On 8 May 2015, representatives of national state aid
monitoring authorities of the Energy Community Contracting Parties as
well as representatives of the non-governmental sector participated to a
workshop on state aid in the energy sectors organised by the
Secretariat. The aim of the workshop was to provide training to
representatives of state aid monitoring authorities on how to conduct an
assessment of state aid measures in the energy sectors based on EU
state aid rules and case law of the EU Court of Justice. Challenges in
the enforcement of state aid law in the Contracting Parties as well as
the potential for strengthened enforcement of state aid rules in the
Energy Community were discussed.
The workshop consisted of a lecture on the assessment methodology of
state aid measures in the energy sectors and a presentation on the
landmark state aid cases in the EU. State aid cases in the Contracting
Parties were also assessed from a legal and academic perspective as well
as potential cases in the coal and electricity sectors that might raise
state aid concerns in these countries in the near future. The granting
of state aid to state-owned enterprises in Serbia was assessed from an
economic standpoint.
The workshop concluded by noting that in the last years visible
improvements of state aid law enforcement in the energy sectors in some
Contracting Parties have taken place. Representatives of state aid
monitoring authorities agreed to put more effort on the enforcement of
these rules and strengthen the cooperation among each other and with the
Secretariat.