Koen Van de Casteele

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* On 20 July 2010 the Commission concluded that a guarantee granted by the Portuguese State to six banks in Portugal to lend €450 million to BPP at the height of the financial crisis, in December 2008, constituted illegal and (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* On 20 July 2010, the Commission has authorised €17 million of regional investment aid for the German company Solibro GmbH for the production of solar modules in Bitterfeld-Wolfen (Sachsen-Anhalt), Germany. The project involves (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* On 20 July 2010, the Commission has also authorised €8.5 million of regional investment aid to the Spanish company Silicio Solar SAU for the production of solar wafers in Puertollano, Ciudad Real (Castilla-La–Mancha). The (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* The Swedish press aid scheme has been in place since 1971, before Sweden’s accession to the European Union. It is therefore considered as existing aid and its assessment is subject to a specific cooperation procedure between (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* On 6 July 2010 the Commission approved the establishment of an occupational pension scheme, called NEST (National Employment Savings Trust), which will manage an occupational pension scheme. The scheme was notified to the (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* On 6 July 2010 the Commission authorised €28.7 million of regional investment aid that Germany intends to grant in favour of Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH for the extension of its production facility for ship and offshore cranes (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* The Commission has authorised on 30 June 2010 a €550 million capital injection provided by Austria in favour of the BAWAG bank and approved a new restructuring plan of the bank13. In 2007 already, the Commission had approved a (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* On 29 June 2010 the Commission has authorised aid for the restructuring of Caja Castilla-La Mancha. The Commission’s investigation found that the orderly break-up of Caja Castilla-La Mancha, followed by the sale of the (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission has authorised aid that Latvia intends to grant by way of tender for the construction and operation of a 400 MW thermal power plant between 2015 and 2025. The aim of the measure is to ensure that future (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* The Commission has authorised on 10 June 2010 a measure adopted by Latvia to limit the adverse impact of the current financial crisis on exporting firms. The Commission found the measure to be in line with its Temporary (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* The Commission has authorised on 9 June 2010 €16 million of regional investment aid, which the Italian authorities intend to grant to Fiat Powertrain Technologies S.p.A. (FPT), a subsidiary of the Fiat Group, for the production (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* On 9 June 2010 the Commission adopted a final negative decision concerning an aid granted by Hungary to the national oil and gas company MOL. In January 2009 the Commission had opened an in-depth investigation. The measure (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* The Commission has authorised The Netherlands to provide a grant of €10 million to Nuon Energy Sourcing NV for a CO2 capture demonstration project. The project concerns the deployment of a CO2 capture demonstration facility (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* The Commission has authorised on 26 May 2010 SNCB‘s plans to restructure its freight activities and convert its freight division into a subsidiary. In December 2009 Belgium notified a project to restructure SNCB‘s freight (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* The Commission approved on 20 May 2010 a €1.5 billion recapitalisation provided by Belgium in the context of the restructuring of Ethias, a Belgian insurer that ran into severe difficulties in 2008. Ethias historically (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* On 12 May the Commission has launched a public consultation on the application of its 2005 Package on Services of general economic interest (SGEI). The Package sets out guidance as to when State funding of SGEIs is compatible (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* On 12 May 2010 the Commission has granted final clearance to the Swedish aid for the restructuring of Carnegie Investment Bank. In October 2008, the Swedish government provided a rescue loan of SEK2.4 billion (€ 225 million) (...)

