State Aid control
State Aid Complaint form
On this page you can lodge a complaint against alleged unlawful State aids. This form is available in 22 languages. If you want to switch language please use the drop-down menu at the top right of the screen.
Who can complain?
Everybody, any natural or legal person may submit a complaint to the Commission. The procedure is free of charge.
How can I send my complaint?
You have various ways to do it:
- to download the complaint form and send it in either in print by post or by email.
- or you can fill in the online form and submit it electronically through our website.
It is not necessary to send the complaint by post or fax if it has already been sent by email or using the online form.
The procedure
You will receive an acknowledgment of receipt of your complaint within 15 working days, and you will be informed whether there are sufficient grounds to investigate your complaint.
Your non-confidential version of the complaint may be submitted to the Member State for comments. If the Member State agrees, these comments will be transmitted to you.
What is the legal basis and where can I read more about the complaint procedure?
Council Regulation No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 (now Art.88) of the EC Treaty. Official Journal L 83/1, 27.03.1999, p. 1-9
What else can I do?
As an alternative, or as well as submitting a complaint to the Commission, natural or legal persons whose interests have been adversely affected by the alleged unlawful aid can pursue the matter before the national courts.
The obligation of EU Member States to notify planned state aid to the Commission has direct effect, which means that it can be enforced before national courts. However, the Commission cannot offer advice about the national procedures available in individual cases.
Further information can be found in the study on the Enforcement of State Aid Law at National Level, March 2006 and in the Report on the application of EC state aid law by the Member State courts, June 1999, both of which can be found on this page.
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