European State Aid Law

Dr. Martin Heidenhain

doi:10.5771/9783845265575

Summary

The handbook is a completely revised and updated version of the „Handbuch des Europäischen Beihilferechts”, first published in German in 2003. The handbook is without any specific references to German law and legal practice. The European State Aid Law has considerably gained in importance over the last decade. The number of proceedings before the Commission has escalated and the European Courts are increasingly involved with disputes on state aid. This handbook endeavours to provide practical guidance in State Aid cases. It fully incorporates the EU Commission State Aid Action Plan (“Less and better targeted state aid: a roadmap for state aid reform 2005-2009”), published mid 2008, and the new version of the General Block Exemption Regulation.

About the content:

The main topics are:

Basic principles

Elements of state aid

Compatibility of state aid with the common market according to Art. 87 Sec.2 and Sec.3 ECT

Bloc Exemption Regulations

Public enterprises

Commission proceedings according to Council Reg. (EC) No. 659/ 1999

Proceedings before the European Courts

To meet the needs of practitioners in Europe and beyond, the handbook also covers state aid concerning venture capital, agriculture and steel.

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Bibliographic data

Copyright year: 2010
ISBN-Print: 978-3-406-57884-7
ISBN-Online: 978-3-8452-6557-5
Publisher: Nomos, Baden-Baden
Language: English
Pages: 862
Product type: Comment

Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis No access Pages 1 - 46
1. 1. 1. Basis for the Prohibition No access
    2. Authority of the Commission No access
    3. Authority of the Council No access
    4. Authority of the Community Courts No access
    5. Goals of Aid Regulation No access
  2. 1. Substantive Scope No access
    2. Geographic Scope No access
    3. ECSC Treaty No access
    4. Euratom Treaty No access
  3. Volume of Aid being Granted No access
2. 1. General No access
  2. 1. 1. Procedure No access
      2. Block Exemption Regulations No access
      3. Horizontal aid No access
      4. Regional aid No access
      5. Sectoral aid No access
    2. Statistical Data No access
    3. Transparency of the Commission’s Activities No access
  3. Acts of the Council No access
1. 1. Demarcation of Jurisdictions No access
  2. Elements of State Aid No access
  3. Interpreting the Elements No access
  4. Grantors of Aid No access
  5. Aid Recipients No access
  6. Types of Aid No access
  7. Compensation for the Discharge of Services of General Economic Interest No access
  8. 1. Derogatory Provisions of the Treaty No access
2. 1. 1. 1. Principle of fair market value No access
      2. Proof of fair market value No access
    2. Relief from Economic Burdens No access
    3. Indirect Advantages No access
    4. Parafiscal Duties No access
    5. Other State Measures No access
    6. Date of Grant No access
  2. 1. General No access
    2. 1. State resources No access
      2. Attribution to the State No access
      3. State control No access
      4. Resources of private undertakings No access
      5. PreussenElektra No access
    3. Requirement of Transfer of Resources No access
  3. 1. Undertakings No access
    2. The Production of Certain Goods No access
    3. Specific Measures No access
    4. Advantages Inherent in the System No access
    5. Tax Law Measures No access
    6. Broad Interpretation No access
  4. 1. Distortion of Competition No access
    2. 1. Concept of State aid No access
      2. Approval of State aid No access
  5. 1. Trade between Member States No access
    2. Adverse Effect on Trade No access
    3. Irrefutable Presumptions No access
    4. Alignment of Competitive Conditions No access
    5. Trade with non-Member States No access
    6. Local Matters No access
    7. Perceptible Effect No access
3. 1. The Commission’s de minimis Policy No access
  2. 1. Legal Basis of the de minimis Regulation No access
    2. Procedure to Adopt the de minimis Regulation No access
    3. 1. Substantive scope No access
      2. Sectoral Scope No access
      3. Temporal scope No access
    4. Conditions for the Classification as de minimis Aid No access
    5. Monitoring No access
    6. Legal Consequences of a Classification as de-minimis-Aid No access
4. 1. 1. Basic Principles No access
    2. 1. First group of cases: Acquisition of all or part of the assets of an existing firm without the investment of additional capital No access
        Founding of a new enterprise No access
        Provision of fresh capital to public undertakings: No access
        Capital increases involving the simultaneous participation of the State and private shareholders No access
        Strategic or high-risk investments No access
        Unreasonably low profitability prospects; no adequate means of self-financing No access
        Only temporary participation of the State No access
        Founding of rescue companies for unprofitable businesses No access
        Disproportionate State participation in a mixed public-private enterprise; investments exceeding the net asset value of the beneficiary enterprise No access
        Fourth group of cases: Other cases / grounds for a presumption of State aid No access
      2. Broad spectrum of approaches to evaluation No access
        Relevant point in time for evaluation No access
        Difference in the assessment of majority and minority stakes No access
        Appropriate return on investment No access
        Differentiation between first-time and repeated investments No access
        Strategic investment motives No access
        The investor’s need for information No access
        Earning power No access
        Financial indicators No access
        Market situation No access
        Cost of restructuring compared to the cost of liquidation No access
        Debt investments No access
      3. Summary No access
  2. 1. The Appropriate Scope for the State’s Economic Activity, Rationality of Private Investors’ Market Behaviour No access
    2. Investments in Profitable Enterprises No access
    3. Definition of the Private Investor to be Used as a Standard of Comparison No access
    4. 1. Cost of equity No access
      2. Cost of debt No access
    5. 1. State aid component of an equity investment No access
      2. State aid component of a debt investment No access
    6. Limited Judicial Review No access
5. 1. 1. Outline of the Problem No access
    2. 1. Individual guarantees No access
        Individual guarantees for SMEs No access
        Guarantee schemes No access
        Guarantee schemes for SMEs No access
        Requirement of a case-by-case analysis No access
      2. Aid benefiting the borrower enterprise No access
        Aid benefiting the lender bank No access
      3. Ad hoc guarantees No access
        Guarantee schemes No access
        Guarantees and guarantee schemes for SMEs No access