State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010* The Commission has authorised on 12 May 2010 the introduction of “Real Estate Investment Trusts” (REITs) in Finland that will be exempted from corporate income tax in order to encourage investment in affordable rental housing27. (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2010"* The Commission has formally requested France to implement a 2008 judgment of the European Court of Justice declaring that France had failed to recover incompatible State aid awarded in the form of exemptions from corporate tax (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* On 30 April 2010, DG Competition prepared a staff working document on the application of State aid rules to government guarantee schemes covering bank debt to be issued after 30 June 2010. The document proposes a review of (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission has authorised an aid scheme to compensate power generators for certain costs resulting from the termination of long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) in Hungary. The aim of the Hungarian scheme is to (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission has authorised France to grant repayable advances of €35.14 million to Daher-Socata (€12.34 million) and Sogerma (€22.8 million) for the development of the next-generation Main Landing Gear Doors (MLGD) and (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission has authorised Germany to grant €19.1 million for an energy-saving steel production project run by Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH, a subsidiary of the Salzgitter AG group. The aid will allow Salzgitter to produce (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* On 24 March 2010 the Commission authorised French aid worth €18.9 million for the GAYA research programme, a programme aimed at developing production technologies for second-generation motor biofuels. GAYA‘s objective is (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission has authorised Austria to grant €16 million towards an energy-saving project run by Verbund-Austrian Thermal Power GmbH & Co. KG (a subsidiary of the Verbund group) for the combined production of (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission has approved a proposal by the Cyprus Government to impose a special reduced tax on companies engaged in international maritime transport; this tax would replace the corporate tax. The Cyprus government has (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission also authorised a Slovenian measure to provide insurance cover via the State-owned agency, SID Banka, to exporters who are unable to obtain cover from the private market as a result of the current financial (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission has authorised the granting of investment aid of €30.18 million by Germany to ArcelorMittal Eisenhuettenstadt GmbH’s ‘Top Gas Recycling’ (TGR) project. TGR is an innovative process that enables the separation (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* On 26 February 2010, the Commission approved the establishment of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), an impaired asset relief scheme for financial institutions in Ireland. The purpose of NAMA is to restore (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission has authorised a Danish scheme providing export loans to Danish exporters and/or their clients who are experiencing difficulties in accessing funding in the current financial crisis. The Commission found the (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission has authorised plans notified by Sweden to provide a guarantee that will enable Saab Automobile AB to access a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The loan to be granted by the EIB will co-finance (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission has authorised an amendment to a Dutch short-term export credit insurance scheme, which was initially approved on 2 October 2009. The amendments include a reduction in the level of premiums to be paid by (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission has decided to refer Italy to the European Court of Justice for failing to comply with a Commission decision of July 2008. On 12 November 1998, the Commission approved an aid measure in favour of the hotel (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* On 27 January 2010, the Commission decided that Sovello AG (formerly EverQ GmbH), a German manufacturer of solar panels, was not entitled to receive public support in the form of a bonus for small and medium-sized (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission has approved €576 million for a Spanish film support scheme until 31 December 2015. The scheme covers Spain’s national film support measures, including film production and distribution. The scheme is in line (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* On 26 January 2010, the Commission completed its investigation into the unlimited state guarantee enjoyed by the French Post Office (‘La Poste‘) because of its special status as a public body, following the adoption by the (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* Since 2002 the Commission has received complaints from several commercial broadcasters and other media undertakings about various aspects of the financing regime applying to Dutch public service broadcasters. The (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* On 25 January 2010 the Commission approved the measures taken by the UK Government for the liquidation of Bradford & Bingley. Bradford and Bingley provided specialist mortgages and savings products. It operated 197 (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* On 25 January 2010, the Commission approves aid given by the UK authorities to facilitate restructuring of the Dunfermline Building Society of the United Kingdom. The restructuring consisted of the immediate split-up of (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission has approved a Hungarian measure aimed at providing liquidity to eligible financial institutions in Hungary to support lending to the economy. In the period from late 2008 to early 2009, the Hungarian (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission has authorised a measure adopted by Denmark which provides a State guarantee on non-life insurance against damage arising from nuclear, biological, chemical or radioactive (NBCR) terrorist attacks that exceeds (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* On 15 December 2009, the European Commission endorsed commitments made by the Dutch authorities to bring the social housing system into line with EU state aid rules. In particular, the Dutch authorities will ensure that (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* On 15 December 2009, the European Commission also endorsed a scheme to compensate the Polish post for net losses incurred in discharging its public service obligations between 2006 and 2011. The Commission found the (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (‘LBBW‘) benefited from two support measures: an injection of € 5 billion of tier-one capital and an impaired