State aid is business support. EU law states that any government aid which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain businesses or goods is deemed incompatible with the single market. The European Commission and the Court of Justice have placed a very broad interpretation on the concept of aid as regards the body granting it, to include national, regional or local government, a body over which the government directly or indirectly exerts an influence to a private company or a public corporation. The ban applies to a wide range of aid measures, whether direct (grants) or indirect (such as measures that relieve an enterprise of financial charges) and regardless of their basis or purpose. However, the Treaty provides for a number of exemptions for aid that is compatible with the single market and for aid that may be compatible under certain conditions.
Financial assistance/aid programs funded and administered by the state State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG): Now the Leveraging Education Assistance Partnership (LEAP).
State Aid is appropriated by the Oklahoma legislature for annual distribution to qualifying libraries on a per capita basis. Library systems are also allotted an amount based on area served.
EU law on state aid aims to prevent member states from unfairly distorting competition within the EU, except in certain permitted circumstances. A state aid exists if all of the following four criteria apply to the proposed programme: It is granted by the state or through state resources It favours certain undertakings or the production of certain goods It distorts or threatens to distort competition It has the potential to affect trade within the EU For more detail on state aid, please see Sub-stage 2(a): Establish specific purpose and Annex C: Note on state aid.