Abstract
The thesis examines the relationship between EU State aid control and EU industrial policy, by tackling the question of whether the European Commission has been influencing national industrial policies towards valuable objectives of EU industrial policy, particularly the green and digital transitions, through State aid control. The thesis advances the hypothesis that, due to the lack of EU explicit competence on industrial policy, the Commission has been using alternative instruments – among them State aid control – to achieve EU industrial policy indirectly. Article 107(1) TFEU provides for a general ban on State aid, so that Member States cannot advantage national companies vis-à-vis European competitors, unless certain conditions are met under Article 107 (2) and (3) TFEU. Pursuant to Article 5(2) TEU and Articles 3 and 107 TFEU the Commission has exclusive competence in the management of EU State aid control. The thesis adopts a law in context methodology to analyse the evolution of State aid control and EU industrial policy against legal, economic and policy backgrounds.Chapter 1 draws on the economic literature to analyse the concept of industrial policy. The chapter engages with a modern definition of industrial policy which the EU should adopt. Chapter 2 highlights an overarching tension in State aid control. A debate exists on whether State aid policy should be aimed at preventing distortions of competition and negative effects on trade solely, or it should be used as an instrument for growth, e.g., to advance EU industrial policy indirectly. By examining distinctive features of State aid control, the thesis backs the latter assumption. Chapter 3 examined the notion of aid enshrined in Article 107(1) TFEU, particularly State resources, selectivity, and the advantage criterion, suggesting that the Commission might have introduced considerations on the objectives of the measure, for instance on EU industrial policy, instead of assessing national measures only on their effects in the internal market. It is also noted that the Court has often put constitutional constraints by adhering to a textual and constitutional reading of Article 107(1) TFEU. Chapter 4 demonstrates that the Commission has been orienting national policies through the compatibility assessment, especially under Article 107(3) TFEU, thanks to its powers and the use of soft law instruments. The hypothesis of this work – that the Commission has been influencing national industrial policy to achieve EU industrial policy objectives – is analysed in the context of two case studies, research, development and innovation, in Chapter 5, and State aid granted in times of emergency, in Chapter 6. Finally, Chapter 7 reflects on the future of State aid and EU industrial policy, taking account of the international and European fast-changing scenario, due to multiple economic, financial, social and health crises occurred in Europe.
| Date of Award | 1 Aug 2023 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Supervisor | Oana Stefan (Supervisor) |