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

6. Juni 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

A First Case of “Significant Market Power”
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Introduction On the same day that the General Court ruled on the recapitalisation of SAS, it also ruled on the recapitalisation of Lufthansa in case T-34/21, Ryanair v European Commission.1 In the latter case, Ryanair sought the annulment of Commission decision SA.57153 of June 2020 by which the Commission approved injection of capital in Deutsche Lufthansa [DLH] of the amount […]
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30. Mai 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The 2020 Temporary State aid Framework and Recapitalisation of Undertakings
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Introduction Ryanair has challenged many Commission decisions authorising State aid for its rivals. In 2021 and 2022, the General Court delivered 12 judgments concerning covid-19-related aid granted to other airlines. Of those 12 judgments, Ryanair temporarily won only three. Its wins were transient because the General Court suspended the annulment of the relevant Commission decisions, on the grounds that the […]
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23. Mai 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Temporary Framework Allows Member States to Grant Aid only to SMEs 
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Introduction  Although discrimination is in general prohibited in the EU, the fact remains that in the field of State aid Member States may grant State aid only to certain companies and may also decide how much aid to grant.  That the granting of State aid relies solely on the discretion of Member States has recently been re-confirmed by the General […]
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16. Mai 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Support for the Decarbonisation of the Electricity Sector through Storage Capacity
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Introduction Romania notified a scheme to support investment in large-scale electricity storage. The Commission approved it in decision SA.102761.[1] The scheme was part of the national Recovery and Resilience Plan [RRP] of Romania and was co-financed by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. By supporting investment in electricity storage, Romania aimed to reduce carbon emissions generated by the energy sector, […]
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9. Mai 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Development of Affordable Housing
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Introduction The provision of social housing can be designated as a service of general economic interest and can be publicly funded under the Commission decision 2021/21. Member States have to show that there is a real social need and limit access to social housing to those persons who cannot afford what the market provides; i.e. low-income or vulnerable persons such […]
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2. Mai 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

State aid Scoreboard, 2022
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Introduction On 24 April 2023, the Commission released the 2022 version of the State aid Scoreboard which this year runs to a record 226 pages.[1] It covers the State aid that was granted in 2021 and contains information on both covid-19 measures and non-pandemic aid. Covid-19 related aid reached EUR 191 billion, or 57% of total aid expenditure. Non-crisis aid […]
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25. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

German Risk Finance
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Introduction Relatively few risk finance measures are notified to the Commission as Member States use Articles 21 and 22 of the GBER to support investments in SMEs and start-ups. However, the GBER excludes from its scope tax incentives for investments by undertakings. Tax incentives are possible only for investments by private investors. For this reason, Germany recently notified an aid […]
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18. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Imposition of Public Service Obligations through Extension of a Concession
State Aid Blogs - hhhhhhhh
Introduction It has recently been confirmed in the case law that Member States are not obliged to implement a procurement procedure when they grant State aid. This means, of course, that the public funds they provide do confer an advantage on their recipient undertakings. Compliance with public procurement procedures affects the compatibility of the aid with the internal market. Indeed, […]
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11. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Update of Commission Guiding Templates on Funding by the Recovery and Resilience Facility
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Introduction In December 2020, the European Commission published “templates” to help Member States in the design of their plans that were to be financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility [RRF]. The purpose of the templates was to identify whether those plans contained State aid and, if they did, whether the aid had to be notified or not. Soon afterwards […]
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4. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Damage Caused by COVID-19 Combined with Rescue Aid
State Aid Blogs - dddddddddd
Introduction Member States are allowed to grant state to compensate undertakings for damage they suffer as a result of a natural disaster or exceptional occurrence. But, it is not always easy or possible to disentangle the damage caused by such an unforeseen event from losses caused by mismanagement or changes of market conditions. The art and science of calculating the […]
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18. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Imposition of Public Service Obligations through Extension of a Concession
State Aid Blogs - hhhhhhhh
Introduction It has recently been confirmed in the case law that Member States are not obliged to implement a procurement procedure when they grant State aid. This means, of course, that the public funds they provide do confer an advantage on their recipient undertakings. Compliance with public procurement procedures affects the compatibility of the aid with the internal market. Indeed, […]
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Keine Kommentare
11. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Update of Commission Guiding Templates on Funding by the Recovery and Resilience Facility
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered SM posts 3
Introduction In December 2020, the European Commission published “templates” to help Member States in the design of their plans that were to be financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility [RRF]. The purpose of the templates was to identify whether those plans contained State aid and, if they did, whether the aid had to be notified or not. Soon afterwards […]
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4. April 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Compensation for Damage Caused by COVID-19 Combined with Rescue Aid
State Aid Blogs - dddddddddd
Introduction Member States are allowed to grant state to compensate undertakings for damage they suffer as a result of a natural disaster or exceptional occurrence. But, it is not always easy or possible to disentangle the damage caused by such an unforeseen event from losses caused by mismanagement or changes of market conditions. The art and science of calculating the […]
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28. März 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

