Since the beginning of 2002, a special Unit operates at the Centre of International and European Economic Law (CIEEL) in Thessaloniki, assigned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance that provides specialised consulting services in the state aid sector. Its staff consists of jurists and researchers of CIEEL and aims at the methodological approach to the aforementioned sector in order to assist Greek public authorities granting aids.

The state aid sector constitutes a basic pillar of the EC Competition Policy. According to the EC state aid control system, state aids are in principle prohibited within the common market. Nevertheless, state aids can be allowed, if the Commission has previously approved them.

Every Member State, in conducting its Economic Policy, must comply with the EU state aid rules. The Greek authority responsible for the control and coordination of state aids granted as well as for the observance of the respective Community rules, is the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and more specifically, the General Direction of Economic Policy-European Union Department, which has, up till now, published a number of circulars in that effect.