L'intervento dello Stato a favore della crescita nel quadro delle regole dell'Unione europea

This paper focuses on the State intervention as a driver for a growth within the framework of the EU rules on State aid, especially with regard to local infrastructure investments. In particular, it aims to illustrate the approach (big on big things and small on small things) recently adopted by the European Commission, which is reinforcing its partnership with the Member States on the implementation of the new rules on State aid as they have now increased their responsibility to grant aid without prior notification to the Commission. This strengthened partnership should create conditions so that the Commission can support strategic investments of Member States, by working with them on how to design growth-enhancing aid measures that promote a strong, integrated and dynamic single market. Concerning the implementation of the assessment criteria of the compatibility of an aid, the Commission carries out a balancing test where the impact of the project on the common European interest could be decisive. From this perspective, more attention should be paid to aid measures having a local relevance. A change in the Commission attitude may be found in a set of decisions recently taken and concerning local public support measures that are unlikely to affect competition. What is needed is the research of a new balancing test between State intervention in favour of economic growth and development and protection of competition. This new method of assessment might start from local infrastructures and services.