European Union Legal Framework of State Aid in Cultural Tourism and the Use of Notified Aid by Member States

This article explores the legal framework of state aid in the European Union, focusing on aid for cultural tourism. Grounded in Article 107 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which generally prohibits state aid to prevent market distortions, the study highlights the exceptions for cultural, heritage support and audiovisual works. Employing a comprehensive analysis of notified state aid measures from 2010 to September 2024, it examines usage trends among EU member states, noting significant shifts in response to regulatory changes, such as the 2014 General Block Exemption Regulation, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings indicate that France and Spain are major users of notified aid, while Luxembourg and Portugal did not utilize such aid. A decline in notified measures between 2013 and 2015, followed by a rise during the pandemic years and a subsequent decrease, is observed. The study emphasizes that while the frequency of notified aid measures is analysed, the financial volume of these aids is not covered, which could further elucidate the scale of support provided.