Administrative & Regulatory Law · European Union
Get State Aid Right Before the Money Moves
Unlawful state aid can be ordered repaid years after it is granted. We match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who handles aid measures, exemptions and recovery cases across Europe every day.
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Who this is for
Both grantors and recipients carry state aid risk
State aid rules control what public money a government may give to businesses. The core principle is simple: a member state may not selectively favour certain companies in a way that distorts competition and affects trade within the EU, unless the aid is justified and approved. This covers far more than direct grants — it extends to subsidised loans, guarantees, tax breaks, capital injections and the sale or lease of public assets at favourable terms. Because the definition is broad and the exceptions are detailed, both public authorities and the companies that receive public support can find themselves in difficulty: aid granted without prior approval can be ordered recovered, with interest, years after the fact. Whether you are a public body designing a support measure or a business receiving one, specialist advice can confirm that a measure is lawful — or flag a risk before money changes hands.
Why measures come unstuck
State aid mistakes are discovered late.
And they are expensive.
Because the definition is far broader than most expect, many measures are only found to be aid after the money has already been paid — and spent.
Aid that must be repaid years later
If support is later found to be unlawful state aid, the beneficiary can be ordered to repay it with interest — often long after the money has been spent. The recovery obligation falls on the company, not only the state that granted it.
The definition is broader than people expect
State aid is not just grants. Guarantees, soft loans, tax exemptions, debt write-offs and sales of public land below market value can all qualify — and many measures are found to be aid precisely because they were never assessed as such.
Notification and approval are easy to miss
Most aid must be notified to and approved by the European Commission before it is granted. Skipping this step, or relying on an exemption that does not actually apply, can invalidate the entire measure.
What you get
A state aid lawyer who verifies the measure before it bites
We only match you with lawyers who handle state aid assessments, notifications and recovery cases regularly in your sector and country.
Classification of measures
Your lawyer assesses whether a planned or existing measure amounts to state aid at all — a threshold question that is often harder than it looks and determines everything that follows.
Exemptions & approvals
Get support relying on block exemptions, de minimis rules or notifying the measure to the Commission — whichever route the facts require, and whichever is most efficient for your situation.
Compliance for beneficiaries
If your business receives public support, your lawyer confirms the measure’s lawfulness and your obligations, so you are not surprised by a recovery order years later.
Complaints & recovery
Represent your interests when a competitor challenges aid you received, or when you wish to challenge aid granted to others that distorts your market and harms your competitive position.
Coverage
State aid lawyers across Europe
State aid rules are set at EU level but applied to measures across every member state, and the practical risk depends on the specific measure and country. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
State aid — common questions
What exactly is state aid?
State aid is any advantage granted by a public authority, using state resources, to specific companies or sectors, which could distort competition and affect trade within the EU. It covers grants, but also guarantees, soft loans, tax advantages and the sale of public assets below market value.
Why does state aid have to be approved?
To prevent governments from selectively favouring national companies in ways that undermine the single market. Most aid must be notified to the European Commission and approved before it is granted; unlawful aid can be ordered to be recovered from the beneficiary with interest.
Is all public support to business illegal?
No. Many measures are lawful because they fall under block exemptions, the de minimis threshold, or are approved by the Commission. The key is confirming which category a measure fits into before it is granted or received.
What is the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER)?
The GBER declares whole categories of aid — for research, training, regional investment, environmental protection and more — compatible with the single market without individual notification, provided strict conditions are met. Applying it correctly requires care, as the conditions are detailed.
What happens if aid is found to be unlawful?
The Commission can order the member state to recover the aid from the beneficiary, with interest. Recovery can come years after the aid was granted and spent, which is why both grantors and recipients should verify lawfulness before any payment.
Can a competitor challenge aid my business received?
Yes. Competitors can complain to the Commission, and national courts can hear challenges to the grant of aid. A lawyer can help you defend aid you received, or challenge aid to rivals that distorts your market.
Free case review
State aid questions are cheaper to answer before the money moves
Tell us about the measure you are granting or receiving and we’ll connect you with a state aid lawyer who handles your sector and country — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.