    3. 1. Decision-making powers of the Commission No access
        Decision-making powers of the national courts No access
        Competitors No access
      2. Substantively unlawful State guarantees (Article 87(1) EC) No access
  2. Liabilities with Respect to the Obligations of Public Credit Institutions No access
6. 1. Introduction No access
  2. Economic Benefit No access
  3. By the State or Through State Resources No access
  4. 1. 1. Exceptions No access
      2. Examples No access
      3. Geographic selections No access
    2. 1. Concept No access
      2. Individual cases No access
  5. Distortion of Competition No access
7. 1. 1. State Managed Infrastructures No access
    2. Public or Private Operators No access
    3. Public Private Partnerships No access
    4. Obligations of General Economic Interest No access
    5. Development of Real Estate No access
  2. 1. 1. General area of application No access
      2. Sale through an unconditional bidding procedure No access
      3. Sale without an unconditional bidding procedure No access
      4. Notification, complaints No access
      5. Conditions of sale No access
    2. 1. Freedom of the participants No access
      2. Unconditional bidding procedure No access
      3. Independent evaluation No access
      4. Principles of appraisal No access
      5. Special sale conditions No access
      6. Distortion of competition, adverse effect on intra-Community trade No access
1. Significance of Exemptions No access Pages 189 - 190
2. State Aids of a Social Character to Individual Consumers – Article 87(2)(a) EC No access Pages 191 - 192
3. State Aids for Natural Disasters and Exceptional Occurrencies – Article 87(2)(b) EC No access Pages 193 - 195
4. State Aid Based on the Division of Germany – Article 87(2)(c) EC No access Pages 196 - 196
1. 1. 1. Prohibition of State Aid Applies neither Absolutely nor Unconditionally No access
    2. Discretion of and Limitations on the Commission in the Approval of Aid No access
    3. The Nuts and Bolts of the Approval Procedure: The Commission’s Publications No access
  2. 1. 1. Inventory of Commission publications No access
      2. Substantive contents of the Commission’s publications No access
      3. Lack of clear basis in Community law No access
      4. Systematization of the Commission’s publications No access
    2. Force of Law No access
    3. Basis of Authority No access
    4. Binding Effect No access
    5. Promulgation and Interpretation No access
    6. Legal Remedies No access
  3. 1. Authority of the Commission No access
    2. Force of Law and Binding Effect No access
    3. Effect of Exemption No access
    4. Basis of Authority No access
    5. Promulgation Procedure No access
    6. Oversight Procedure No access
    7. Qualification Risk and Right to ad hoc Notification No access
    8. Requirements for the Substantive Content of BERs No access
    9. Principles for the Interpretation of BERs No access
    10. Legal Remedies against BERs No access
    11. Changes Introduced by the General Block Exemption Regulation No access
  4. The Commission’s ad hoc Rulings No access
2. 1. 1. Introduction No access
    2. Guidelines and Frameworks No access
    3. Relation to European Regional Promotion No access
  2. 1. Scope of Application No access
    2. 1. Fundamental principle: Investment aid No access
      2. Operating aid No access
      3. Aid for newly created small enterprises No access
    3. 1. Determination of a Community assisted regions population ceiling No access
      2. Determination of eligible national population coverage No access
      3. Determination of the assisted regions, regional aid maps No access
    4. 1. General principles No access
      2. “Theoretical” maximum limits in regions pursuant to Article 87(3)(a) EC No access
      3. “Theoretical” maximum limits in regions pursuant to Article 87(3)(c) EC No access
      4. Bonuses for small and medium-sized enterprises No access
      5. Cumulated ceilings No access
    5. Additional Requirements No access
  3. General Block Exemption Regulation No access
  4. 1. History No access
    2. 1. Scope of application No access
      2. Maximum aid intensity, aid ceilings No access
      3. Notification No access
      4. In-depth assessment under Article 88(2) EC No access
3. 1. Introduction No access
  2. 1. Principles No access
    2. Practical Application No access
  3. 1. Principles No access
    2. Practical Application prior to the Financial Markets Crisis No access
    3. 1. The beginning: Application of rescuing and restructuring guidelines No access
      2. Application of Article 87(3)(b) EC No access
      3. Authorisation of aid measures under the Commission’s communications No access
        The Member States’ schemes and ad-hoc measures in support of financial institutions No access
        Distinction between fundamentally sound banks and banks suffering from endogenous problems No access
      4. State aid to the real economy No access
4. 1. 1. Community Guidelines on State Aid for Rescuing and Restructuring Firms in Difficulty – Self-binding Regulations of the Commission No access
    2. 1. Objective of the aid No access
        Form of the aid No access
      2. Scope of application with respect to economic sectors No access
      3. Period of effect No access
    3. 1. Operational criteria No access
        Symptoms No access
        Enterprises in insolvency No access
        Newly founded enterprises No access
