Since the inception of modern Europe and the creation of the common market, competition has been lying at the heart of the European project. Leaving aside a number of exceptions mentioned in the treaties, European law has repeated the importance of not distorting competition. State support and state aids may therefore be legal so long as they do not adversely impact on trading conditions between the Member States. State aids must comply with a set of criteria which altogether form a balancing test. A clearance under this balancing test will mean that Europe will tolerate some public support to an industry or services even though this aid may impact on market conditions. Yet, Europe hates artificial markets and the Union’s control over competition aims at removing distortions. The Commission’s April 2014 rules on public support to Renewable Energy Sources (RES) have precisely come to confirm this pro-market, liberal, stance.
http://www.energyvoice.com/2014/08/opinion-time-renewables-join-market/
1 Comment
may hurry · August 15, 2014 at 12:56 pm
dream on – Liberum Capital has advised investors to steer well clear of most renewable projects – esp turbines! financial journals now advising investment in fracking – you heard it here!!