State Aid Authorities in South-East Europe: developments and challenges

Abstract

A number of international commitments require the South-East Europe Countries (SEE) to introduce a legal framework on State aid control. In particular, the Stabilisation and Association Agreements with the European Union impose on the SEEs the obligation to create national State aid monitoring mechanisms. This paper examines the institutional position of the State aid enforcement authorities established in SEE countries. Although the State Aid Laws introduced in the SEEs correctly transpose the obligations of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and EU acquis into the national legislation, more needs to be done about the operational independence of the administrative capacities controlling State aid.