        Firms tied into larger business groups No access
        Private investor test for firms in difficulty No access
      2. Principle of “one time, last time” No access
      3. Recipients of previous unlawful aids No access
      4. Other Treaty provisions No access
    4. 1. Definition of terms No access
      2. Form No access
        Objective No access
        Maximum amount No access
        Interest rate No access
        Reporting obligation No access
        Duration No access
        Approval on the grounds of serious social difficulties No access
        Avoidance of spill-over effects No access
      3. Information required in connection with the notification of rescue aid No access
        Simplified procedure No access
      4. Monitoring and sanctions No access
    5. 1. Definition of terms No access
      2. Objective of the restructuring plan No access
        Content of the restructuring plan No access
        Form No access
        Prematurely disbursed restructuring aid No access
        SMEs No access
        Reduction of market presence No access
        Exceptions No access
        Basis for review No access
        Avoidance of surplus cash No access
        Subsidiarity No access
        Proof No access
      3. Information required in connection with the notification of restructuring aid No access
      4. Conditions and requirements No access
      5. Implementation of and amendments to the restructuring plan No access
      6. Monitoring and annual report No access
    6. 1. Definition No access
      2. Requirements for approval No access
  2. 1. General Principles No access
    2. Community Framework on State Aid for Research, Development, and Innovation No access
    3. 1. Research categories No access
      2. Aid intensity, eligible costs and form of the aid No access
      3. Supplements No access
    4. 1. Aid for young, innovative enterprises No access
      2. Aid for process and operational innovation in the service sector No access
      3. Aid for innovation advisory and innovation support services No access
      4. Aid for the secondment of highly qualified personnel No access
      5. Aid for innovation clusters No access
    5. Incentive Effect and Necessity of the Aid No access
    6. 1. Measures requiring detailed assessment No access
      2. Balancing test No access
      3. Opening of a formal investigation procedure No access
    7. Compatibility of Aid pursuant to Article 87(3)(b) EC No access
    8. 1. Research institutions and innovation intermediaries as recipients of State aid No access
      2. Indirect State aid to enterprises through State-financed public research institutions No access
    9. Notification, Reporting and Monitoring of R&D&I Aids No access
    10. Cumulation No access
  3. 1. General Principles No access
    2. Community Guidelines on State Aid for Environmental Protection No access
    3. 1. Overview of aid eligible for approval No access
      2. Factual preconditions of aid No access
        Supplements No access
        Investments and costs eligible for aid No access
      3. Operating aid No access
      4. Aid for remediation of contaminated sites No access
      5. Aid for the relocation of undertakings No access
      6. Aid involved in tradable environmental certificates No access
    4. Incentive Effect and Necessity of Aid No access
    5. Aid in the Form of Reductions of or Exemptions from Environmental Taxes No access
    6. 1. Measures subject to detailed assessment No access
      2. Balancing test No access
      3. Opening of a formal investigation procedure No access
    7. Compatibility of Aid pursuant to Article 87(3)(b) EC No access
    8. Notification, Reporting, and Monitoring of Environmental Aid No access
    9. Cumulation No access
    10. “Stranded Costs” in the Electricity Sector No access
  4. 1. Overview No access
    2. Export Aid No access
    3. Internationalisation Aid No access
    4. Aid in the Field of Export-Credit Insurances No access
  5. 1. Introduction No access
    2. 1. Introduction No access
        Scope No access
        Definitions No access
        Conditions for exemption No access
        Cumulation No access
      2. Scope No access
        Definitions No access
        Structure of the Guidelines No access
        Aid to investors No access
        Aid to an investment fund, investment vehicle or manager No access
        Aid to the enterprises No access
        De minimis amounts No access
        Form of aid No access
        Section 4.3.1 – Maximum level of investment tranches No access
        Section 4.3.2 – Restriction to seed, start-up and expansion financing No access
        Section 4.3.3 – Prevalence of equity and quasi-equity investment instruments No access
        Section 4.3.4 – Participation by private investors No access
        Section 4.3.5 – Profit-driven character of investment decisions No access
        Section 4.3.6 – Commercial management No access
        Compatibility of risk capital aid measures subject to a detailed assessment No access
        Cumulation No access
        Reporting and monitoring No access
      3. Debt investment instruments No access
5. 1. 1. 1. General principles for the review of planned aid grants No access
      2. Objectives of sectoral aid No access
    2. 1. Sensitive sectors No access
      2. Other sectors with special regulations No access
    3. Commission Practice and Communications in Sectors without Special Regulations No access
