Centro di documentazione europea (Università degli Studi di Verona)
Abstract
This paper focuses on the State intervention as a driver for a growth within the framework of the
EU rules on State aid, especially with regard to local infrastructure investments. In particular, it
aims to illustrate the approach (big on big things and small on small things) recently adopted by
the European Commission, which is reinforcing its partnership with the Member States on the
implementation of the new rules on State aid as they have now increased their responsibility to
grant aid without prior notification to the Commission. This strengthened partnership should
create conditions so that the Commission can support strategic investments of Member States, by
working with them on how to design growth-enhancing aid measures that promote a strong,
integrated and dynamic single market. Concerning the implementation of the assessment criteria
of the compatibility of an aid, the Commission carries out a balancing test where the impact of
the project on the common European interest could be decisive. From this perspective, more
attention should be paid to aid measures having a local relevance. A change in the Commission
attitude may be found in a set of decisions recently taken and concerning local public support
measures that are unlikely to affect competition. What is needed is the research of a new
balancing test between State intervention in favour of economic growth and development and
protection of competition. This new method of assessment might start from local infrastructures
and services