EUEØSstatsstøtteregler

EUEØSstatsstøtteregler refers to the regulations governing state aid within the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA Agreement incorporates the European Union's state aid rules into the legal framework of Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. These rules aim to ensure a level playing field in the internal market by prohibiting or restricting state aid that can distort competition.

The core principle is that state aid is generally prohibited if it confers an advantage on certain undertakings or the production of certain goods, thereby distorting or threatening to distort competition, and affecting trade between the EEA states. However, exceptions exist. Aid may be considered lawful if it is compatible with the internal market under specific conditions, such as for promoting economic development in less-favoured regions, supporting projects of common European interest, or addressing serious disturbances in an EEA state's economy.

The European Commission is responsible for enforcing these rules within the EU. In the EEA, the supervision is carried out by the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA). Companies planning to grant or receive state aid must notify the ESA in advance for assessment. The ESA investigates notified aid and existing aid schemes to determine their compatibility with the EEA Agreement. If aid is found to be incompatible, the ESA can order its recovery from the beneficiary.