state aid

Noun

state aid (uncountable)

1. Any aid given by a state or government.
2. (European-Union) Any grant, subsidy, or other preferential treatment or advantage to a company by a national government, and which is therefore potentially in violation of competition law.
   • To reduce emissions, France has also announced a ban on short-haul domestic flights (under two and a half hours) in return for airlines receiving state aid, with people encouraged to make their journey by train - an approach more European countries are considering.2021 December 29, Monica Wick, “Innovation and collaboration on tomorrow's rail interiors”, in RAIL, number 947, page 26