This article is part of a Chronicle. See more from this Chronicle
Hilary Jennings, May 28, 2014
Nevertheless, the SAM reforms mark a shift in approach. The new and revised regulations and guidelines seek to provide wider exemptions and focus on the most distortive aid. The focus has also shifted from ex-ante to ex-post control, with greater emphasis on more detailed and comprehensive analysis for the larger, more complex, and “most dangerous” cases. The new framework also envisages a much stronger partnership with Member States to promote compliance with the State aid rules. Common horizontal principles have been defined that are applicable to the assessment of the compatibility of all State aid measures with the internal market. These have been included in every newly adopted Guideline under the SAM, which makes the soft law instruments more coherent and consistent and avoids any confusion as to which document applies in each case.
