ENERGY TAXATION AND STATE AIDS: ANALYSIS OF COMPARATIVE LAW

This research activity aims to make a comparative study between EU State aids regulation on energy taxation and other legal regimes that pursue similar goals.
The analysis mainly focuses on the differences and sirnilarities between the European Union (hereinafter, EU) and the United States (hereinafter, US), although sorne references to the World Trade Organization's (hereinafter, WTO) rules are rnade. The experience in Brazil and China is also addressed, due to the importance that both countries have as ernerging markets with great dirnensions.
Legal instrurnents, case-law, constitutional principles and other concepts such as market competitiveness or environrnental goals lead this comparative analysis. The ultimate airn is to determine where are the limits on states' powers on the relative degree of freedom or constraint under different forrns of governrnent in diverse countries focusing on energy taxation.