assets relief measure in the form of guarantees of € 12.7 billion for two (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* After an in-depth investigation opened in February 2009, the European Commission found that a tax exemption which the Dutch state intends to grant for natural gas used in installations producing ceramic products would (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* Under a package of financial support measures approved by the Commission on 13 October 2008, RBS received state recapitalisation of £ 20 billion (€ 22 billion), giving the state a 70 % stake in the bank. Approval of (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* On 8 December 2009 a technical amendment to the Temporary Framework was adopted to open up easier access to finance and encourage longterm investment, especially in Member States with low labour costs. Member States (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* In 2007, the Commission initiated a formal investigation of a corporate tax provision that allows Spanish companies to amortise goodwill (i.e. write off, over a period of time, the price paid for acquisition of a (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* After an in-depth investigation opened in July 2006, the European Commission found that operating aid granted to aluminium producer Alcoa by Italy since 2006 was incompatible. The preferential electricity tariffs that (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* ING received a € 10 billion capital injection from the Dutch state on 22 October 2008. This was authorised by the Commission as rescue aid on 13 November 2008. After early redemption of € 5 billion before the end of (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* Lloyds Banking Group is the entity resulting from the acquisition of HBOS by Lloyds TSB in January 2009. In 2008, HBOS was on the brink of bankruptcy as a result of risky lending and heavy dependence on wholesale (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* KBC has benefited from three aid measures: a recapitalisation of € 3.5 billion; a second recapitalisation of another € 3.5 billion; and an asset relief measure on a portfolio containing collateralised debt obligations (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* On 28 October 2009, the Commission approved a package of measures to support the restructuring of UK mortgage bank Northern Rock. The bank will be split into a ‘good’ bank that will continue the economic activities of (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* The Commission authorised establishment of urban tax-free zones in certain parts of Italy. The aim is to encourage regeneration of particularly deprived areas. In the 22 areas classified as urban tax-free zones, small (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* In January 2003, the Hungarian authorities introduced new provisions allowing favourable taxation of net interest income received from affiliated companies belonging to the same corporate group. The measure allowed a (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* The European Commission has concluded that Italian measures in favour of two R&D projects conducted by Agusta concerning helicopters (A139 and BA609) are of a military nature and therefore fall within the scope of (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* The Commission authorised an Italian scheme offering interest-rate subsidies for the production of environmentally friendly (green) products. The measure will focus on the car component industry and, more precisely, on (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* The Commission endorsed a Finnish proposal for tax incentives for productive investment projects. Under the proposed scheme, for the 2009 and 2010 fiscal years Finland will temporarily double the depreciation rates for (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* The European Commission has adopted Guidelines on application of state aid rules to the public funding of broadband networks. Over the last five years, the Commission has adopted more than 40 individual decisions (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* On 30 September 2009, the European Commission approved public co-financing of the roll-out of a passive, neutral and open broadband network covering the entire French department of Hauts-de-Seine, including the (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009"* IKB is a medium-sized private German bank with a business focus on medium-sized companies. IKB was the first bank in Germany to receive aid, in 2007, to offset the damage caused by bad investments in structured securities. (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2009"* On 1 September 2009, the European Commission authorised a payment of state aid to France Télévision in 2009, as it complied with the Commission Communication on state aid for the funding of public service broadcasters. (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009"* On 22 July 2009, following an in-depth investigation that began in June 2005, the Commission authorised various support measures worth € 251 million, spread over several years and extending into the future, to assist the Gdansk (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009"* On 22 July 2009, the Commission authorised subsidised feed-in tariffs in Austria for producers of green electricity (i.e.electricity produced from environmentally-friendly sources). The measures are designed to accelerate and (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009"* On 10 June 2009, Luxembourg informed the Commission that a € 320 million loan had been set up for restructuring Kaupthing Bank Luxembourg SA. Since the primary purpose of the loan was to compensate depositors with the Belgian (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009"* On 8 July 2009, the Commission endorsed a Dutch ‘Groepsrentebox’ tax break scheme. The Commission concluded that the Dutch plan to apply reduced taxation on revenue from intra-group loans under a scheme known as (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009"* On 2 July 2009, the Commission adopted a new Communication on the application of State aid rules to public service broadcasting. The Communication provides a clear framework for the development of public broadcasting services (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009"* The European Commission granted temporary clearance to a recapitalisation scheme and an asset relief measure offered to Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW) by the German State of Baden-Württemberg. The asset relief is to be (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009"* On 30 June 2009 the Commission approved a € 50 million rescue aid loan to German retailer Quelle. The Commission concluded that the aid complies with the conditions of the EU Guidelines on rescuing and restructuring firms in (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009"* On 24 June, the Commission adopted a guidance paper setting out criteria for the in-depth assessment of regional aid to large investment projects. The Regional Aid Guidelines 2007-13 state that large investment projects above (...)

