TY - JOUR
T1 - A Guardian in Need of Support:
T2 - the enforcement of EU state aid rules
AU - Finke, Daniel
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - State aid poses a threat to undistorted competition in the common market and, therefore, is rigidly regulated. However, elected political leaders have an incentive to disobey European Union (EU) regulations and grant aid in order to boost their electoral support. The European Commission is responsible for monitoring and enforcing member states’ compliance with EU state aid regulation. The present article analyses the effect of domestic politics on the Commission’s willingness to open a formal investigation and thus risk conflict with national governments. Specifically, it argues that the Commission is more likely to investigate, where institutional trust is strong and where ruling parties follow an interventionist economic policy.
AB - State aid poses a threat to undistorted competition in the common market and, therefore, is rigidly regulated. However, elected political leaders have an incentive to disobey European Union (EU) regulations and grant aid in order to boost their electoral support. The European Commission is responsible for monitoring and enforcing member states’ compliance with EU state aid regulation. The present article analyses the effect of domestic politics on the Commission’s willingness to open a formal investigation and thus risk conflict with national governments. Specifically, it argues that the Commission is more likely to investigate, where institutional trust is strong and where ruling parties follow an interventionist economic policy.
KW - Compliance, Domestic Politics, Enforcement, European Commission, State Aid
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85099827190&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13501763.2021.1873403
DO - 10.1080/13501763.2021.1873403
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1350-1763
VL - 29
SP - 629
EP - 646
JO - Journal of European Public Policy
JF - Journal of European Public Policy
IS - 4
ER -