Spanish maritime companies’ practice of leasing and financing ships through tax relied partially violates EU state aid rules, the European Commission announced. The practice, established in 2002, benefitted economic interest groupings and their investors, said reports. The Commission was not notified of this scheme, which needed regulatory authorization. The beneficiaries will now be required to repay the aid to the Spanish government. Repayments will not be required of aid given in 2002 and April 2007, however, as the EU acknowledged uncertainty of the time as to whether leasing and financing through tax relief could be considered as state aid.
Featured News
EU’s Largest Economies Push to Reduce Reliance on Foreign Payment Systems
Mar 12, 2026 by
CPI
Warren Presses Amazon for Answers on Pricing Practices for Government Buyers
Mar 12, 2026 by
CPI
EU Antitrust Chief Raises Concerns Over Big Tech Control of AI
Mar 12, 2026 by
CPI
Burson Adds Senior Advisor to Strengthen Competition Team
Mar 12, 2026 by
CPI
South Korea Fines Pork Processors for Price-Fixing in Retail Supply Deals
Mar 12, 2026 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Behavioral Economics
Feb 22, 2026 by
CPI
Behavioral Antitrust in 2026
Feb 22, 2026 by
Maurice Stucke
Behavioral Economics in Competition Policy: Going Beyond Inertia and Framing Effects
Feb 22, 2026 by
Annemieke Tuinstra & Richard May
Agreeing to Disagree in Antitrust
Feb 22, 2026 by
Jorge Padilla
Recognizing What’s Around the Corner: Merger Control, Capabilities, and the New Nature of Potential Competition
Feb 22, 2026 by
Magdalena Kuyterink & David J. Teece