A More Comprehensive and Generous GBER
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Introduction In a Communication that was published on 9 March 2023, the Commission announced extensive amendments to the GBER.[1] A 100-page annex to the Communication provided the legal text of the draft regulation that would revise Regulation 651/2014.[2] The amendments aim to: Ensure consistency between the GBER and new State aid guidelines. Bring the GBER in line with the EU […]
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21. März 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles
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Introduction As part of the EU’s Green Deal and the transition to a greener and most sustainable economy, the European Commission’s guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy [CEEAG] also allow public support for the construction of energy infrastructures. In a recent decision, the Commission approved a German State aid scheme [SA.104749] for high-power charging infrastructure for […]
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14. März 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

State Aid for the Resolution of a Polish bank
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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. […]
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7. März 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Tax Advantages and Competitive Bidding
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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 […]
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28. Februar 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

Discretion of Public Authorities and Selectivity
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Introduction On 2 February 2023, the Court of justice, in case C649/20 P, Spain and Others v European Commission, clarified the extent to which public authorities can implement general measures without in practice favouring any undertaking. The exercise of administrative discretion can turn a general measure into selective. The Court made a distinction between what may be called “related” or […]
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21. Februar 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The Selectivity and Profitability of Agreements between Airports and Airlines
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Introduction Selectivity is a tricky issue. Even a measure that appears not to favour or exclude any undertaking may in practice prove to be selective if its effects favour certain undertakings over others that are in a comparable situation. In order to determine whether they are comparable it necessary to examine the objective of the measure. This is what the […]
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14. Februar 2023  |   State Aid Uncovered von Phedon Nicolaides

The European Commission in not Responsible for the Bail-in of Investors in Banks
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Introduction Investors in banks that failed or were restructured as a result of the financial crisis that broke out in 2008 have tried many times and have used many arguments to support their claims for compensation. None of them has so far succeeded before EU courts to prove that the Commission, or the ECB or the Council or the Eurogroup […]
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20. März 2015  |   Guest State Aid Blog von Emma Linklater

In Brief: Case C‑672/13, OTP Bank Nyrt v Magyar Állam, Magyar Államkincstár
otp bank logo
A quick look at the latest ruling of the CJEU from Thursday 19th March.   In Case C‑672/13 OTP Bank the CJEU responded to preliminary ruling questions from the Hungarian Fővárosi Törvényszék relating to the categorisation of an agency agreement concluded in 2008 between the the Ministry of Local Government, the State Treasury and OTP Bank on the basis of Paragraph 24(15) of […]
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18. März 2015  |   Guest State Aid Blog von Emma Linklater

In Brief: AG Opinion, Case C‑39/14 – Bodenverwertungs- und -verwaltungs GmbH (BVVG), Thomas Erbs, Ursula Erbs v Landkreis Jerichower Land
green field
This note takes a look at the Opinion of AG Cruz Villalón, delivered on Tuesday 17th March (not available in English at the time of posting). In his 80 paragraph Opinion the AG proposed that the CJEU reply to the preliminary reference question from the German Bundesgerichtshof as follows:Article 107 TFEU should be interpreted to mean that a rule of […]
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17. März 2015  |   Guest State Aid Blog von Lexxion Publisher

