A round-up of key developments on State aid, first reported by the Lexis+ Competition team. This update covers the period 27 May-2 June 2026.

A round-up of key developments on State aid, first reported by the Lexis+ Competition team. This update covers the period 28 August–3 September 2024.

A round-up of key developments on State aid, first reported by the Lexis+ Competition team. This update covers the period 29 July–4 August 2026.

A round-up of key developments on State aid, first reported by the LexisPSL Competition team. This update covers the period 28 February 2024-5 March 2024.

A round-up of key developments on State aid, first reported by the Lexis+ Competition team. This update covers the period 29 April-5 May 2026.

A round-up of key developments on State aid, first reported by the Lexis+ Competition team. This update covers the period 30 September-7 October 2026.

A round-up of key developments on State aid, first reported by the Lexis+ Competition team. This update covers the period 1–7 July 2026.

A round-up of key developments on State aid, first reported by the Lexis+ Competition team. This update covers the period 1–7 May 2024.

A round-up of key developments on State aid, first reported by the Lexis+ Competition team. This update covers the period 2–8 September 2026.

State intervention in the economy may interact with EU Treaty obligations, most notably the duty of loyalty under Article 4(3) TEU and Article 106 TFEU. For example, the state may incur liability under Article 4(3) TEU or Article 106(1) TFEU where its actions result in, or are likely to lead to, an infringement by an undertaking of the competition rules contained in Article 101 or 102 TFEU. Article 106(2) TFEU contains a limited exception from the TFEU rules in favour of undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest (SGEI) or which have the character of a revenue-producing monopoly. There are also situations where the public body may itself be held to be engaging in economic activity such that it is a relevant ‘undertaking’ for the purposes of competition law. State intervention in the economy and liberalisation The ownership and delivery of public services such as energy, postal services, telecommunications and transport have undergone significant structural change and the European Commission (Commission) has been instrumental

Environment analysis The Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s decision, ruling that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (SSEFRA) had made an error of law in interpreting the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 (WFDR 2017). In the judicial review proceedings, the High Court had quashed SSEFRA’s decision to approve a River Basement Management Plan (RBMP) based on that error of law. In particular, the Court of Appeal confirmed that programmes of measures (PoMs) (which are summarised in RBMPs, and which members of the public are entitled to request copies of) must include specific actions for each individual water body to achieve environmental objectives. The court rejected the argument that PoMs could be generic and only high-level, emphasising that measures must be tailored to each water body to ensure compliance with the WFD. Written by Sarah Ellington, partner at Watson Farley & Williams LLP.

Introduced in 1978 and paid in addition to the basic flat rate state pension for earnings up to 5 April 2002. Replaced by the second (additional) state pension from 6 April 2002.