    4. 1. Guidelines and Community frameworks No access
      2. Regulations and directives No access
    5. Administrative Discretion in Decision Making No access
    6. Sector Reports No access
    7. State Aid Action Plan and Horizontal Aid Policies No access
  2. 1. General No access
    2. 1. General principles No access
      2. General provisions – Regulations 1370/2007 and 1192/69 concerning State aid in rail, road, and inland waterway transport No access
        Road transport No access
        Directive 91/440/EEC: No access
        First Railway Package: No access
        Second Railway Package: No access
        Third Railway Package: No access
        Inland waterway transport No access
        Intermodal transport No access
      3. Requirements for compatibility under Article 73 EC No access
        Road Transport No access
        Rail transport No access
        Inland waterway transport No access
        Intermodal transport No access
      4. Current and future developments No access
    3. 1. General principles No access
      2. Scope No access
        Objectives No access
        Guidelines for evaluation No access
        Monitoring No access
      3. Application in practice No access
      4. The “Marco Polo” Program No access
        The “NAIADES” Program No access
        Sea ports No access
    4. 1. General Principles No access
      2. Scope of application No access
        Instructions and guidelines for evaluation No access
      3. Restructuring measures for State airlines No access
        Subsidization of low-cost airlines No access
        Rescue aid No access
        Effects of the attacks of 11 September 2001 No access
        Airports No access
  3. 1. Applicable Sectoral Regulations No access
    2. Legal Framework through 31 December 2001 No access
    3. 1. Period of validity No access
        Scope of application No access
        Aid levels No access
        List of sectors No access
      2. Scope of application No access
        Form of aid No access
        Maximum aid intensity No access
        Large investment projects No access
        Notification and assessment No access
        In-depth assessment No access
      3. Other aid No access
      4. European automotive industry framework of 25 February 2009 No access
  4. 1. 1. Scope of application No access
      2. Operating aid No access
        Export credits No access
        Development aid No access
        Aid for innovation No access
        Regional aid No access
        Closure aid No access
      3. Application of horizontal aid provisions No access
      4. Notification obligation and monitoring No access
    2. Application of Block Exemption Regulations No access
    3. Ship-Financing Guarantee Schemes No access
    4. New Member States and Candidates for Accession No access
  5. 1. Introduction No access
    2. 1. Regional investment aid No access
        Rescue and restructuring aid No access
        Closure aid No access
        Other aid No access
      2. Procedure No access
    3. 1. ECSC No access
      2. The Steel Aid Codes No access
      3. Individual decisions No access
      4. General State aid measures with effects in the steel sector No access
  6. 1. Introduction No access
    2. 1. Scope of applicability – Definition of “Coal” No access
        Aid for the reduction of activity- Article 4 Coal Regulation No access
        Aid for accessing coal reserves – Article 5 Coal Regulation No access
        Operating aid – Article 5(3) Coal Regulation No access
        Inherited liabilities – Article 7 Coal Regulation No access
      2. Procedure No access
      3. Expiration No access
    3. Aid Granted prior to 24 July 2002 No access
  7. 1. Definition of the Agricultural Sector No access
    2. 1. State aid as an instrument to achieve the agricultural policy goals No access
      2. No direct application of Articles 87 to 89 EC No access
      3. Important role of the Council No access
      4. Specific structure of the market No access
    3. 1. Regulation 1535/2007 – Agricultural de minimis No access
      2. Purpose and scope No access
        Procedure No access
        Categories of aid covered by the Block Exemption Regulation No access
      3. Purpose and scope No access
        Procedure No access
        General principles No access
        Categories of aid covered by the agricultural guidelines No access
      4. Aid for rural development No access
        Risk and crisis management No access
        Other types of aid No access
        Aid to forestry No access
        Table with an overview of the different types of aid No access
6. State of Aid pursuant to Article 87(3)(d) EC No access Pages 456 - 459
7. 1. Council’s Authority to Amend the Treaty No access
  2. Aid Approval by the Council pursuant to Article 88(2) sub-paras (3) and (4) EC No access
1. 1. General Background No access
  2. 1. Legal Basis of the General Block Exemption Regulation No access
    2. Procedure to Adopt the General Block Exemption Regulation No access
    3. Substantive Requirements of Reg 994/1998 No access
  3. Presence of State Aid pursuant to Article 87(1) EC No access
  4. 1. Scope of the GBER No access
    2. 1. General definitions No access
      2. Specific conditions applicable to investment aid No access
    3. Formal Conditions for Exemption No access
    4. Aid Intensity and Eligible Costs No access
    5. Concept of Transparent Aid No access
    6. Individual Notification Thresholds No access
