Is it State aid? Desk aid
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Flow chart to help you assess whether State aid might be present in your project.
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- Question 1 - Is the assistance provided with, or through, State resources? - Answer - NO
- Question 2 - Are you sure? Many types of assistance are considered State resources, including Lottery Funding and EU Structural Funds - Answer - STILL NO
- Conclusion - Probably not State aid
- Question 1 - Is the assistance provided with, or through, State resources? - Answer - YES
- Question 2 - Does the assistance give one or more Undertakings an advantage over its competitors? - Answer - NO
- Question 3 - May include not-for-profits and charities as well as businesses. An advantage is anything that they couldn’t obtain themselves on the open market on the same terms. - Answer - STILL NO
- Conclusion - Probably not State aid
- Question 1 - Is the assistance provided with, or through, State resources? - Answer - YES
- Question 2 - Does the assistance give one or more Undertakings an advantage over its competitors? - Answer - YES
- Question 3 - Does the assistance distort or have the potential to distort competition? - Answer - NO
- Question 4 - Even small potential distortions count! - Answer - STILL NO
- Conclusion - Probably not State aid
- Question 1 - Is the assistance provided with, or through, State resources? - Answer - YES
- Question 2 - Does the assistance give one or more Undertakings an advantage over its competitors? - Answer - YES
- Question 3 - Does the assistance distort or have the potential to distort competition? - Answer - YES
- Question 4 - Does the assistance affect trade between Member States? - Answer - NO
- Question 5 - This is very broad if something is tradable then it is included - Answer - STILL NO
- Conclusion - Probably not State aid
- Question 1 - Is the assistance provided with, or through, State resources? - Answer - YES
- Question 2 - Does the assistance give one or more Undertakings an advantage over its competitors? - Answer - YES
- Question 3 - Does the assistance distort or have the potential to distort competition? - Answer - YES
- Question 4 - Does the assistance affect trade between Member States? - Answer - YES
- Conclusion - Assistance is likely to be State aid
- Go to - ‘What do I do if it might be State aid?’ page on the Department for the Economy webpages
Further Information
- State aid and Subsidy Control after EU Exit
- State aid - Rules, Regulations and Guidance
- What do I do if it might be State aid?
- UK Subsidy Control/State aid Decision Tree
- Four Key Questions - Is it State aid?
- de minimis aid
- Services of General Economic Interest - (SGEI)
- General Block Exemption Regulation - (GBER)
- Full Notification
For more information and Advice, Awareness and Assistance please contact the Subsidy Control Advice Unit