Delimiting the Roles of the European Commission, the EU Courts and National Courts in the Enforcement of State Aid Rules

• Jurisdiction: European Union
• Year: 2021
• Author: Hans Peter Nehl

Speaker

Hanns Peter Nehl has been working since 2004 as a legal secretary in the Austrian Chambers of Judge Josef Azizi as well as his successor Viktor Kreuschitz at the General Court of the European Union. Previously, he worked in the Directorate-General for competition of the European Commission as well as in the Brussels office of former German law firm Gaedertz Rechtsanwälte. He obtained his doctoral degree in 2001 at the University of Hamburg. He is also an alumnus of the European University Institute in Florence (LL.M. 1996/97) as well as of the Université d'Aix-Marseille III (D.E.A. de droit communautaire 1991/92). His main fields of interest are EU competition law and European constitutional and administrative law in general as well as EU litigation, in which he publishes, gives conferences and lectures regularly. Since 2012 he is a lecturer of EU competition law at the University of Luxembourg.

Topic

This presentation will delve into the intricate system of separation of powers and delineation of tasks among the primary actors responsible for enforcing EU State aid law. Additionally, the speaker will thoroughly scrutinize the procedures and decision-making powers of the European Commission, shedding light on how these mechanisms interplay with national court proceedings and their consequential decisions.

As the presentation delves into this topic, the speaker will explore the fundamental principles that underpin the distribution of powers within the European Union's State aid framework. By doing so, the audience aims to gain insight into the intricate balance that exists between the EU's supranational authority and the autonomy of member states in handling State aid matters.

One of the pivotal aspects the speaker will examine is the role of the European Commission, the central entity tasked with overseeing State aid enforcement. The presentation will analyze the Commission's powers and responsibilities in conducting investigations, assessing potential aid measures, and ultimately arriving at informed decisions. Understanding the intricacies of this process is crucial in comprehending how the EU ensures fair competition and prevents...