This book is a survey of the rules and regulations relating to state aid in the European Union and their role in the overall competition policy of the EU. It examines the implications and provisions of articles 92 and 93 and covers the substantive law as well as the procedural questions. The rules on state aid have been adopted in the EEA Agreement and the association agreements between the EU and the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe and have been incorporated in the WTO Agreement on subsidies and equalization measures, all despite severe criticism. This work aims to provide a useful introduction to practitioners and academics who may have limited experience in dealing with matters of state aid.