Not available in 2020/21
LL4Z5      Half Unit
EU State Aid Law

This information is for the 2020/21 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Pablo Ibanez Colomo NAB5.16

Availability

This course is available on the LLM (extended part-time), LLM (full-time), MSc in European and International Public Policy, MSc in European and International Public Policy (LSE and Bocconi), MSc in European and International Public Policy (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Regulation and University of Pennsylvania Law School LLM Visiting Students. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

This course will be relevant to the following LLM specialisms: Competition, Innovation and Trade; Corporate and/or Commercial Law; European Law; International Business Law.

This course is capped at 30 students. Students must apply through Graduate Course Choice on LSEforYou.

Course content

Member States of the EU are not free to award subsidies to companies or to support them in a comparable way (by, inter alia, granting them loans at favourable rates or by providing unlimited guarantees). In the wake of the recent financial crisis, for instance, bailout measures adopted across the EU had to be cleared by the European Commission in accordance with Articles 107 and 108 TFEU. The first part of the course explores the economic rationale underpinning the principle whereby State aid is incompatible with the EU internal market (the reasons why similar regimes are not implemented at the national level in federal countries facing similar issues, such as the United States, will also be explored). The second part is devoted to (i) the notion of State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU (that is, the range of measures that are subject to ex ante control by the European Commission) and to (ii) the conditions under which such measures may be declared to be in the interest of the EU as a whole. The third part provides an overview of the application of the law in some sectors (including the energy or the communications sectors) or for some purposes (e.g. research and development, regional aid). The fourth part is devoted to the procedural aspects of the discipline and to the application of similar rules beyond the EU (in particular in the context of the WTO, the EEA and other trade agreements concluded by the EU).

Teaching

20 hours of seminars in the MT. 2 hours of seminars in the ST.

There will be a reading week in week 6. 

Formative coursework

All students are expected to produce one 2,000 word formative essay during the course.

Indicative reading

Quigley, European State Aid Law and Policy (3rd Edition, 2015); Jones and Sufrin, EU Competition Law (online Chapter, 6th Edition, 2017); Bacon (ed), European Community Law of State Aid (3rd Edition, 2017).

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours, reading time: 15 minutes) in the summer exam period.

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.

Key facts

Department: Law

Total students 2019/20: 14

Average class size 2019/20: 14

Controlled access 2019/20: Yes

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Communication
  • Specialist skills