The EC State Aid Regime: Distortive Effects of State Aid on Competition and Trade

This book provides a concise and comprehensive overview of the existing State aid instruments, their practical application and the principles underlying the ongoing State aid reform. The book enables readers without any knowledge in the area, an easy access to the notion of State aid, the key concepts of the State aid procedure and the legal remedies. At the same time, it provides State aid experts with specific and in-depth analysis of subjects such as, for example:-

• infrastructure funding, the market investor test, rescue and restructuring aid,
• State aid and risk capital, regional aid, aid for environmental protection,
• State aid and emission trading,
• State aid to the aviation and shipbuilding sectors,
• State aid in the fields of agriculture and fisheries,
• State aid to culture and sports,
• The international dimension of State aid.

The important area of State aid to services of general economic interest receives special attention in a separate chapter. The growing importance of economic analysis in the area of State aid and the ongoing discussion of the State aid reform have also been taken care of in two separate chapters in the book.

The team of authors brought together to contribute to this book is composed of scientists, practitioners and civil servants of different administrative bodies and the European Commission. This diversity provides a very balanced presentation of State aid law and practice, reflecting the different perspectives and backgrounds of experts who are well placed to explain and assess the existing law and practice and the ongoing reform process.

EC State aid law has grown in width and depth, it is becoming an area of Community law which can no longer be ignored. This book will be of great benefit for legal practitioners, national judges, civil servants, academic teachers and students, who want to acquire or enhance their knowledge in this expanding field of law.