    7. Cumulation No access
    8. Incentive Effect No access
    9. 1. Transparency No access
      2. Monitoring and annual reporting No access
  5. 1. 1. Regional investment aid No access
      2. Aid for newly created small enterprises No access
    2. 1. Introduction No access
      2. SME definition No access
      3. SME investment aid No access
        Aid for female entrepreneurship No access
        Aid for consultancy in favour of SMEs No access
        Aid for SME participation in fairs No access
        Risk capital aid No access
    3. 1. Introduction No access
      2. Definitions No access
      3. Aid for environmental protection except in the form of tax reductions No access
        Aid in the form of reductions in environmental taxes No access
    4. 1. Introduction No access
      2. Definition of R&D&I No access
      3. R&D project aid No access
        Innovation aid No access
    5. 1. Introduction No access
      2. General and specific training No access
      3. Permissible aid intensities and bonuses No access
        Eligible costs No access
    6. 1. Introduction No access
      2. Employment aid for job creation No access
        Aid for the recruitment of disadvantaged workers in the form of wage subsidies No access
        Aid for the employment of disabled workers in the form of wage subsidies No access
        Aid for compensating the additional costs of employing disabled workers No access
  6. Final and Transitional Provisions of the GBER No access
  7. Notification of Aid under the GBER No access
1. 1. The Concept of a Public Undertaking No access
  2. Community Law Framework No access
  3. Public Undertakings and EC State Aid Control No access
2. 1. Purpose and Development No access
  2. 1. Transparency Requirements of Public Undertakings No access
    2. Transparency Requirements of Public Undertakings in the Manufacturing Sector No access
    3. Public or Private Undertakings Required to Maintain Separate Accounts No access
3. 1. Presentation of the Problem No access
  2. Need for Public Authorities and Public Undertakings to Have a Wide Discretion in Their Investment Decisions No access
  3. Conclusion No access
4. 1. Introduction No access
  2. Cross-Subsidy Analysis from an Economic Perspective No access
  3. 1. Application of Article 87 EC to Internal Transactions No access
    2. Cross-Subsidisation Analysis in a Group of Companies and the Limits to the Application of the MEIP No access
    3. Cross-Subsidisation and Overcompensation of Public Services No access
5. 1. Introduction No access
  2. 1. 1. Stock exchange flotation No access
      2. Open, transparent and non-discriminatory tender No access
        Unconditional tender No access
        Highest bid No access
        Sufficient time and information No access
        Consequences of procedural flaws No access
    2. 1. List of indicators provided for in the report No access
      2. Privatisations Following an Expert Evaluation No access
    3. Negative Purchase Price No access
6. 1. The Principle of Neutrality as Laid Down in Article 295 EC No access
  2. 1. Inciting Privatisations through a Rigid Interpretation of the MEIP No access
    2. Conditioning Approval under Article 87(3)(c) EC upon the Privatisation of the Aid Recipient No access
    3. Concluding Remarks No access
1. 1. Introduction and Overview of the Community Acquis No access
  2. Services of General Economic Interest in the EC Treaty No access
  3. 1. Economic versus Non-Economic Services of General Interest No access
    2. SGEIs without Effect on Trade between Member States No access
  4. 1. The Judicature Prior to Altmark No access
    2. The Altmark Judgement No access
    3. 1. The ECJ judicature following Altmark No access
      2. CFI and Commission practice No access
      3. The BUPA judgement No access
    4. The Relationship between Altmark and Article 86(2) EC No access
    5. 1. Amount of compensation in the absence of a tendering procedure: Analysis of the cost of a typical undertaking No access
    6. Inter-Temporal Application of the Altmark Test No access
  5. 1. 1. Scope of application and thresholds No access
        Conditions for exemption No access
      2. Scope of application No access
        Conditions for exemption No access
    2. 1. Defining a general economic interest No access
      2. Entrustment No access
      3. Proportionality and obstruction test No access
        Community interest No access
2. 1. Introduction No access
  2. Telecommunications Services No access
  3. Postal Services No access
  4. Energy No access
  5. 1. Public Service Obligations in Inland Transport No access
    2. Public Service Obligations in Maritime Transport No access
    3. Public Service Obligations in Air Transport No access
  6. 1. Introduction No access
    2. 1. The State aid character of funding of public service broadcasters No access
      2. Distinction between existing and new State aid No access
      3. Public service remit No access
        Entrustment No access
        Choice of funding No access
        Transparency requirements No access
        Amount of compensation permissible and proportionality No access
      4. Diversification of public broadcasting services and new services No access
      5. Assessment of State funding of public service broadcasters under Article 87(3)(d) EC No access
    3. Outlook No access
1. 1. Basics of the Procedure No access