Roundup of EStAL Intensive Workshop, London
workshop
Interactive Seminar on The Role of the Market Economy Investor Principle (MEIP) | Infrastructure Funding in Compliance with State Aid Rules March 11th 2015 was a busy day for the State Aid crowd who gathered at King’s College in London for an Intensive Workshop organized by Lexxion. First of all we would like to thank all those, both speakers and participants, […]
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5. März 2015  |   Guest State Aid Blog von Gherardo Carullo

Procedures for examining abnormally low tenders as a State aid tool? A note on Case C-568/13 Data Medical Service
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A look at the Court’s ruling of 18th December 2014 and the use of abnormally low tenders in public service contracts as indicators of illegal State subsidies. This short note examines Case C-568/13 Data Medical Service on the award of public service contracts, which is particularly interesting from a State aid perspective. While stressing that there are no exclusions whatsoever – at a […]
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4. März 2015  |   Guest State Aid Blog von Lexxion Publisher

Court’s Diary – March 2015
gavel, animal figures, euros
A look at the month ahead Got something to say about State Aid? You can get in touch with us at  Stateaidhub[at]lexxion.eu  Thursday 05/03/2015 Judgment in Case C-667/13 Banco Privado Português and Massa Insolvente do Banco Privado Português (Court of Justice – Second Chamber)   Friday 06/03/2015 Hearing in Joined Cases T-60/06 RENV II and T-62/06 RENV II Italy v Commission, Eurallumina v Commission (General Court – First Chamber, […]
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26. Februar 2015  |   Guest State Aid Blog von Lexxion Publisher

In Brief: T-135/12 and T-385/12 France v Commission and Orange v Commission
france telecom orange logo
The General Court confirmed that France granted State aid compatible with the internal market to France Télécom, in accordance with the conditions laid down by the Commission, and dismissed the actions.   The Press Release can be read here and the rulings (in French) here.Last Thursday 26th February the General Court gave its rulings in Cases T-135/12 and T-385/12 France v Commission and Orange v Commission. In […]
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16. Februar 2015  |   Guest State Aid Blog von Richard Craven

State aid to football clubs in Croatia?
football clubs in Croatia
GNK Dinamo Zagreb: Will the next act of the sports and State aid saga play out in the EU’s newest capital?     The spectre of EU State aid law has loomed over professional club football in Europe since the Commission’s initiation, in 2013, of in-depth investigations into five football clubs in the Netherlands (SA.33584) and seven clubs in Spain […]
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13. Februar 2015  |   Guest State Aid Blog von Lexxion Publisher

In brief: C-37/14 Commission v France
fruit and vegetables
On Thursday 12th February the CJEU passed down its ruling in C-37/14, finding that France did not take all necessary measures to recover aid illegally granted to the fruit and vegetable sector and thereby failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 288(4) TFEU. The full ruling is available here and the press release can be accessed here. The aid in question concerned ‘contingency plans’ […]
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10. Februar 2015  |   Guest State Aid Blog von Lexxion Publisher

Court’s Diary and an invitation to get in touch!
gavel on a laptop
A quick look at the month ahead in the GC/CJEU and reminder about how to get in touch with your news, views and information on how to write a post: Stateaidhub[at]lexxion.de Court’s Diary As we look to the month ahead, there are several State aid cases trickling through the EU Courts to watch out for. Here’s an update from the […]
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27. Januar 2015  |   Guest State Aid Blog von Erika Szyszczak

Black Cabs in London Retain ‘Exclusive’ Rights to Drive in Bus Lanes
black cab
A detailed note on Case C-518/13 The Queen, on the application of Eventech Ltd v The Parking Adjudicator (judgment of 14th January 2015) An enduring feature of EU law is that it may be used in an opportunist manner in some of the lowest tribunals in the EU to create challenges to national rules and policies. This was how the Eventech case arose. […]
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