About: State aid
Agriculture DG loses state aid oversight to boost competition rules
In an unexpected move, Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen has decided to move state aid competences in farming and fisheries from two directorates-general, Agriculture and Maritime affairs and fisheries, to DG Competition.
Barcelona and Madrid clubs team up to defeat Commission over tax regimes
Spanish football teams Real Madrid, Barcelona, Osasuna and Athletic Club Bilbao will not have to repay tax bills, after EU judges said on Tuesday that their tax regimes were lawful, contrary to the European Commission’s verdict.
Commission gives go-ahead to Italy’s milk plan, anticipates new EU cap for state aid
Support measures to help sheep milk prices recover are not state aid, said Italy’s Minister Centinaio after a meeting with EU Commissioner Hogan, who prepared the ground for increasing the ceilings up to which agriculture state aid can be provided.
EU court rules against Commission on Belgium ‘excess profit’ tax scheme
The system of exception for the excess profit of Belgian entities that are part of multinational corporate groups does not constitute illegal state aid, contrary to the European Commission's previous assessment, the EU's top court ruled on Thursday (14 February).
Italy’s populist leaders pledge to replace central bank’s top brass
Italy's populist leaders on Saturday (9 February) promised to replace top officials at the country's central bank, who they said must pay for failing to prevent a spate of banking scandals in which thousands lost their savings.
Romania keeps giving state aid to coal even as it holds EU presidency
Romania is continuing to prop up its ailing coal sector, blatantly ignoring EU state aid rules, even as the country claims to be defending EU values while holding the rotating presidency of the bloc, writes Alexandru Mustață.
McDonald’s tax deal with Luxembourg ‘not illegal’, Commission says
The European Commission concluded on Wednesday (19 September) that Luxembourg’s tax deal with McDonald’s was not illegal state aid as it did not give the company an unfair advantage, but instead was due to the “mismatch” of US and Luxembourgish tax laws.
French energy giant Engie hit with €120 million ‘illegal’ state aid ruling
Luxembourg will have to recover about €120 million in unpaid tax from French energy giant Engie, after the European Commission found the Grand Duchy guilty of breaching strict state aid rules.
‘Capacity markets’ must remain technologically-neutral
The European Parliament’s approach to electricity market design is a serious challenge to security of energy supply in Poland and other EU member states, warns Frank Umbach.
Austria sues over EU approval of Hungary nuclear plant
Staunchly anti-nuclear Austria lodged a legal complaint with the European Court of Justice yesterday (22 February) against the EU's approval of the expansion of a nuclear plant in neighbouring Hungary.
Italy fumes against company relocations in bitter election campaign
European Union rules are helping less wealthy nations swipe jobs from their bigger partners, Italy's industry ministry said yesterday (20 February), as plans by a multinational to shift production to Slovakia took centre stage in the national election campaign.
Commission launches investigation into IKEA’s tax rulings
The European Commission announced on Monday (18 December) that it is investigating Ikea’s tax bills as it suspects that the Swedish furniture maker may have benefited from illegal aid offered by the Netherlands, worth around €1 billion according to some reports.
Commission launches probe into Spanish aid to coal-powered plants
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into Spain's state aid for coal power plants to establish whether it is in line with EU rules, the executive said on Monday (27 November). EURACTIV Spain reports.
2018 start for expansion of Russia-backed Hungarian nuclear plant
Work on the Russian-financed expansion of a Hungarian nuclear plant will begin in January, Hungary's foreign minister said Monday (29 August) after talks in Budapest between Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Energy giants back calls to cut dirty power plant subsidies
A coalition of thirteen energy industry firms, including Siemens, Shell and Total, have launched a new joint initiative to limit the amount of state aid subsidies that are sent to highly-polluting fossil fuel plants across the EU. EURACTIV's media partner edie.net reports.
Liquidation of Italian banks shows limits of banking resolution rules
The European Commission's approval of a €17 billion aid package for an orderly wind-down of Italy's Veneto Banca and Banca Popolare di Vicenza, has sparked doubts about the strict application of banking resolution rules.
Italy coughs up €17bn to deal with two troubled banks
Italy will pay up to €17 billion to break up two insolvent Venetian banks, which have posed a threat to the country's banking system, the government announced Sunday (25 June).
Commission gives free hand to capitals to subsidise small airports
The European Commission announced today (17 May) a review of state aid rules that will allow member states to pour millions of euros of support into struggling regional airports without prior approval from Brussels.
Croatia passes law to rescue debt-laden giant Agrokor
Croatia passed an emergency law yesterday (6 April) aimed at protecting the economy from big company failures as Agrokor, the country's largest private firm, seeks to resolve its debt crisis.
Italy to stretch EU rules again with new bank bailout
Italy's plans to bail out two regional banks pose a dilemma for European regulators, who are still considering whether Monte dei Paschi qualifies for state aid, three months after giving a preliminary green light.
Hungary wins final EU approval for Russian-built nuclear plant
The European Commission cleared on Monday (6 March) the last hurdle for Hungary’s nuclear project Paks II despite outstanding concerns about the role of the national regulator and spent fuel management.
European airlines implore Commission to draft strong law against Gulf rivals
French and German flag carriers Air France-KLM and Lufthansa have urged the European Commission to counter what they say are unfair practices by Gulf airlines, in a bid to influence the drafting of a new EU law.
US companies would avoid EU state aid rules with Republican tax proposal
A planned reform of the US tax system designed to attract economic activity and jobs to the country could also put US companies beyond the reach of European state aid rules, an EU official told EURACTIV's media partner PaRR.
Festive EU gives approval to member state projects
The European Commission was in a giving mood just in time for Christmas today (19 December) as it greenlit a number of member state projects.