  2. Procedural Principles up until the Promulgation of br/Council Regulation 659/ 1999, and their ongoing Validity br/after the Regulation’s Entry into Force No access
  3. 1. Legislative History of Regulation 659/1999 No access
    2. Scope of Application of Regulation 659/1999 No access
    3. Implementing Rules for Regulation 659/1999 No access
    4. Structure of Regulation 659/1999 No access
    5. 1. Aid No access
      2. Existing aid No access
      3. New aid No access
      4. Aid scheme and individual aid No access
      5. Unlawful aid No access
      6. Misuse of aid No access
      7. Interested parties No access
  4. Internal Administrative Organization of the Commission in the Area of State Aid Control No access
2. 1. 1. Content No access
    2. Exceptions No access
    3. Special Notification Obligations No access
    4. Formal Requirements No access
    5. Withdrawal of a Notification No access
    6. Standstill Requirement No access
  2. 1. Purpose and Subject of the Preliminary Examination Procedure No access
    2. Duration of the Preliminary Examination Procedure No access
    3. Consequences of Expiry of the Two-Month Period No access
    4. Decisions after the Preliminary Examination Procedure No access
  3. 1. Purpose and Subject of the Formal Investigation Procedure No access
    2. Duration of the Formal Investigation Procedure No access
    3. Decisions after the Formal Investigation Procedure No access
  4. Revocation of a Decision No access
3. 1. General No access
  2. Initiation of a Procedure No access
  3. 1. 1. General principles No access
      2. Information injunction No access
      3. Suspension injunction No access
      4. Provisional recovery injunction No access
    2. No Time Limits No access
    3. Decisions after the Preliminary Examination Procedure No access
  4. 1. General Principles No access
    2. 1. Principle of recovery for all negative decisions with respect to unlawful aid No access
      2. General principles of Community law No access
        Limitation period No access
      3. Determination of the amount to be recovered No access
      4. Determination of the aid beneficiary, i. e. of the enterprise from which aid is to be recovered No access
      5. Implementation of the recovery decision No access
4. Procedure regarding Misuse of Aid No access Pages 715 - 717
5. 1. Scope of Application of the Procedure pursuant to Article 88(1) EC No access
  2. Cooperation pursuant to Article 88(1) EC (Article 17 Reg 659/1999) No access
  3. Proposal for Appropriate Measures (Article 18 Reg 659/1999) No access
  4. Legal Consequences of a Proposal for Appropriate Measures (Article 19 Reg 659/ 1999) No access
6. 1. General Principles No access
  2. Participation in the Formal Investigation Procedure (Article 20(1) Reg 659/1999) No access
  3. Right to File a Complaint (Article 20(2) Reg 659/1999) No access
  4. Rights to Information (Article 20(3) Reg 659/1999) No access
7. 1. General Monitoring Powers of the Commission No access
  2. Annual Reports (Article 21 Reg 659/1999) No access
  3. On-site Monitoring Visits (Article 22 Reg 659/1999) No access
  4. Non-compliance with Decisions and Judgments (Article 23 Reg 659/1999) No access
8. 1. Professional Secrecy (Article 24 Reg 659/1999) No access
  2. Addressee of Decisions (Article 25 Reg 659/1999) No access
  3. Publication of Decisions (Article 26 Reg 659/1999) No access
  4. Implementing Provisions (Arts. 27–29 Reg 659/1999) No access
  5. Entry into Force (Article 30 Reg 659/1999) No access
1. 1. General No access
  2. Legal Basis No access
  3. Scope of the Present Summary No access
2. 1. 1. The Member State Granting Aid No access
    2. 1. Legal entity No access
      2. Direct concern No access
        Individual concern No access
        Regional government agency’s immanent concern in judicial review No access
  2. 1. 1. Principle: Decision unreviewable, because merely a preliminary measure No access
      2. Exception: Classification as new aid (to which the standstill clause is applicable) No access
    2. Standing (locus standi) No access
  3. Legal Remedies against Provisional Orders pursuant to Article 11 of Reg 659/ 1999 and Orders for Disclosure pursuant to Article 10(3) Reg 659/1999 No access
  4. 1. Opening of a Procedure and Appropriate Measures No access
    2. Formal Investigation Procedure No access
  5. Action for Failure to Act No access
3. 1. 1. 1. Decision on individual aid No access
        Decision on a general aid scheme No access
      2. Decision on individual aid No access
        Decision on a general aid scheme No access
    2. Sufficient Legal Interest No access
  2. 1. Legal Consequences of the Decision to Open a Formal Investigation Procedure No access
    2. Locus Standi and Sufficient Legal Interest No access
  3. Legal Remedies against Provisional Orders pursuant to Article 11 Reg 659/1999 No access
  4. 1. Proposal of Appropriate Measures No access
    2. Agreement to Appropriate Measures No access
    3. Formal Investigation Procedure and Final Decisions No access
  5. Action for Failure to Act No access
  6. Claims for Damages pursuant to Article 288(2) EC No access
4. 1. General No access
  2. 1. 1. Decision that no aid is present or that aid is compatible under Article 87(3) EC No access
      2. Fiction of approval upon expiration of time limit pursuant to Article 4 Par. 6 Reg 659/1999 No access
      3. Classification as existing aid No access
    2. 1. Decision concerning individual aid No access
