied.[1] At first glance there is nothing unusual about a finding of no aid. But, as always, the devil is in the detail. OPAP holds the exclusive rights to organise various […]

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19. Februar 2013 | State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Blog Intro

pen and paper

pen and paper

State Aid Uncovered State aid law and policy evolve all the time. The basic rules are fairly stable but their interpretation and application are frequently adjusted to take into account changes in market conditions, novel forms of cooperation between public authorities and companies and ever more complex funding instruments and arrangements. This blog tracks the evolution of state aid law […]

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