Memo: State Aid: Commission welcomes Court ruling on exemptions from excise duty on mineral oils used as fuel for alumina production

The European Commission on 10 December 2013 welcomed the judgement of the EU Court of Justice, setting aside a General Court ruling that had annulled a Commission Decision of December 2005 finding exemptions from excise duty on mineral oils used as fuel for alumina production granted by France, Ireland and Italy to be in breach of EU state aid rules (case C-272/12 P).

This ruling clarifies the powers of the EU Courts to raise pleas of their own motion and, most importantly, confirms again the Commission's exclusive competence regarding state aid control in the EU and the objectivity of the concept of State aid.