State Aid

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What is State aid?

State aid is a highly technical area of EU law and has generated a wide range of evolving case law. Compliance with State aid rules is therefore an issue in any public intervention that involves State resources. State aid issues are usually quite complex, requiring a high level of expertise, in-depth knowledge and pragmatism.

CMS Lawyers: World-class State aid specialists

CMS has a dedicated team of legal specialists to advise on State aid-related matters. Our State aid specialist lawyers take a thorough approach to legal detail and can also stand back and take a wider view to deliver the best results.

Our experience covers all aspects of State aid:

  • fiscal incentives
  • rescue and restructuring aid
  • aid for infrastructures
  • services of general economic interest
  • regional aid
  • RDI aid
  • aid for environmental
  • aid for energy, etc. 

State Aid Law: Our Services

CMS lawyers represent both public authorities and private companies on all aspects of the State aid rules. This includes: 

  • Legal assessment of the existence of an aid and its compatibility 
  • Set up of aid schemes
  • Assistance to public authorities in the notification of State aid
  • Assistance to public authorities or beneficiaries in State aid investigations by the European Commission Drafting and lodging complaints before the European Commission 
  • Litigation before national and EU Courts 

CMS State aid specialists have particular expertise in following industry sectors: 

  • Air, maritime and rail transport sectors 
  • Energy
  • Financial Services 
  • Postal sector 
  • Telecoms 
  • Multifunctional and sport infrastructure 
  • Manufacturing 

Well advised with CMS - nationally and internationally

The CMS State Aid Practice Area Group comprises 40 State aid law specialists practicing State aid law in 17 jurisdictions being located in 20 cities in Europe and beyond – all committed to assist you. 

Find your local contact person in our brochure CMS State Aid Group.


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12/10/2023
FSR and public pro­cure­ment/con­ces­sion procedures – Be Prepared
On 12 October 2023, the notification and declaration obligation for public procurement and concessions procedures under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) and its implementing Regulation comes into...
12/10/2023
FSR and concentrations – Be Prepared
On 12 October 2023, the notification obligation for concentrations under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) and its implementing Regulation comes into force. The Commission recently announced that...
13/07/2023
CMS State Aid Group
World-class State aid specialists State aid is a highly technical area of EU law and has generated a wide range of evolving case law. Compliance with State aid rules is therefore an issue in any public intervention that involves State resources. State aid can indeed occur whenever a public authority or undertaking grants a selective advantage to undertakings to the detriment of others. It can distort competition and affect trade between Member States, which is harmful to consumers and undertakings in the EU. State aid issues are usually quite complex, requiring a high level of expertise, in-depth knowledge and pragmatism. CMS has a dedicated team of legal specialists to advise on State aid-related matters. Our State aid specialist lawyers take a thorough approach to legal detail and can also stand back and take a wider view to deliver the best results. Our experience covers all aspects of State aid: fiscal incentives, rescue and restructuring aid, aid for infrastructures, services of general economic interest, regional aid, RDI aid, aid for environmental, aid for energy, etc. CMS State Aid Group The CMS State Aid Practice Area Group comprises 45 State aid law specialists practicing State aid law in 20 jurisdictions being located in 23 cities in Europe and beyond – all committed to assist you. Broad Sector Experience CMS State aid specialists have particular expertise in following industry sectors:Air, maritime and rail transport sec­torsEn­ergy­Fin­an­cial ServicesPostal sec­tor­Tele­coms­Mul­ti­func­tion­al and sport in­fra­struc­ture­Man­u­fac­tur­ing Our services in State aid matters CMS lawyers represent both public authorities and private companies on all aspects of the State aid rules. This includes:Legal assessment of the existence of an aid and its compatibilitySet up of aid schemesAs­sist­ance to public authorities in the notification of State aidAssistance to public authorities or beneficiaries in State aid investigations by the European Com­mis­sion­Draft­ing and lodging complaints before the European Com­mis­sion­Lit­ig­a­tion before national and EU Courts Leading individuals CMS lawyers in many countries have shaped the State aid legal development through numerous publications, lectures and representations as well as involvement in studies on State aid for the European Commission. This in-depth know-how and experience is accessible in all CMS jurisdictions because the CMS team is used to interacting seamlessly across all the countries in which we operate.
02/02/2021
GCR Know-how - State Aid: Belgium
State aid expert, Annabelle Lepièce, provides answers to legal questions about State aid in this Q&A by GCR (Global Competition Review). Read the Q&A here
17/12/2020
COVID-19: how to support companies under State aid rules?
Organised in collaboration with AmCham Bel­gi­um:me­di­um­AmCham Belgium and CMS are delighted to invite you to an exclusive webinar on public support to companies brought to you by Annabelle Lepièce and...
24/06/2020
Webinar recordings - Covid-19 (Coronavirus) in Belgium
Watch the recordings of webinars where our specialists tackle some important aspects and practical steps that businesses should take into consideration in light of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. ...
27/04/2020
CMS Webinar Series - Covid-19 (Coronavirus) in Belgium – Key Con­sid­er­a­tions...
The recent rise of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) receives a lot of attention and an increasing worry worldwide. It has caused governments all around the world to take proceedings, such as isolating certain cities...
02/04/2020
COVID-19: EU green light to French aid scheme for its airlines
The European Commission approved on 31 March 2020 the French scheme deferring the payment by airlines of certain aeronautical taxes (the civil aviation tax as well as the solidarity tax) in order to mitigate...