The exception for Germany is to account for subsidies that are given to East Germany, which had to be "pulled" to the level of the West after the reunification,

The exception for Germany is to account for subsidies that are given to East Germany, which had to be "pulled" to the level of the West after the reunification, but which still lags behind even to this day. BTW the commission is currently pursuing Germany for being too lax with Volkswagen after Dieselgate (and I'm happy they do this). So, for me the fact the EU commission can do this is one of the positive sides of the European Union.