        Decision concerning a general aid scheme No access
      2. Individual concern No access
    3. Sufficient Legal Interest No access
  3. 1. Contestable Legal Act No access
    2. 1. Direct concern No access
      2. The double test: “procedural involvement” and “substantive effect on market position” No access
        Procedural involvement necessary? No access
        “Substantive impact” No access
    3. Sufficient Legal Interest No access
  4. 1. Significance No access
    2. Admissibility and Standing No access
    3. Demand for Action No access
    4. 1. General No access
      2. Action by the Commission No access
      3. Practical advice on procedure No access
    5. 1. Commission action before the filing of suit No access
      2. Commission action after the filing of suit No access
    6. 1. Obligation to issue a decision concluding the preliminary investigation No access
      2. Obligation to issue a decision concluding the formal investigation procedure No access
      3. Obligation to open a formal investigation procedure with a view to the repeal of a decision pursuant to Article 9 Reg 659/1999 No access
      4. Obligation to make a decision on the issuance of a provisional order pursuant to Article 11 Reg 659/1999 No access
    7. The Decision No access
  5. Legal Remedies against a Member State’s Failure to Demand Repayment of Aid No access
  6. 1. Proposal of Appropriate Measures No access
    2. Agreement to Appropriate Measures No access
    3. Formal Investigation Procedure No access
    4. Conclusions No access
  7. Claims for Damages pursuant to Article 288(2) EC No access
5. 1. 1. Importance No access
    2. 1. The association as advocate for the concerns of its members No access
      2. Association representing its own concerns No access
  2. 1. 1. The association as advocate of the concerns of its members No access
        Individual concern of an association No access
      2. The association as advocate for the concerns of its members No access
        Independent concern of the association No access
    2. Miscellaneous No access
6. 1. Relevant Point in Time for Assessment of the Factual and Legal Circumstances No access
  2. 1. Legal Standards Applicable to Review No access
    2. 1. Limited review No access
      2. The Commission’s scope of discretion and judgment in approving State aid pursuant to Article 87(3) EC No access
      3. Does the Commission enjoy discretionary authority in determining that a State measure qualifies as State aid? No access
  3. 1. 1. Violation of the Member State’s right to participation and a fair hearing No access
      2. Violation of the procedural rights of other parties No access
    2. Inadequate statement of reasons No access
1. 1. 1. The Role of National Courts No access
    2. Commission Policy and Guidance to National Courts No access
  2. 1. 1. State aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) EC No access
      2. Notification requirement No access
      3. Retroactive implementation of State aid No access
        Subsequent annulment of Commission approval No access
    2. 1. Illegality and incompatibility with the common market No access
      2. Illegality and nullity of aid measures No access
    3. 1. Preventing the payment No access
      2. Recovery of State aid No access
      3. Recovery of interests No access
      4. Damages No access
      5. Interim measures No access
      6. Avoidance; Reimbursement of financial burden No access
    4. 1. Legal standing No access
      2. Standing issues in tax cases No access
      3. Standing of the Member State granting the alleged aid? No access
  3. Enforcement of Commission Recovery Decisions by National Courts No access
  4. Incidental Challenges to Decisions Authorizing Aid No access
1. 1. General No access
  2. Relationship to Article 12 EC No access
  3. Relationship to Article 28 EC No access
  4. Relationship to Article 31 EC No access
  5. Relationship to Article 43, 48 EC No access
  6. Relationship to Article 81, 82 EC No access
  7. Relationship to Article 90 EC No access
  8. 1. Relationship to Council Regulation 139/2004 No access
1. 1. Points of Contact between State Aid Law and Public Procurement Law No access
  2. 1. 1. Excessive price No access
      2. Other non-market contract terms No access
      3. Consideration of irrelevant award criteria No access
      4. De facto awards of public contracts No access
      5. In-house awards No access
      6. Positive discrimination No access
      7. Public contract for unnecessary services No access
      8. Granting of exclusive rights or concessions No access
    2. 1. Requirements for a non-discriminatory bidding procedure No access
      2. Effect under State aid law of awarding a contract in compliance with the procurement directives No access
    3. 1. Standstill obligation No access
      2. Recovery of State aid No access
      3. Legitimate expectations and counterclaims by the unlawfully advantaged contractor No access
  3. 1. Exempt or Approved State Aid No access
    2. 1. Personal situation of the bidder No access
        Economic and financial soundness of the bidder No access
      2. Formally and substantively unlawful State aid No access
        “Neutralization” of unlawful aids through an increase in the offer submitted No access
    3. Subsequently Approved Aids No access
    4. Appropriate Measures No access
    5. The Contracting Authorities’ Duty to Investigate No access