EStAL 2|2010 Editorial 267 Things have long seemed to be clear-cut and easy. The so-called “market economy investor principle” (in short: the “MEIP”) has been regarded to apply only in those cases where the State acts in its role as an economic operator comparable to a private one whilst it has been excluded wherever the exercise of public powers were concerned. As a prime example of the latter fiscal measures have regularly been cited. On 15 December 2009 the General Co