European State Aid Law

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.