State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009* On 22 June 2009 the Commission adopted a Communication on the return to viability and the assessment of restructuring measures in the financial sector in the current crisis under the State aid rules (2). This is the fifth (...)

State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009* Under EU state aid rules, the European Commission approved a German scheme designed to further stabilise the financial markets by providing financial institutions with the possibility of asset relief. This scheme is in addition (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009"* On 18 June 2009, the Commission decided not to raise any objections to the € 33 million of financial support granted by France to Carmat’s R&D programme. The lead company, Carmat S.A.S., backed up by four industrial (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009"* On 18 June 2009, the Commission authorised an Irish scheme of levies and tax relief in the health insurance sector. The scheme aims to promote intergenerational solidarity by decreasing the risk differentials between old and (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009"* On 18 June 2009, under EU state aid rules, the Commission authorised € 51.9 million of aid which the Spanish authorities intend to grant to Ford España, part of the Ford Motor Company, for radically transforming their existing (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009"* On 3 June 2009, as a part of its efforts to clarify and simplify state aid rules, the Commission adopted two guidance papers setting out criteria for the in-depth assessment of large amounts of training aid and of aid to (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009"* Under EU state aid rules, and following an in-depth investigation that began in October 2008, the European Commission approved the € 5 billion risk shield and accompanying measures for German bank WestLB. The risk shield was (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2009"* On 21 April 2009, the Commission approved the UK Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme to help households affected by the financial downturn. The scheme aims to reduce the level of home repossessions likely to occur as a result (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2009"* The Commission authorised on 20 April 2009 under the Temporary Framework a measure adopted by Luxembourg to limit the adverse impact of the current financial crisis on export firms. Under the notified scheme, the (...)

State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2009* On 17 April 2009, the UK notified its intention to set up another scheme to alleviate the funding constraints that banks are currently facing. By guaranteeing AAA rated residential mortgage-backed securities (‘RMBS’), the UK (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2009"* On 8 April 2009, the Commission decided that four State aid measures granted in favour of the UK postal incumbent Royal Mail between 2001 and 2007 were in line with EU State aid rules. Since none of the measures had been (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2009"* On 31 March 2009, the Commission approved for 6 months the illiquid asset back-up facility provided by the Dutch State to the financial group ING, while at the same time initiating the formal investigation procedure laid (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2009"* On 24 March 2009, the Commission authorised €800 million of public funding for a comprehensive support programme aimed at the Spanish textile and clothing sector. The programme comprises measures to promote technical (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2009"* In addition to the specific banking communications it has already issued, the Commission adopted on 25 February 2009 a Communication on ‘Impaired assets’. This Communication provides guidance to Member States on how to (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2009"* On 11 February 2009, the Commission endorsed €56 million of regional investment aid to Sunfilm for the production of thin-film solar modules in Saxony, Germany. Sunfilm AG is a newly founded company which is setting up a (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2009"* On 11 February 2009, the Commission found aid granted to BT to be partially unlawful and ordered recovery. The Commission concluded that a UK Crown guarantee covering the pension liabilities of British Telecom plc on the (...)

State aid: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2009* Commerzbank has sustained major losses, in particular deriving from the Dresdner Bank ABS portfolio. Moreover, given the current crisis, financial markets need more capital, The German Government therefore agreed to provide (...)

State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2009* On 19 December 2008, the Irish authorities informed the Commission of their intention to recapitalise Anglo Irish Bank with €1.5 billion. On 8 January 2009, the Irish authorities formally notified this measure. Due to the (...)

"State aid: main developments between 1 January and 30 April 2010"* The Commission has decided to refer Greece to the European Court of Justice for failing to comply with a Commission decision of 8 July 2008 which found that State aid had been unlawfully granted to Hellenic Shipyards (HSY) (...)

"Next EU enlargement: Romania and State aid control"* 1. Introduction In December 2004 the final chapters of the accession negotiations with Romania on Justice and Home Affairs (chapter 24) and Competition (chapter 6) were finally closed. Unlike for most other chapters, mere commitments (...)

"The European Court of Justice clarifies the powers of the Council in State aid cases"* On 29 June 2004 the Court of Justice annulled a Council decision adopted on the basis of Article 88(2), 3rd paragraph EC, authorising Portugal to grant State aid to pig farmers. The amount of State aid (...)