The French Supreme Administrative Courts paves the way for State’s liability in State aid law (Pantochim)

The claim of Pantochim brought a very interesting case before the French administrative supreme Court concerning State's liability in the context of State aid. The claimant requested a ministerial order to be repealed. The order provided for an exemption of the tax of consomption of petroleum products (Taxe intérieure sur les produits pétroliers) for some categories of biooils (biocarburants). Pantochim, a company selling biocarburants, claimed for damages as its products were out of the scope of the tax exemption. According to Pantochim, its prejudice resulted from the loss of earnings fault of having been able to effectively compete with the competing companies which took advantage from the tax exemption on the same market. The claimant argued that the State was at fault for having